Steam generators are widely used for arranging baths, steam rooms, cleaning all kinds of equipment and in the production of alcoholic beverages. Such units allow you to effectively warm frozen pipes and car engines in winter. A homemade unit will function no worse than a purchased analogue if it is properly made at home. Together with the editors of Seti.guru, in today’s review we will look at how to make a steam generator with your own hands for various household needs, and we will also analyze in detail the features of installation, assembly and testing the operation of the unit.
Homemade solid fuel steam generator
Types of steam generators and their use in the household
Regardless of the purpose, the design of steam generators contains a reservoir - a boiler, in which steam is generated and supplied to an external consumer. Based on the type of supply of working fluid (water), it is customary to distinguish between manual types of units and automatic units. Depending on the amount of power consumed, steam generators can be industrial or domestic. For household units, this figure, as a rule, does not exceed 9 kW, and they are connected to a 220 V power supply (industrial units - to 380 V).
Industrial steam generating plant
Depending on the method of heating the working fluid (water), steam generators can be induction, with electrode installations, furnace and electric. The table shows the main features of each type of unit.
Table 1. Types of steam generators and their features
| Type of unit | Image | Description |
| Induction | The water in the device’s tank is heated due to the influence of an electromagnetic field. The equipment allows you to obtain purified and light steam at the output. | |
| Electrode | Inside the reservoir there is an electrode, which is the heating element of the device. The units operate from the mains. As a result of heating water, steam is obtained that is free of harmful impurities and mineral deposits. | |
| Electric | The units are equipped with heating elements of various powers (from 4 kW). Such devices are used for steam rooms. In large areas, steam generators for baths and saunas are used, the power of which exceeds 12 kW. | |
| Pechnoy | Stove heating heats water and releases steam. Coal or wood is used as an energy source. |
In households, factory-made and home-made steam generators are used in arranging steam rooms, as cleaning equipment (washing various surfaces with steam under pressure), and in the manufacture of moonshine stills. The units are also used to heat water pipes and car engines. Watch the video to understand how the steam generator works.
Video “The principle of operation of the steam generator”:
To humidify the air in residential premises, you can make your own ultrasonic steam generator. This device is installed on the surface of the water and generates vibrations of a certain frequency, resulting in the formation of many small drops that rise into the air.
When can you start enjoying?
Patience! Very little left! Our design is 99% ready, all that remains is to pour water into the canister, plug in the plug, wait for the water to boil and steam to enter the barrel. Then climb inside, close it with a special shelf on top and a door on the side.
Now enjoy! Just remember to keep an eye on the thermometer so as not to overheat. And be sure to monitor the water level in the canister. Otherwise, there will be no luck! Let me note that this is the most basic way to make a homemade sauna steam generator, which can be done without straining.
This is the kind of country mini-hamam we got. And what? We can safely call the phyto-barrel that way. After all, steam baths, including the Turkish bath, are all built according to a similar principle - their design is based on a closed room and steam supply through a steam generator!
Steam generator design
A steam generator is a power plant made of a metal casing, inside of which there is a water tank. To make a steam gun for a bath with your own hands, you will need a steam and water pump. In addition, the design of the steam generator must include:
- evaporation chamber;
- temperature sensor;
- heating installation;
- nozzle.
To make a home steam generator with automatic liquid supply, it is necessary to install a pipe outside the structure. This element will be required to connect the unit to the water supply system. You also need to install a valve to drain the liquid.
Advice! The manufacture of such a structural element as an evaporation chamber must be made from materials with high heat resistance. For example, to make a home electric sauna stove with a steam generator, you can use steel or copper.
Recommendations for use
- It is preferable to install the steam generator in the room adjacent to the steam room, since it is an electrical appliance that is dangerous in conditions of high humidity.
- The steam supply tube must be positioned at an angle so that the condensate can drain without forming a plug.
- It is better to pre-purify ordinary tap water with a filter. To descale the liquid, you can add acetic acid.
- When performing various health procedures, herbal infusions or essential oils are added directly to the water.
Important: To ensure electrical safety, the metal body of the steam generator is grounded. An RCD should be used for connection.
