Cereal and fruit mashes contain solids that burn. This affects the taste of the drink. Equipment with a steam generator for a moonshine still allows you to avoid burning.

Distillers use PG to obtain high-quality distillate. The mash is heated in the distillation cube with steam, which enters through a bubbler. The steam not only heats the mash, but also mixes it.

The boiling point of the wort is lower than in the PG. It is not difficult to assemble a mash steam generator with your own hands, despite the additional costs. An evaporator is a necessary thing in moonshine brewing.

Advantages of steam distillation:

1. Braga does not burn.
2. The grains of the wort are boiled.
3. Distillation time is reduced.
4. The mash heats up evenly.
5. The result is high-quality alcohol.

Distillers make their own steam generator for moonshine brewing so that the product does not boil. If the mash burns, it will spoil the taste of the drink. The grounds also contain a large amount of alcohol, which is distilled using an evaporator.

Alcohol is produced from grain raw materials in different ways, but steam distillation gives good results.

Principle of operation

Thick mash is heated with steam. This happens as follows. Water is supplied to the evaporator and begins to boil. The resulting steam enters the cube through an insulated hose.

Any stainless steel container that is equipped with a flange, steam line and bubbler can be used for an evaporator.

The tank must have a sealed and removable lid. They also install a fitting for steam removal. The design is equipped with a thermometer and an additional pipe with a nut. Moonshine still with evaporator includes:

• steam generator;
• pipeline;
• distillation cube;
• steamer;
• fridge;
• heat source.

Thermometers are installed on the evaporator and cube. The process of distilling thick mash occurs as follows:

1. The evaporator is filled with water to 2/3 of its volume and put on fire.
2. The mash is poured into the distillation cube. The check valve serves to shut off the steam. The distillation cube is heated to .
3. To reduce losses, the tank is additionally insulated. The temperature of the mash is increased gradually. If in the steam generator it is 80 ⁰С, in the distillation cube it is 50. After an hour, the temperature in the steam generator rises to 100 ⁰С, in the tank - to approximately 59–60.
4. The steam generator for moonshine is started.
5. Then turn off the induction hob on which the cube is located. Further heating occurs due to steam.
6. The temperature in the distillation tank increases after 1.5 hours. The vapors enter the refrigerator and enter the alcohol receiver. The selection of “heads” begins.

How to make a steam generator at home?

Moonshine brewing equipment can be made at home. Installing and testing new devices yourself is an unsafe activity. It is necessary to buy quality components. A lathe and milling machine will be required. If the distiller is a specialist in this field, then the PG will produce.

How to make a steam generator for a moonshine still? For equipment, containers with a volume of 20 are used; 40; 50 or more liters.

Metal containers used by distillers:

1. Milk can.
2. Beer keg.
3. Welded stainless steel containers.

Materials for steam pipeline:

• corrugated hose for gas;
• tube (copper or stainless steel);
• reinforced hose for hydraulic machines.

Calculation

For a mash of 20 kg of grain, take a metal container with a capacity of 120–150 liters. To distill 100 liters of mash, use NPG. The volume of the evaporator is 80–85 liters. For self-assembly, different steam connections are used - from above and from below.

Distillers occasionally encounter the problem of bubbler clogging, so they argue about the connection. More often the tube is mounted at the bottom. The only downside to this scheme is that the bubbler will clog if it happens. In this case, the check valve will protect the steam line from the grounds.

Safety

Holes are made in a stainless steel sheet and a flange is screwed on. For safety, the steam generator is equipped with:

• pressure gauge;
• check valve;
• safety valve at 1.5 at.

A safety valve is installed at the outlet. It ensures safety when steam pressure is exceeded.

A bubbler with holes is placed perpendicular to the bottom. The tube is screwed into the tap, which is located at the bottom of the distillation cube.

How to convert a 50 liter cube?

