All about steam generators for hamam, baths and saunas

Today, a steam generator for a bath is an indispensable part of equipment, to a greater extent this statement applies to Turkish baths - hammams. The period of existence of the device in question is much shorter than the history of the hamam itself.

It is believed that Turkish baths appeared in the 8th – 9th centuries AD during the reign of the Arab Caliphate in the Turkish lands, and “boor” in Arabic means heat. In those days, the hammam was heated using a large cauldron or vat, in which water was heated. The boiler could be located both in the steam room itself and in a separate room, from which steam entered the bathhouse through special small channels. Water in a huge bowl had to be constantly in a boiling state, since the steam room could be of different sizes.

Purpose of the steam generator for all types of baths and saunas

Nowadays, rarely what kind of Turkish baths are heated with the help of boilers. Most steam rooms use steam generators, for which you do not need to constantly throw firewood. These devices can be controlled remotely, creating an individual comfortable atmosphere in the steam room. Modern steam generators are capable of releasing steam not only at the required temperature, but also with a certain frequency. The design and functionality of the devices has no limits, it all depends on the requirements set by the bathhouse owner to the necessary equipment and its cost (affordable price for the buyer). Modern steam guns are successfully used not only in hammams, but also in traditional baths and saunas.

The use of a steam generator with an oven for Russian baths

Any Russian bath is distinguished by the creation of wet steam in the steam room, which at high temperature (70-100⁰C) does not always positively affect the human body. From here, many people feel certain ailments. To prevent such phenomena from happening, and the steam room to be able to spend more time (without prejudice to health), many specialists and bath experts, together with a wood or electric stove for heating the steam room, recommend installing a steam generator or steam gun in an adjacent room. It is a combination of wet and dry steam that will allow a person to be in the steam room for longer, experiencing only positive feelings.

Steam generators for the Finnish sauna

The Finnish sauna is characterized by the creation of dry steam in the steam room. For this reason, in many steam rooms it is forbidden to fight with a broom and pour water on stones. Too dry steam often people experience discomfort in the respiratory system, drying out the mucous membrane of the nose and throat. To maintain a comfortable environment, experts recommend using an electric furnace with a steam generator in saunas, but it is advisable not to have them nearby.

Steam generator for a bath It is not a traditional way to create a pair, but with its help you can create a comfortable feeling for each person in a pair of different types.

The principle of operation of the steam generator

As you know, in a hammam they take procedures with a wet pair of 100% humidity, and a relatively low temperature of 45-55⁰C. A steam generator for a Turkish bath is gradually becoming the main source of steam generation, since steam rooms are usually not small in size and heating them with steam from boiling boilers is not a fast and very laborious process.

Boilers (to warm up the entire steam room) should be heated for several days, and it is enough to turn on the steam generator for heating the hammam 2 hours before the start of the procedures. After turning on the device, a special container begins to be filled with water through an electromagnetic valve, which has both mechanical and automatic control (responds to the action of sensors). In the process of water intake, the liquid is heated, after which the steam is piped through the nozzles that connects the device to the steam, it enters the boor. When gradually heating the water and releasing the tank, since water is at a temperature of 100⁰C turns into steam, the solenoid valve is switched on again (at a certain point) and water fills the tank again.

In modern steam generators, the temperature of the supplied steam can be automatically adjusted. In a Turkish bath to create a comfortable temperature, provided that all the sunbeds are already heated, enough 40-50⁰C. It is also customary to install temperature sensors in the bathhouse itself that respond to a temperature increase above 55⁰C, and they transmit a signal to the control unit of the steam generator, after which the device temporarily ceases to emit steam (until the temperature drops below the set point).

Many owners of bath complexes consider that in hammams it is better to use furnaces together with a steam generator, referring to the great efficiency of heating the room. But it should be remembered that steam guns can be of completely different power, respectively, are able to compensate for all the costs of heating furnaces.

Worth knowingthat in most modern steam generators, an automatic flushing system is installed, which protects the tank from scale and extends the life of the heating device.

Varieties of steam generators for heating hammam and features of the choice of device

Today, there are several types of steam generating units capable of working not only in combination with an electric furnace (for baths), but to independently create a comfortable environment in a steam room:

• electrical devices (with mains power);
• diesel;
• gas steam generator for hamam;
• induction steam guns.

The most popular models include electric and gas steam generators. Electric devices for the production of steam are quite simple to mount and easy to maintain. It’s advantageous to install gas steam generators when there is centralized gas supply in the room, then the cost of operating the unit becomes several times less than all analogues.