How to make a steam generator for a bath from a gas cylinder with your own hands
A steam generator from a gas cylinder is one of the most popular variations for self-assembly of a steam generator. The metal body is strong enough to withstand high temperatures and steam pressure.
Tools and consumables used in work
When manufacturing a steam generating unit, materials that are resistant to high thermal loads should be used. Among them, stainless steel has proven itself well. The best option for creating a steam generator design is a gas cylinder, since it is made of durable metal and the welds can withstand high pressure. Before starting assembly and installation work, you should prepare plumbing tools. For these purposes you will need:
- electric drill and set of drills;
- roulette;
- fastening elements (screws, bolts);
- circular cutting machine (grinder);
- insulating tape;
- metal scissors;
- a set of keys.
In addition to the listed tools, you will need a welding machine. This equipment is used to ensure strong seams, as well as installation of metal pipes. Consumables should also include sensors for measuring pressure and operating temperature, as well as ball valves. Households often use low-power installations that can be made independently from old household appliances or household items. For example, it could be a steam generator from a flask, an old electric kettle or a pressure cooker.
Selection and preparation of a container for a steam generator
To make your own steam generator for defrosting pipes and other household needs, you should choose a reliable tank for the design. A gas cylinder is ideal for these purposes. As for the size of the container, they should be selected in accordance with the purpose of using the equipment (the amount of steam generated was sufficient to heat the room, clean the car engine, etc.).
Gas cylinder for steam generator
Before starting installation work, for safety reasons, the cylinder should be prepared accordingly. To do this, you need to get rid of its contents by bleeding off the remaining gas. It can be easily removed from the container by unscrewing the valve.
The next step in preparing the tank is to wash the inner surface of the tank (you can use regular dishwashing detergent). The container should be processed until the characteristic smell of propane (gas) disappears. After the cylinder has completely dried, they begin installing the heating elements.
Installation of heating elements
Before you install the heating elements yourself, you should develop a drawing of the steam generator (an example can be seen in the figure). As you can see, a heating element should be installed in the upper part of the tank, which is permanently mounted on a removable lid.
Steam generator heating element
Please note that the heating element must be installed in such a way that if it burns out, replacement can be done without effort. For this reason, it is not recommended to weld heating elements to the structure body.
Expert opinion
Artyom Krikunov
Tool selection consultant at VseInstrumenty.ru LLC
Ask a specialist
“When choosing a heater, it should be taken into account that this structural element must withstand fairly high loads during operation of the unit - from 6.079 Bar. The choice of device based on power should be based on the calculation of 3 kW heating element for every 10 liters of liquid.”
Steam generator connection diagram
As for the assembly of a solid fuel unit, there is no need to make special calculations or install heating elements. Watch the video about the steam generator - it’s quite easy to assemble such equipment yourself, and the cost of consumables will be minimal.
Installation of additional elements
The next stage of self-manufacturing of a steam generator is the installation of additional structural elements that are installed in the upper part of the unit. To secure the automation, as well as the relief (pressure) and filling valve, you should weld small sections of pipes - pipes, in the amount of 4 pieces with threads.
Steam generator pressure gauge
A ball valve is mounted on the side of the structure, which is essentially a liquid level. It opens as soon as the tank is filled with a certain volume of water, and closes when it flows out. This element is installed at a distance of 100 mm from the top point of the unit body.
Features of valve modification
As we have already said, the gas cylinder has a valve made of brass, which should be divided in half. After this, you need to remove the rod and cut the thread to install the ball valve. This design will be required to select steam flows.
Checking the safety of the steam generator
When making a steam generator for hamam, baths and other needs with your own hands, you should check the operation of the unit. For these purposes, at the final stage of assembling the structure, an automatic safety unit should be installed, consisting of pressure gauges that allow monitoring temperature and pressure indicators (they must be connected). The safety unit works as follows: as soon as the internal pressure or operating temperature reaches the limit values, the heating will automatically turn off. A magnetic starter should be included in the electrical circuit of the unit (the retractor coil will be the load). After checking the performance indicators and triggering the safety automatics, the steam generator can be installed for subsequent operation. Below is an approximate diagram of connecting the unit for the steam room.