Distillers assemble a steam generator for distilling thick mash with their own hands. (30 and 50 l) suitable for PG and cube. Converting a 50 liter keg:

1. First, a hole is cut. To do this, mark the middle and draw a circle.
2. Lay out the patterns and use a grinder to cut out a circle. The outer diameter is 21 cm and the inner diameter is 16 cm.
3. The curved bottom is also cut off with a grinder. Clean and weld 3 mm thick stainless steel.
4. They mount the thermometer on a cube, which can be bought on AliExpress. A stainless steel thermometer costs 590 rubles.
5. Purchase nuts and spacers and weld the top of the cube. Only after this the middle is cut out.

A 2.5 kW Ariston heating element is installed into a beer keg. The evaporator heats up and steam enters the tank through a pipe. To do this, use a metal gas hose. The mash valve does not allow steam to enter the cube, which has returned again.

There is a lot of information on the forums where distillers share their experiences. For example, there is a steam generator for a do-it-yourself moonshine still (diagram attached). Vinokur assembled a structure that includes:

• keg 30 liters;
• steam generator (12 l);
• gas supply (corrugation);
• The bubbler (copper) has dimensions: 26 mm (d) and 25 holes of 6 mm (d).

The mash was heated on an induction stove. The evaporator, steam line and cube were insulated.

To make a steam generator for a moonshine still, consider the following:

1. Tank location. The evaporator must be located above the cube.
2. The steam line always connects the steam generator and the tank with an arc.
3. Calculate the volume of PG and cube.

If a heating element is inserted, use the formula: 1 kW = 1.6 l/h. If a heating element of 1000 watts is installed, then 1.6 liters of water will evaporate in an hour, 3000 watts - 3.2 liters.

Distillers more often assemble and buy ready-made equipment. Manufacturers think through every detail. Factory-made GHGs are safe and have a guaranteed shelf life.

How to choose ready-made equipment?

The tank based on the pressure cooker can be converted into an NPG. You can assemble a continuous steam generator for a moonshine still if you buy a special module. There is a set of HD NPG/KIT, which costs 8,900 rubles. The design is used for any cube of 8; 10; 11 liters.

The container that will be used in this design does not need to be altered. Connect the water supply and the SG unit. The water begins to heat up as soon as the module is turned on. After a few minutes, the cube heats up and steam generation begins.

Water is supplied in small portions due to the restrictive throttle.

Distillers construct a steam generator from a stainless steel tank. For moonshine brewing, you can purchase evaporation cubes with a volume of: 10; 12; 17; 21; 25; 36 liters and others.

A 12-liter cube made of stainless steel costs 5,395 rubles. The tank is equipped with a reinforced clamp with a lock and a sealing gasket. The bubbler is installed through an adapter.

To use a 12-liter cube as an evaporator, you need to buy a cover for the D250 device for 1985 rubles. It has a diameter of 275 mm. The lid has an emergency valve and a thermometer fitting. It is made of metal 3 mm thick.

For this design you will need:

• steam line;
• bubbler;
• couplings;
• connections;
• sealing gaskets;
• stubs.

The steam line that connects the cube and the evaporator costs 685 rubles. The hose is made of stainless corrugated material. The outside of the wire is insulated to reduce losses.

The price of the bubbler is 1945 rubles. There are slots along the entire length of the tube. The bubbler thread diameter is 1¼ inches.

There is a lot of equipment for moonshine brewing. The choice largely depends on the conditions in which the distiller makes alcohol.

There are kits for steam distillation that cost 70,000–80,000 rubles. Such equipment can be used in any conditions. The price of the HD/3-RP-1503 kit is 77,095 rubles. The set includes:

• cube (2 pcs.);
• lid;
• reflux condenser;
• kings;
• bubbler;
• steam line;
• automation;
• pressure gauge and other instruments.

The consumer buys factory-made GHGs, but high-quality installations are expensive. Therefore, many distillers create and assemble equipment for grain mash themselves.

