Scheme of a smoke generator for cold smoking. The principle of operation and manufacture of a do-it-yourself smoke generator
To treat friends with homemade smoked meats, you need a smokehouse - for its convenient operation, a smoke generator is used. This article describes the different types of cold smoke generators with drawings and dimensions.
Smoke generator device
There are two main types of cooking smoked products:
- Hot, at a smoke temperature of 50-130°C. This process lasts from 20 minutes to 1 hour.
- Cold, at temperatures up to 50 ° C. The duration of preparation can reach several days. During this time, pets may try to steal food if the smoker is not closed tightly. To avoid this, fences and barriers are used.
Once, for smoking, products were hung over the hearth, which was heated with firewood. The main problem of the classical method of smoking is the need for constant monitoring and high consumption of firewood.
The figure shows a diagram of a cold smoking installation with a hearth and a chimney in the ground.
Now, instead of a hearth, a smoke generator is used - a device that produces smoke and feeds it into the smoking chamber. The taste of smoked meats depends on its temperature and composition.
The main plus of a smokehouse smoke generator is that it is able to work with minimal supervision and use wood chips and sawdust to generate smoke.
How to use the smoke generator
Any smokehouse consists of two functional parts - a smoke generator and a food chamber. In the simplest hot-smoked devices made from a barrel or a large pot, these components are in a common housing.
Wood sawdust or chips, preferably fruit trees, are placed in the smoke generator. The sawdust is ignited or external heating is switched on. The smoke released in this case enters the smoking chamber by natural draft or with the help of a compressor.
By changing the heating, the amount of incoming air, or in another way, depending on the design of the right smoke generator, the required amount and temperature of smoke is achieved.
In a private house or cottage, there are all the necessary conditions for installing the device - a porch and a canopy so that the rain does not interfere with the process, or, at worst, a roof and a good roof, where you can also install a smoking cabinet. If smoking will take place in an apartment (most often in the kitchen), it is necessary to provide for the removal of smoke through the pipe into the hood and close the doors and windows so that the smoke does not spread through the rooms.
The device and operation of the smoke generator
The figure shows the simplest scheme of a smoke generator:
The figure shows the simplest diagram of a smoke generator.
The job of a smoke machine is to produce smoke and supply it to the products being smoked. To do this, chips are placed on the grate and set on fire, and the compressor transfers air to the smokehouse.
The amount of smoke depends on the properties of the wood on which the smoke generator operates, the air draft through the blower, and the pressure and performance of the compressor.
How does a classic smoke generator work?
The principle of operation of the smoke generator is simple:
- before starting work, sawdust is placed and set on fire inside the case;
- for better combustion and smoke supply, air is supplied to the combustion chamber with the help of a compressor;
- smoldering sawdust emits smoke, which passes through the smoke pipe into the smokehouse;
- passing through the pipe, the smoke cools down to the required temperature, to control which a thermometer is installed at the end of the pipe or in the smoking chamber.
Types of smoke generators
Despite the fact that most devices are arranged according to the same principle, there are many varieties of smoke generator designs.
Drawing of a cold-smoked spiral smoke generator
The spiral smoke smoking machine is distinguished by the design of the smoke tube. This system is used to cool the smoke. Inside the chimney there is a structure resembling an Archimedes screw, or a meat grinder worm. This lengthens the path of smoke from the generator to the smoker, which helps to cool it.
Scheme of a smoke generator with a condensate collector
In the composition of the smoke, in addition to the aromatic substances themselves, there is moisture. Getting together with him into the smoking chamber, it moistens the products and accumulates at the bottom, and, flowing back, moistens the sawdust. You can get rid of condensate by adding a condensate collector to the smoke generator device.
In the apparatus with this addition, the chimney bends so that the middle part is below the beginning and end of the pipe. A tee is installed at this point, on which a plastic or rubber tube is put on. Through it, the condensate flows into a glass bottle or a plastic bottle.
Conventional generators require a compressor and a condensate collector. But there is a design that allows you to do without these details. This is a passive smoke generator.
The main element of the passive generator is a rectangular box, the dimensions of which are smaller than the combustion chamber. Partitions are arranged in this box with a snake so that the distance between them is 4-6 cm. For air access, the design of the smoke generator is made of perforated metal.
The passive labyrinth-type generator works as follows:
- sawdust is poured into the grooves formed at 3/4 of the height and lightly compacted;
- compacted sawdust is set on fire from one end of the snake;
- a box with smoldering sawdust is installed in the combustion chamber.
The labyrinth filled with sawdust provides up to 10 hours of burning.
Important! After work, all openings must be cleaned of ash.