Selecting a heating element
When choosing a heating element, you need to start from the volume of the tank, its size and the required power.
To heat water, you can use a gas (electric) stove or an electric heating element.
The safest and most convenient way to heat water in the body of a pressure cooker is to place a heating element in it in the form of a heating element.
If you want to save on the heating element used, you can try to disassemble an old electric kettle or electric samovar, taking the heating elements that are used there.
Before you begin assembling the steam generator itself, it is necessary to carry out calculations to determine the optimal number of devices required to create steam. So, for a large amount of it, three or more similar heaters may be required.
Features of assembling a solid fuel steam generator for a home using wood or coal
Assembly of a solid fuel steam generator is much simpler compared to its electric counterpart, and less expensive. The design will require pipes of various diameters. First you need to make a loading tank, for which you can use a pipe with a diameter of 300 mm. It burns coal or wood. It is also necessary to weld a water container that is installed above the firebox. A register pipe and an adapter should be welded to it, through which the steam will be discharged outside. For more information on how to make a steam generator with your own hands, watch the video.
Video “Features of assembling a solid fuel steam generator with your own hands”:
Where it all begins
At one time, I had a desire to equip an individual microbath, or phyto-barrel as it is also called, in my city apartment; my wife really liked it.
There were no problems with the barrel itself; knocking down a wooden structure made of planed tongue-and-groove boards doesn’t require a lot of intelligence or special skill, but the steam room requires a steam generator. My first thought was to buy a production model.
A modern steam generator for a bath is a reliable and durable device, and most of these devices have many operating modes, they are equipped with sophisticated protection and control systems, but at that time I was not ready to pay that kind of money for them.
Wall-mounted steam generator "Harvia".
For those who are interested, below I have tabulated popular models and also placed a diagram that clearly shows the operating principle of an industrial steam generator.
| Serial models of steam generators | |||
| Model name | Power consumption | Dimensions | Price |
| Harvia Helix HGX11L | 10.8kW | 155x320x600 mm | 57 t/rub |
| Harvia Helix Pro HGP30 | 30kW | 320x490x560 mm | 166.5 t/rub |
| Helo HNS 60 T1 | 6kW | 160x380x520 mm | 60 t/rub |
| Helo HNS 140 T1 | 14kW | 160x380x520 mm | 70.5 t/rub |
| TYLO Steam 2/4/6 | 2 – 6kW | 445x130x415 mm | 74 t/rub |
| TYLO Steam 12 | 12kW | 570x224x485 mm | 135.5 t/rub |
Scheme of operation of one of the serial models of the steam generator.
Having studied the structure of the steam generator, I realized that it is not so difficult to make it with my own hands, moreover, such a device would not be superfluous in a real wood-burning sauna, plus in my case it could be useful in the apiary for melting wax out of frames.
Unfortunately, I was not able to make a universal homemade steam generator that would be suitable for all occasions; instead, I assembled several steam generators, each of which was “tailored” for a specific purpose.
Details of one of the serial models of the steam generator.
We install a steam generator
For obvious reasons, it is not practical to use solid fuel steam generators indoors in bathhouses or steam rooms. For these purposes, electrical units will be required. When installing equipment, you should pay attention to the condition of the hoses - they should be without kinks and have a slight slope. This is necessary for free drainage of condensate.
Welding of bends on the installation
When connecting the power plant to the electrical network, a residual current device should be used. The power of the RCD will be 10-30 mA depending on the type of load and type of room. Please note that the steam generator is a powerful, traumatic electrical installation. For this reason, its installation must be accompanied by the mandatory connection of a grounding loop.
Steam generator installation diagram
Technical capabilities
Heat exchangers used in cedar barrels to create heated moist air are highly efficient and economical. These qualities are directly related to the low power rating - 2 kW, which is quite enough to quickly heat the air and maintain a stable temperature inside the phyto-barrel without the risk of overloading the electrical wiring.
The safety of the device is another pleasant point, confirmed by a special certificate. The reliability of operation of the steam generator is also due to the grounding of all components of the structure and the protection of the heating elements by equipping them with a level sensor, which allows the device to be automatically turned off if there is insufficient water in the tank. The inability to break down if the device is damaged or clogged is ensured by an overpressure valve.
