ESG Steam Boiler?

[RobW]

Just wondering if anyone has experience with SpeedyLectric Electrode Steam Boilers? I'm changing over to electric steam, and I really like the concept behind the automatic balance control boilers and was just wondering if anyone has/had experience with them?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[Starcat]

Electric Steam

Just wondering if anyone has experience with SpeedyLectric Electrode Steam Boilers? I'm changing over to electric steam, and I really like the concept behind the automatic balance control boilers and was just wondering if anyone has/had experience with them?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

I have formerly run steam plants in the range of 1200 HP.
From a concept engineering standpoint as compared to straight electric resistance heat they appear to have some advantages, but I have never run one.
There is mention of " electrolyte " but the water chemistry is not made clear on the wbesight. That is, how is the water chemistry kept in trim and maintained, and what kind of blowdown if any is required compared to a traditional system. How is the chemistry altered over run time and how is it re-balanced?
They are offered in 2-14 HP which from a commercial microbrewery standpoint is going to be small depending on what kind of system you are wanting to supply. This means you might need more than one.
As an example we run a 15 BBL Brewhouse on a boiler of about 20 HP and its loaded pretty heavy when we are both heating water and going to boil, so depending on your real capacity needs you might need more than one. The electricity it takes to do this duty is a large amount. It would most likely be your largest single KW load in the building proper. To an old school guy who has worked around steam, electric systems are never attractive because of the power requirements, but there are some interesting points about this type of system that would bear investigation.

[RobW]

Thanks Warren,

The Steam will be for my 10bbl boil kettle only, the HLT has direct heating elements and solar. I've run the numbers with propane (no natural gas here) and the costs between the two are almost identical in terms of per hour usage. The install costs are considerably lower than a propane boiler. What I See as a huge benefit to this electrode boiler is the insanely low maintenance on it. No elements to burn out, no salts baking on the elements, etc.

I appreciate the input!

Rob

[Starcat]

Thanks Warren,

The Steam will be for my 10bbl boil kettle only, the HLT has direct heating elements and solar. I've run the numbers with propane (no natural gas here) and the costs between the two are almost identical in terms of per hour usage. The install costs are considerably lower than a propane boiler. What I See as a huge benefit to this electrode boiler is the insanely low maintenance on it. No elements to burn out, no salts baking on the elements, etc.

I appreciate the input!

Rob

The price of propane is if course quite rigged.
For several reaons I will not go into, propane is the worst fuel gas regardless of arguments otherwise.
Against propane it may indeed be better.