Creating a steam generator for a moonshine still is not that difficult. It is worth keeping in mind that this device can be purchased in a store, but if you want to save money and create something with your own hands, then you can start making a steam generator at home.

The simplest recipe for moonshine includes only water, sugar and yeast. This is not to say that such a product is bad. But you can significantly improve the taste of the drink and its other characteristics if you add not only yeast and sugar to the mash, but also cereals, berries or fruits. This mash will be thick and may burn during the distillation process.

Steam generator for moonshine still

Since the base for moonshine is in a closed container - a distillation cube - it cannot be stirred. To prevent the mash from burning, it is filtered, but filtering several liters of the fragrant base is not so easy.

For this reason, many who like to make moonshine at home make their own steam generator or buy it in a store.

The moonshine brewing process takes place in several stages. The mash is poured into a distillation cube, where it boils and slowly turns into alcohol, smoothly moving from the distillation cube to the steamer, and then to the coil.

But when making alcohol from thick mash, you can run into a problem. During the boiling process, the mash will begin to burn, this will be indicated by a specific smell. In this case, the moonshine production process will have to be stopped and the mash should be poured out, since it will definitely not be possible to make high-quality alcohol from it.

If the mash is burnt, then the moonshine will have a peculiar burning smell, and it will be impossible to drink it. But don’t despair, because everything can be fixed. A simple device - a steam generator - will help correct the situation and expel a good quality drink from the next batch of mash. If you upgrade your moonshine still with this device, you can achieve the following results:

1. The mash will not burn.
2. The quality of alcohol will improve.
3. The moonshine will acquire a pleasant taste and smell.
4. There will be no need to filter the thick base for making alcohol.

These are the main advantages of the additional module. But before it starts working, you have to do a little work. The steam generator does not have a complicated design; at its core, it will help regulate the pressure and boiling process of the mash, but despite such a simple function, do not underestimate this device.

What will be needed for production?

A moonshine still with a steam generator will not have a bulky design, since the device itself for adjusting the pressure is very compact.

So, what do you need to make a module:

• Pressure cooker or steamer (if there are no such devices in the house, then you can get by with an ordinary saucepan with a tight lid.) The saucepan will have to be modified to ensure the tightness of the connections. They also use skittles to transport beer, but it will have to be slightly modernized. Pressure cookers and steamers have sealed lids - for this reason they are preferable to use for making a steam generator. In addition, they are made of stainless steel; it is this metal that is preferred in the manufacture of devices for brewing moonshine at home.
• Hose for connecting domestic gas (bellows with flexible coupling). If you don’t have such a hose at home, you can buy it in a store or make it yourself using a drill and other tools. To do this, you need to take a pipe from 20 to 40 centimeters long and make characteristic cuts in it, with a gap of 1 centimeter.
• You will also need a fitting; it is screwed into the lid of the pressure cooker, thereby strengthening the tightness of the device.

However, the list of necessary materials does not end there. If we talk about the cost of an additional module, then the most expensive on the list is a pressure cooker; its price can range from 1.5 to 3 or more thousand rubles. You will have to pay from 200 to 400 rubles for the hose. The total amount can include the price of the fitting and various materials for sealing (glue, sealant, etc.).

In any case, it will be cheaper than buying a ready-made device in a store, but do not forget that you will have to spend not only money but also time on the production of the module.

How to assemble a steam generator?

If you make a generator correctly, you will get a very good moonshine still, which can be used to distill thick mash infused with berries, fruits and grains.