Along with all the listed advantages, it is possible to control the device using a stand-alone remote control, which is placed on the wall of the steam room in any convenient place.
How to make a steam generator for a moonshine still – nuances
For this type of steam generator, enameled or galvanized deep dishes are suitable. It is better to use a pressure cooker to make the unit because a heating element is already built inside it, and it is also characterized by excellent tightness. When creating a steam installation for a moonshine still, the unit should be equipped with a safety valve. This element is necessary to relieve pressure inside the container. In addition, you will need to secure the fitting, which is necessary to discharge steam flows.
To control the water level inside the container, you need to install a tube (corrugated metal hose). It is recommended to use a thermometer to control the heating temperature. As for the distillation cube, you also need to install a fitting into this structural element, having previously drilled a hole in its lower part. A steam outlet and a perforated tube twisted in a spiral should be connected to it. Streams of steam are released through it. How to make a steam generator for a moonshine still with your own hands can be seen in the diagram.
Scheme of operation of the moonshine still
Build process
When choosing a method for attaching heating elements, you need to make sure that the tubes do not touch the bottom, much less the walls.
Therefore, it is necessary to drill a through hole of the appropriate size in the wall so that the heating element can be mounted there. At the same time, the distance of the heating elements from the surface should be approximately 1 cm. This will ensure proper heating without damaging the container itself.
It is best to use insulating washers, which should be installed both outside and inside the container. To seal the fasteners, silicone gaskets are used (it is important that these are heat-resistant options). They can be purchased at the store or made yourself.
We make our own steam generator for heating pipes
As in the previous case, the steam generator must be mobile so that the installation can be moved over a considerable distance. In addition to flexible hoses, electrical cables of similar length will be required to connect the installation to the water supply.
Using a steam generator to defrost pipes
Let's take a closer look at how to make a steam generator for universal purposes out of trash with your own hands. This generator can be used to wash parts of household appliances that cannot be dismantled, for example, air conditioner radiators.
| Illustration | Description of action |
| To work, we will need the simplest things that you probably have lying around in your garage. One of them is an old electric kettle. We take away the most valuable thing from it - the heating element. | |
| We grind the 150 pipe to the required size and trim the edges. | |
| And we insert our “device”. | |
| We grind out an adapter for attaching the heating element. | |
| We attach the rim to the plastic base. | |
| We fix it inside the pipe with ordinary bolts, and make a hole for the electrical wires. Instead of legs, we use hoses. | |
| We weld a sheet on top of the structure, weld a fitting, attach a tee and a tap for filling water, a boiler valve with adjustment and a steam outlet tap with a plug. | |
| We supplement the design with a regular water hose and a gun (we used a regular one for foam). | |
| The steam generator operates from a power outlet and is equipped with a handle like this for mobility. |
And then?
We perforate a metal-plastic water pipe with a drill or screwdriver. The holes should be a maximum of 5 millimeters in diameter, and the distance between them should preferably be 5-8 cm. Then the plastic pipe must be rolled into a ring corresponding to a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the bottom of the wooden barrel. We place the pipe blank inside the barrel, on its bottom, with the holes facing up.
Almost everything! We have reached the final stage of work. Now you need to drill a hole inside the barrel that matches the diameter of the flexible metal hose. Thread the hose into this hole and connect it through a tee fitting to a metal-plastic water pipe. That's almost all, all that remains is to secure the thermometer inside the barrel and install the electronic thermometer display outside.
The main reasons for the breakdown of steam generators
Since steam generators are characterized by a simple design and high strength of the materials used, breakdowns of such equipment are quite rare. The main reason for the failure of units is the poor quality of the water used, which causes scale to form. To avoid its formation, appropriate filtering equipment is installed in the water supply circuit. If the water is hard, it is recommended to drain the remaining water from the tank, and also wash the internal surfaces of the structure with acetic or citric acid. After treatment, the unit should be thoroughly rinsed with running water.