Smoke generator "snail"
A spiral-shaped smoke generator is similar in design and principle of operation to a labyrinth. The difference is in the rounded shape of the moves. This design is installed in a round combustion chamber.
The figure shows a diagram of a smoke generator "snail"
Industrial smoke generator for cold smoking
An industrial smoke generator is more complicated than a domestic one and is designed for continuous operation.
It is composed of wood bin, feeding mechanism, heating element and other parts.
Industrial units allow you to adjust a large number of parameters:
- temperature in the smokehouse;
- humidity;
- smoke density;
- time for preparing.
The electrical installation consists of the following parts:
- corps;
- containers for wood chips;
- electric motor;
- auger for feeding sawdust;
- heating element;
Smoke is generated when wood chips hit the heating element. The feed mechanism consists of a hopper, an auger (Archimedes screw) and an electric motor with a gearbox that rotates this screw.
When the screw rotates, the chips fall on the heating element, heated to a temperature of 250-300°C, and heated to smoke emission. The ash from the burnt wood chips falls down into the ash pan.
This design is a simplified version of an industrial smoke generator.
The principle of operation of an electric cold smoke generator
Mini smoke generator (camping)
For smoking freshly caught fish, a smoke generator can be made from a pot, an iron barrel and other improvised materials:
- Chips, sawdust and small twigs are placed at the bottom of the pot. The bark from the branches must be cleaned.
- Closer to the upper tank, a grate is installed on which meat or fish is placed. Instead, you can turn the lid upside down and tie the products to the handle.
- The cauldron is closed with a lid and placed over a small fire.
Advice! The grate with products can be folded for easy carrying.
Camping smoke generator device
Differences in smoke intake
After the start of work, the air flow from the compressor is mixed with smoke and enters the smoking chamber. This node is called an ejector.
The ejector can be located both in the upper part of the smoke generator, above the wood chips, and below, near the combustion zone.
The device and design of the device with the lower location of the ejector
The device with a smoke intake from the bottom works well with small dimensions and a small smoking chamber.
In other cases, this design has several disadvantages:
- the direction of the air flow does not coincide with the thrust, which worsens the combustion process;
- a large camera often goes out, and a small one has a limited time of continuous operation;
- smoke enters the chimney directly from the combustion zone, which increases its temperature;
- the chimney pipe must be protected from the ingress of sawdust into it.
From these shortcomings, the design with the upper smoke extraction is free.
The device and design of the device with the top location of the ejector
The ejector, located in the upper part of the housing at a distance of several centimeters from the cover, takes the smoke from the upper part of the combustion chamber. This design has many advantages:
- the smoke has a lower temperature, which simplifies the process of cold smoking;
- the direction of natural draft coincides with the movement of smoke, which ensures more stable combustion even with a temporary shutdown of the compressor;
Apparatus with ejector on top
Self assembly
There are many factory-made models on sale, but if you have the skills to work with metal, you can make a smoke generator for cold smoking with your own hands according to our drawings.
The manufacture of one of the structures using improvised materials is shown in the video below (Kamchatsky smoke generator):
Fan design
The most common model for hand-made creation is an apparatus with a fan. A drawing of a smoke generator for a smokehouse with a fan is shown below.
To make a do-it-yourself smoke generator according to the drawing above, you need:
- For the case you need a square 100x100 mm or a round ∅100 mm pipe 0.8 m long. Dimensions are approximate.
- A piece of 3/4-1.5″ threaded water pipe and nuts of the appropriate diameter for the chimney. For hot smoking, the length of the chimney is 30-50 cm; for cold smoking, a metal hose is put on the end of the chimney or it is extended to the required length. It is selected by experience.
- Low power electric fan. You can take an aquarium compressor.
- Rubber and steel tubes of small diameter. Needed to connect the fan to the case.
To make a smoke generator for a smokehouse, the following order is required:
- The bottom and lid are made for the case. These parts must have sides that fit tightly on the pipe and prevent ash from below and smoke from above from escaping.
- In the body itself, just above the sides, several holes ∅6-10 mm are drilled to supply air to the combustion zone. With poor traction, their number can be increased.
- At a distance of 5 cm from the top, a hole for the chimney is drilled. It is fixed with two nuts or electric welding.
- On the opposite side of the chimney, a hole is drilled for a thin tube through which air is supplied. Inside the housing, it should be directed to the chimney, but not enter it. At the same time, the air from the fan is mixed with smoke and enters the smoking chamber.
To make a cold smoked smoke generator with your own hands, drawings with dimensions can be drawn independently using the examples above.
This design is also made from other materials, and optionally supplemented with a condensate trap, cooler and other accessories.
Do-it-yourself parts of the body of a simple smoke generator for cold smoking can be made from a three-liter enameled or stainless can.