So, what is the algorithm of actions:

1. We take a pressure cooker or double boiler and a gas hose, it will play the role of a bubbler. The bubbler must be mounted in the container where the mash is located. To make the structure airtight, use a tube with a diameter of 15 to 22 millimeters.
2. A fitting is screwed into the lid of the pressure cooker or steamer, and a silicone hose is connected to it.
3. Then we mount the structure using connecting tubes in such a way that the result is a chain that consists of the following links: a pressure cooker connected to a bubbler; it, in turn, is attached to the distillation cube, which is connected to the steam chamber and the cooling system. The chain ends with a container into which moonshine, ready for use, slowly drips.
4. High-pressure steam from the pressure cooker passes through the hose into the cube, where it helps to separate the boiling mash vapor into several fractions. Bypassing the steam chamber, where harmful fusel oils settle, the vapors move to the refrigerator. There they pass through a coil, where they are cooled by the movement of water, turn into condensate and come out in the form of a finished product - that is, moonshine.

For those to whom this scheme seems complicated and incomprehensible, it is worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with the functional features of certain parts of the moonshine still:

• The first element in the design will be a pressure cooker, a double boiler or a banal saucepan. The water will boil in the container, turning into steam. The steam passes through the hose into the distillation cube.
• There is mash in the distillation cube, it also boils. The cube will be connected to the pressure cooker using the same hose (bubbler).
• The distillation cube is connected to a steam chamber in which fusel oils settle; it is used as a sump. It is not connected directly to the steam generator.
• From the steamer, the steam passes into the refrigerator, where it will move along the coil. It is the coil that separates water vapor and alcohol vapor. As a result of cooling, alcohol-containing vapors condense and flow into a container for collecting moonshine. The refrigerator is not connected to the steam generator, but it is part of the moonshine still.

If everything is done correctly and the chain has the above-mentioned links and connections, then the device will work perfectly, there is no doubt about it.

There are several nuances that you need to know, as they can affect the quality of the alcohol.

Little tricks:

1. The main thing in a steam generator is that it should not leak steam. For this reason, it is worth monitoring the tightness of the structure. Since pressure cookers and steamers are characterized by a tight connection with the lid, they are used most often.
2. A bubbler, or gas hose, simply must have a flexible coupling, and it must also be made of a material that does not come into contact with alcohols and other substances. Since metal ions may enter the mash during the oxidation process, they will change the taste of the drink.
3. If a pressure cooker, saucepan or other container for a steam generator does not have the option of connecting to the electrical network, it will have to be equipped with heating elements. The heating elements are screwed on both sides, which will help control the process of boiling water.
4. It is worth regulating the pressure in the steam generator by releasing it using valves. The pressure cooker is equipped with such valves.
5. The bubbler will have to be slightly modernized. Notches or one hole are made on it, then the hose is laid on the bottom of the cube. This means that the steam will not flow in a direct stream, but gradually, bypassing the hose.

If you do everything correctly, the thick mash will no longer burn, and you won’t have to pour out the alcohol.

To build a steam generator with your own hands, you will need a pressure cooker or other utensils of 20-25 liters (depending on the volume of the distillation cube) or more with a sealed lid. As a steam generator, you can use an aluminum or stainless steel milk can, an enamel pan, or a stainless steel tank. The main condition is that it must be hermetically sealed.

The internal structure of the steam generator is similar to an electric kettle - a built-in heating element with the ability to adjust the heating is installed near the bottom and comes into contact with the water poured into the vessel, directly transferring heat to the liquid. This achieves maximum efficiency in using the heater power.

The design must be supplemented with a safety valve in the lid of the vessel, a fitting for steam release and a tube for visual monitoring of the water level. It is also advisable to install the thermometer at the level of the lid. Although water always boils at 100 C, knowing how much time is left before the process of maximum steam release is necessary for timely adjustment of the heater power.

It is necessary to make a valve for the reason that the wort and the coil, located in the path of the steam, create decent hydrodynamic resistance and the pressure inside the steam generator can increase quite quickly, if not rapidly. This threatens serious troubles in the form of a torn off lid, a torn pipeline or an explosion of the evaporator. The presence of a valve turns a DIY steam generator for a moonshine still into a completely safe device.

The valve can be purchased on the same specialized websites or in hardware stores. It should be designed for a pressure 30 percent higher than atmospheric pressure. Excess pressure of 0.3 atm. quite sufficient for the distillation of any type of wort.