Before using the steam generator, it is imperative to check the unit for the presence of working fluid in it. Its absence may lead to burnout of the heating element. Dear readers of the online magazine Seti.guru! Share your experience in the manufacture of steam-generating equipment in discussions with other visitors to our resource, and also offer solutions for its improvement.
What about the sauna, is it not popular now?
Well why? To each his own! Some people prefer dry steam, others prefer wet steam. Most saunas are powered by an electric stove with an internal and external heating element - stones! And steam from such bath stones will only be produced if you use liquid for steam generation. Most often it is simple water with oils diluted in it. But such steam quickly evaporates due to the high temperatures in the steam room itself.
You can also use a more modernized bathhouse solution by installing a multifunctional installation in the steam room using a stove with a steam generator. Or you can buy a ready-made cool unit, but that’s a completely different story.
That's probably all. Until next time, dear readers. I hope you liked the article, and we will definitely meet again on the pages of this blog! If you rate this information positively, you can share it with your friends on social networks.
Comment, criticize, like. In a word, everything is as usual. Have a nice steam!
Wisdom Quote: Years teach many things that days do not know.
Useful tips
The benefits of the bath have been proven many times, but it should be remembered that the steam room produces a physiotherapeutic effect on the body. Therapy involves consultations with doctors and dosing. What is good for a young and healthy person may be harmful for a person weakened by illness or age. Physiotherapeutic procedures can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases
When visiting a steam room, you should pay attention to your well-being
If you feel discomfort or pain symptoms, it is better to exercise reasonable caution and reduce the time you spend in the steam room or change the steam parameters towards softening
Despite the simplicity of steam generators or steam cannons made by yourself, do not forget about maintenance, checks, and regular cleaning. The salts contained in the water will settle in the form of scale and impair the operation of the devices.
Open fire stoves require increased fire safety measures. The use of electricity for heating elements is a direct indication of compliance with safety regulations when operating electrical appliances. Incomplete combustion of fuel and smoldering lead to an increased concentration of carbon dioxide, and even to the release of carbon monoxide. Therefore, the removal of combustion products must pass through a cleaned chimney.
The steam room door should open outward and not have locking devices. Switches should be installed inside the steam room to stop the steam generator. It would also be useful to have a signaling device to attract attention in case a person becomes ill and cannot leave the steam room on their own.
A small portable steam generator or mini-gun, assembled with your own hands from scrap materials, will allow you to create an atmosphere in a small room with parameters close to standard, classic baths. When operating steam devices, you should remember the limitations, safety precautions and the powerful impact of physical procedures on human health.
General advantages and disadvantages of sauna steam generators
If you decide to purchase a steam generator, then you should know about their positive and negative qualities, so that the latter do not suddenly become a surprise after the start of operation.
Potential owners of steam generators need to familiarize themselves with their advantages and disadvantages in advance.
So, the positive qualities of steam generators for baths include the following features:
- Possibility of automated control of the device using pre-installed programs or from a remote control.
- Fast heating of water, respectively, and faster release of steam, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the heating of the steam room. While a Russian stove or heater takes quite a long time to heat up.
- Some models of steam generators have a self-cleaning system.
- The steam generator produces lighter steam than the hot stones of a heater.
- Some models of steam generators have aromatization functions, so a special hole is provided for adding essential oils or herbal infusions. This function will make the evaporation not only pleasant, but also healing.
- Unlike a traditional bathhouse, to maintain the desired microclimate, the steam generator does not require a constant supply of water during bathing procedures. Thus, an autonomous steam generator is refilled once at the beginning, and in a device connected to the water supply, it is enough to open the water supply tap, which will flow into the unit constantly. Therefore, you don’t have to think about the stability of the healthy microclimate in the steam room - it will be maintained automatically, with a stable temperature (for example, in the range from 35 to 95 degrees) and humidity set in advance in the control unit. There is an option to set the intervals at which steam enters the steam room.
- Ease of choosing the optimal location and installation. Since the steam generator is compact in size and relatively light in weight, it is enough to mount it on the wall using brackets.
- The steam generated by steam generators completely enters the steam room without going into the chimney, which cannot be avoided when using traditional stoves.
The variety of functions of modern steam generation devices allows them to compete with traditional heater stoves. And in some cases, steam generators even surpass traditional ovens in terms of the quality of the microclimate created.
