Steam jenny

Lea · Mar 14, 2014

I will try to post some pics in the next couple of days, to show progress and maybe get some feedback

Egon · Mar 15, 2014

Lea said:
Has anyone on here ever built a steam jenny for thawing out culverts?
I am planning to build one out of a twenty gallon hot water tank using a tiger torch for heat.
It will have a safety valve ,pressure gauge, temp gauge and water glass. Anything I am missing?

Now that we know you have 1st. class qualifications most of response's we give will be superfluous. Will you have alarms and shutdowns?

not2old · Mar 15, 2014

I'll be watching. I didn't know you could build one yourself. I'd like to use it to control weeds in my driveway without using pesticides that might get into our water.

CanuckGT · Mar 15, 2014

Lea said:
I made my living operating high pressure boilers(900)psi. So I have experience with steam, I also have the ticket to run any boiler in Canada I just have never built one ,however this will be lo pressure psi the safety valve is set for 30 psi and the vessel itself has been hydro static pressure tested to 150psi so I am not too worried about a explosion, that being said **** can happen so it will be watched very closely, I may even hook the torch to a aquastat and set it for 220 f.

An aquastat...right on, I know what your throwing down, I too am a 3rd Class Eng here in Alberta so definitely aware of all the dangers, wasn't going to try and run a turbine and such ,just generate steam to melt my culverts,strictly low pressure.

Still thinking 20lb C02 canister,schd 80 fittings,gauge,safety relief v/v, tiger torch....to the shop I go..!!

Lea · Mar 16, 2014

CanuckGT
The two reasons I picked a hot water tank to use is because I had a new one I wasn't using and it already has five outlets on it so no need to weld on any fittings plus it is hydroed to 150psi I guess that's three

Kernopelli · Mar 16, 2014

Lea said:
however this will be lo pressure psi the safety valve is set for 30 psi and the vessel itself has been hydro static pressure tested to 150psi so I am not too worried about a explosion, that being said **** can happen so it will be watched very closely, I may even hook the torch to a aquastat and set it for 220 f.

This sounds like a great project! I have wanted a steam jenny for a long time and never considered making one. I am a Stationary Fireman at a coal fired power plant and have a steam lance at work......just wish I could take equipment to work and use it to degrease/clean it. I myself would not be too concerned operating a homemade unit w/ 30 psi safety but I think all provinces in Canada follow the same ASME code for power boilers ( steam or other vapor generated at pressures exceeding 15 psig is considered "high pressure") To me, high and low pressure is a very subjective thing......someone used to operating at 900psi probably wouldn't personally consider 20psi as "high pressure" but someone used to operating at 5 psi would.......guess that's one of the reasons there is a need for codes.

Watching this intently!!!