The valve is mounted in the cover of the steam generator and sealed with fum tape or silicone gaskets, depending on the design of the fitting. Another fitting is installed next to it - for connecting the steam line. It must be equipped with a threaded connection for screwing on the connecting hose leading to the distillation tank. There are two options for installing the steam line fitting - in the lid and in the upper part of the wall, 2-3 cm below the cut. The only condition is that it must always be above the level of water poured into the evaporator.

It is necessary to provide a valve and fitting in the lid

The best steam line for a DIY steam generator is a metal corrugated hose for connecting gas. But you can also use a stainless or copper tube, flexible reinforced hoses of hydraulic machines (HH). The last option is acceptable, but before direct use they need to be steamed at idle speed to eliminate the smell of rubber, and you can only use new hoses, never use them. But this is a backup option; a gas metal hose is the best choice.

The distillation cube is also subject to re-equipment. A threaded fitting must be installed below, at a distance of 2 cm from the bottom. On the outside, a steam line will be connected to it, and on the inside, a perforated tube twisted in a spiral for the steam to escape. Two or three turns of the spiral is quite enough.

The outer turn runs along the perimeter of the vessel, the inner one closer to the center. Perforation is performed only in the upper part of the tube in the form of drilled holes with a diameter of 1-2 mm or slits, as is more convenient. The distance between the holes is 1-2 cm. The steam coming out of them should capture as much liquid (wort) as possible. The internal steam line (bubbler) is made from the same gas hose, copper or stainless steel tube with a diameter of 10-20 mm. It is not advisable to use aluminum here.

How it works

Having connected a steam generator for a moonshine still, made by yourself, using a steam line with a distillation cube, we fill in the working fluids. Into the steam generator clean water, into the cube - semi-liquid wort. We seal both vessels, install the refrigerator and steamer, and connect running water to the refrigerator. We turn on the heating element of the steam generator at maximum power.

You can heat the steam generator without a heating element - on a gas stove, hob, etc. It is important that the water boils. The resulting steam, entering the cube, heats the wort, bubbles it and displaces alcohol vapors into the steam line leading to the steamer and refrigerator. There are processes similar to a conventional distiller.

When working with a steam generator it is important:

• When the water temperature in the steam generator reaches 85-90 C, we reduce the heating to medium or lower so that the steam is released slowly. This way the mash (wort) warms up better and alcohol release occurs evenly.
• The main distillation occurs at T = 95 C - too much boiling can cause the safety valve to trip.
• After selecting the required amount of alcohol, turn off the steam generator, but dismantle the device after 25-30 minutes, when it has cooled down somewhat.
• It is necessary to constantly monitor the liquid level in the steam generator - if it decreases to 25% of the initial supply, the heating should be reduced. When dry, heating elements burn out very quickly.

Working with a steam generator is somewhat slower than normal distillation, but you can get absolutely amazing drinks, even develop your own recipes. This type of moonshine still is easy to use and safe, provided proper distillation techniques are followed. It is not difficult to make a steam generator and modify an existing apparatus in the house.
If you are not afraid of difficulties, appreciate the steam generator that Yuri Ivanovich made.

In order to make a moonshine still with a steam generator, we need the following:

• A container that can be hermetically sealed (a double boiler or pressure cooker is ideal);
• The rest of the moonshine still (you already have it if you are reading this article).

You need to prepare a hole in the lid of the steamer for screwing a pipe into it that will go into the distillation cube. In some cases, the hole already has the required diameter, then no preparatory work will have to be done. A little advice: if you still have to expand the hole, it is better if the lid is made of metal rather than glass.

Now we take a small piece of pipe and cut a thread at its two ends - with its help our improvised pipe will be attached to the lid. Additionally, we purchase a couple of washers: 2 metal and 2 silicone (not rubber!) and bolts that will hold the pipe in its place.