Prices for stove-heater
stove-heater
However, steam generators also have disadvantages that do not please users, and these include the following points:
- The price of devices is high, so many people prefer to make them themselves.
- Quite frequent equipment breakdowns.
- Dependency on power supply. In addition, the considerable power of the device, amounting to 4 ÷ 12 kW, will require significant energy consumption.
- Due to the large number of impurities in tap water, even if it is possible to connect to a central water supply, it is recommended to fill the unit’s tank with pre-prepared, settled and purified water, or install a high-quality filtration system directly in front of the device.
These disadvantages significantly complicate the operation of automatic devices.
However, taking into account the above positive aspects related to the ease of using the bathhouse, and knowing the problems of these devices, you can pay more attention to preventive measures. Naturally, if the high price of such equipment does not bother you
Useful tips
The benefits of the bath have been proven many times, but it should be remembered that the steam room produces a physiotherapeutic effect on the body. Therapy involves consultations with doctors and dosing. What is good for a young and healthy person may be harmful for a person weakened by illness or age. Physiotherapeutic procedures can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases
When visiting a steam room, you should pay attention to your well-being
If you feel discomfort or pain symptoms, it is better to exercise reasonable caution and reduce the time you spend in the steam room or change the steam parameters towards softening
Despite the simplicity of steam generators or steam cannons made by yourself, do not forget about maintenance, checks, and regular cleaning. The salts contained in the water will settle in the form of scale and impair the operation of the devices.
Open fire stoves require increased fire safety measures. The use of electricity for heating elements is a direct indication of compliance with safety regulations when operating electrical appliances. Incomplete combustion of fuel and smoldering lead to an increased concentration of carbon dioxide, and even to the release of carbon monoxide. Therefore, the removal of combustion products must pass through a cleaned chimney.
The steam room door should open outward and not have locking devices. Switches should be installed inside the steam room to stop the steam generator. It would also be useful to have a signaling device to attract attention in case a person becomes ill and cannot leave the steam room on their own.
Video: steam generator in action
A small portable steam generator or mini-gun, assembled with your own hands from scrap materials, will allow you to create an atmosphere in a small room with parameters close to standard, classic baths. When operating steam devices, you should remember the limitations, safety precautions and the powerful impact of physical procedures on human health.
Bath, sauna and hammam: which steam generator to choose
If you do not take into account the traditions of construction and the characteristics of materials for the construction of a bathhouse, sauna or hammam, then all the differences between them come down to the thermal regime, that is, the ratio of temperature and humidity inside the room.
Depending on how humid the air in the steam room is, its temperature is perceived differently by our body. Thus, the Finnish sauna is characterized by very strong heating - the atmosphere in the room often reaches 100–120 °C. Despite such a high value, this temperature in the sauna is easily tolerated, since the percentage of moisture in it rarely exceeds 15%. To achieve this ratio, the stove heater is not equipped with a door - open stones do a better job of draining the room. For a Finnish sauna, it is better to use not a constantly running steam generator, but a small heat gun - it will provide the required amount of highly superheated steam.
Compact steam generator is ideal for equipping a Finnish sauna
A Turkish hammam, on the contrary, requires a high steam content in the air - up to 90–100% at a temperature not exceeding 45 °C. In this case, it would be appropriate to use a steam generator, and if the heater has a large volume, you can do without additional devices at all - you can get a sufficient amount of “heavy” steam by simply pouring water on the stones.
The advantage of the Russian bath is that it combines all the advantages of the Turkish and Finnish steam rooms, providing the most favorable, healing effect on the body. The temperature in the steam room often reaches 80 °C, and the humidity is 70%, due to which the body is not subjected to the same stress as in a sauna, and the atmosphere, unlike a hammam, remains light and airy. This balance is the most difficult to achieve, since the steam generators used must be quite efficient and at the same time produce high-temperature steam. Experts recommend linking the power of electric steam generators with the size of the bath room:
There is no single calculation method for steam guns, so you should rely on Avogadro’s law, according to which 1 mole of water = 18 grams upon evaporation produces 22.4 liters of steam.