In a number of devices, both integrated tanks, where an automated set of water can be used, as well as individual ones into which it is necessary to add liquid on your own (open and close the tap).

Calculating the power of a steam room device

The choice of power of the steam generator is based on the size of the steam room. On 1 m³ premises should account for 0.7-0.8 kW of power. If you have a steam room 8 m³, then the power of the steam generator should not be less than 7 kW.

Before buying a steam generator for a hammam or for a sauna instead of a bath stove (in addition), you should decide how the sunbeds and the floor will be heated (for a Turkish bath). If the heating will be general (from the steam generator), then the power of the device should be selected according to the above methodology. In the case of organizing the heating of surfaces using an electric or water heated floor, the power of the steam generator required for injecting steam should be reduced by 2 times (according to calculations).

The choice of the required power of the steam gun depends on the material and wall thickness. The calculation method is true for typical steam rooms made of modern gypsum and acrylic materials, tiled. If your hamam has thick brick walls, then the power of the device you select per 1 m³should be increased by 1.2.

Manufacturer's choice

The domestic market of modern steam guns is constantly growing, but the following remain unchanged leaders - manufacturers:

• Helo is a Finnish company that manufactures all the equipment for baths and saunas with almost 100 years of history (founded 1919). Over the many years of its existence, it has established itself as a reliable manufacturer of equipment. The steam generators of this company are presented in a wide range, and receive a lot of positive feedback, especially if they are installed in small hamams for private use;
• Tylo is a Swedish manufacturer of all the necessary equipment for bath complexes for private and large-scale use. Tylo steam generators with power up to 10 kW are in great demand and are considered one of the leaders in this segment;
• Hygromatik - the company has been producing household equipment in this area for many years. Ovens, steam generators and many other devices of the company are widely used in bath complexes of various sizes, spas and fitness centers. All devices of the company are designed for continuous operation, they are reliable and durable.
• EOS is a German company specializing in the production of large-capacity bath devices for large-scale applications. Steam generators of this brand should be purchased for large bath complexes with a constant influx of customers. All equipment of the company is made of high quality materials and has a low cost.

When choosing a steam generator, it is worth remembering that this is a rather powerful device that must meet certain reliability criteria. Therefore, when choosing a unit, it is better to trust the manufacturer “with a name”, which has a network of service centers in the country, than to buy goods of a new unknown brand.

Installation of steam generators

Having chosen the device, after calculating the compliance of the room size and power, you should proceed with its installation. The steam generator is always mounted in an adjacent room with a steam room, which must be prepared for the installation of a powerful device. In the process of arranging a room for installing a steam generator, the following measures should be taken:

1. Decide on the installation location of the device.
2. If an electric steam gun is installed, care should be taken about the quality of the supply line:
   • the cross section of the wires should match the power of the device;
   • the unit should be directly connected through the circuit breaker to the input electrical panel.
3. The water supply system must have an additional valve (to shut off in case of an accident) and must be reserved.
4. It is necessary to create special technological holes in the common wall with the steam room to which the pipeline will pass.
5. Steam pipes are best installed copper or metal. It is worth paying great attention to connecting them to a steam generator.
6. Steam outlet openings should be located at the bottom of the wall, and if desired, an automatic shutter can be installed on each of them to disable certain steam supply channels.
7. Since the unit under consideration is powerful equipment, all electrical work must be performed according to the requirements of the PUE.
8. The device must have a separate ground terminal.
9. A test to launch a steam generator should be done before the completion of the finishing work on equipping a steam room in a Turkish bath.

It should be remembered and considered. during installation, that electric steam generators with a capacity of 10 kW and more must be connected to a 3-phase power supply system of 380 V. Therefore, if the steam generator is installed for private use, it is worth thinking about laying an additional line or installing a less powerful device.

The steam generator itself is a composite device including:

• steam generation unit (water heater with a tank and a steam exhaust channel);
• the control panel of the device, on which it is possible to perform manipulation actions to set the steam supply modes (on some models, they can be stored and turned on automatically at the right time);
• the steam generator is also equipped with an additional pump for feeding aromatic additives into the steam and mixing them.

Summing up the stated material, it should be said that the steam generator is not a cheap device and requires certain costs not only for the purchase of the equipment itself, but also for the arrangement of the room where it will be mounted. At the same time, this is the best equipment to create a comfortable temperature in the hammam. With the help of a modern steam gun, it is easy to fulfill and satisfy the requirements of all visitors to the steam room, leaving people with only a pleasant impression of the procedure.