The next step is the hose. It is best to take three-quarter gas. It is quite flexible and can withstand heavy loads, which is what we need.

And the last thing is the end of the system. This is a "diffuser". It must disperse steam throughout the bottom of the distillation cube so that all the cake is saturated with moisture. A tube is perfect for this, one end of which is sealed and the other has a thread. Now we make holes on the sides of the tube. They must be in the same plane. To put it simply, the steam should come out along the entire length of the tube, diverging in opposite directions. Its direction should be parallel to the bottom of the distillation cube.

All that remains is to insert the steam diffuser into the still and seal it. A perfect move would be to weld the faucet three-quarters of the way into the bottom of the cube. Then you can put another nut on the hose and seal it by simply tightening it.

Method two is even easier

Those lucky ones who have a multicooker at home will not have to spend a long time worrying about drilling and screwing. We make a system from a hose and a diffuser. After this, remove the pressure release plug from the multicooker lid, and attach the free end of the hose in its place. All!

How to use a steam generator

The technology for using a steam generator is quite simple:

1. Fill approximately three-quarters of the total volume of the container with water;
2. Close the lid tightly and connect the tube with the diffuser;
3. Bring to a boil on maximum gas or heat on the stove;
4. After boiling, reduce the gas until the water boils.

That’s it, after that we let cold water into the refrigerator of the moonshine still and place a container to collect the finished product. This technology does not affect the moonshine in any way - it turns out exactly the same as with conventional distillation.

Safety first

Of course, Russia is full of talent and some people assemble steam generators from improvised materials such as pots, shower hoses and pan lids. But you need to correctly calculate your strength. If you are not sure that you can do everything by hand, then you should consider using a factory steamer. The fact is that the system must be completely sealed, and achieving this manually is quite difficult.

This point follows from the previous one. Since the system is sealed, and water expands when it goes into a vapor state, it is necessary to think about leveling space. Therefore, as mentioned above, water should be poured no more than two-thirds or three-quarters of the possible amount.

Some moonshiners use a steam generator directly as a distillation cube. As a result, they simply end up with a smaller volume of product, although this approach does not affect the moonshine itself in any way. If you immediately pour mash into the steamer, you need to leave about half the volume free. Braga expands much more than water. In addition, foam can get into the hole, which will certainly lead to the moonshine being irretrievably damaged.

If you make a moonshine still from a double boiler, you may encounter a problem when the outlet becomes clogged with berries. This happens if the raw material was fruit mash. Therefore, it must be carefully filtered before distillation. If a berry clogs the hole where the hose that goes into the steam tank is connected, then there is a very high probability of an explosion! As the water expands, it creates very high pressure in the steamer, which inevitably leads to the destruction of the lid. The consequences will be very dire: damaged kitchen utensils, splattered walls and scolding from your wife.

Improvement of the steam generator

The steam generator can be improved with a heating element. In this case, you are freed from the need to use third-party means in the form of a stove for heating. The only thing you will need is electricity. But keep in mind that there is a non-zero probability of burning the heating element. To do this, we will install additional protection.

So, first we need a heating element, or better yet two. This will make it possible to control the temperature much more flexibly. They need to be embedded into the steam generator. It is necessary to install fuses in front of them. Power surges are quite common, and replacing a fuse is much cheaper than replacing a heating element.

The second important point is the installation of protection against drying out of the container. We will need it so that the heating element constantly remains in the water and does not burn out. A similar float can be purchased at any electronics store, hardware store, or plumbing store. You can also search on resources for moonshiners, but such floats are very rare there. If you intend to purchase this device on the Internet, then the request “float for a steam generator” will solve the issue. All that remains is to wire the electrical circuit in such a way that when the float is lowered, the circuit opens and voltage is not supplied to the heating element.

That's it, all that remains is to cut into the lid a pipe for discharging steam into the distillation cube. Now the quantity ready will be much larger. And with additional moonshine, you can conduct experiments, using it as a basis for various homemade alcoholic drinks.