Important! An aluminum can will immediately burn out, so this material is not suitable.
The walls of this container are thin, so the chimney with the injector is mounted on top, and at a height of 2-3 cm from the bottom, 3-4 holes ∅6 mm are drilled to suck in air.
A compressor is connected to the injector on one side with a thin rubber or PVC tube, and on the other, a chimney from a metal corrugated pipe is connected.
The process of making a smoke generator with your own hands from a can
How to make a smoke generator from a gas cylinder
By design, this device resembles a potbelly stove.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a smoke generator from a gas cylinder include the following items:
- Release the rest of the gas.
- Constantly pouring water on the tap, cut it off with a hand saw. If the cylinder is from carbon dioxide or oxygen, then you can use an angle grinder.
- Weld the legs to the balloon. This is necessary for sustainability.
- Cut two doors with a gas cutter or grinder. One from below, 10x10 cm in size, will be a blower. The second from the top, 1/3 of the circumference of the balloon wide, and the height of its diameter. A grate will be installed through it, and wood chips will be loaded.
- From the cut pieces of the walls to make doors. Attach them to the loops.
- At a height of 1-2 cm above the blower, weld 4 M20 nuts inside. A grate is laid on them.
- Make a grate from steel rods ∅10 mm or a steel circle 10 mm thick. Lay the grate on the nuts.
- Instead of a cut off valve, weld a piece of threaded pipe. Its length is 5-7 cm and diameter is 25-40 mm.
- The ejector is screwed onto the thread. On the one hand, a compressor is connected to it, and on the other, a chimney.
Instructions for assembling a smoke generator from a gas cylinder
The design of the smoke generator with a cooler (cooler)
The cold smoking process requires smoke with a temperature of no higher than 50 ° C, and it comes out of the generator much hotter. To cool it, you can extend the chimney or install a cooler (cooler).
The principle of operation of the device with a cooler is based on increasing the time of movement of smoke to the smoking chamber. For this, an additional capacitance is installed between the generator and the chamber.
Advice! When the smoke cools, condensate is released from it, so it is necessary to install a condensate collector at the lowest point of the cooler.
Do-it-yourself labyrinth-type smoke generator
The main difference between the labyrinth smoke generator is the availability of sawdust containers. To make such a unit with your own hands, you need a steel mesh or a fine-mesh grate:
- a square is cut out 50 mm smaller than the base of the unit;
- strips 5 cm wide are cut from the same grid;
- tracks 4-6 cm wide are marked on the base;
- strips are fixed on the base by electric welding.
The scheme of work is shown in the figure above.
Advice! Sawdust should be taken the smallest, after a circular saw.
Friction smoke generator assembly diagram
Most smoke devices work on the principle of burning wood chips and sawdust. But there are devices in which smoke is obtained by rubbing a wooden block on a steel pulley.
The pulley is located on the shaft of an electric motor with a power of 2-4 kW and 1400 rpm. It is made of textolite with a steel clip. For cooling, inclined holes are drilled in the textolite.
A wooden block is pressed against the pulley by a clamping device. This device can be with a load, and the force is regulated by its value or spring, with an adjusting screw. The amount of smoke depends on the pressing force.
On the path of smoke in front of the smoking chamber, a fine mesh is placed, to which the negative terminal of the high voltage source is connected, and the positive terminal is connected to the hooks and the grate on which the products are attached. Smoke, passing through the grate, acquires a negative charge and quickly smokes products that are positively charged.
The high voltage source is a magneto mounted on the engine shaft, or an ignition coil connected to the ~ 220 V network.
stainless steel smoke generator
Most smoke devices are made from carbon steel. But if skills and materials are available, then it is better to make a homemade smoke generator for a cold smoked smokehouse from stainless steel.
Such devices have advantages over other materials:
- due to the higher thermal stability, the stainless steel firebox burns out more slowly;
- the device is not subject to corrosion under the influence of condensate and atmospheric precipitation.
The scheme of operation of such a unit is shown in the figure below.
Smoke generator for cold smoking with bottom smoke supply
The classic design of the device for the production of smoke involves the installation of an outlet at the top. But the smoke, rising up the apparatus, cools down. Devices intended for hot smoking, it is advisable to do with a lower ejector, at a height of 50 mm above the grate.
The design and principle of operation of such a unit are shown in the figure:
Important! In devices with a lower smoke extraction, the installation of an ejector is mandatory.
Manufacture of a spiral smoke generator
To cool the smoke, in addition to an additional chamber, a vertical pipe is used with an auger located in it, or an Archimedes screw:
- the spiral cooler is assembled in a casing made of a pipe ∅100 mm and 500 mm long;
- a pipe ∅40 mm and a length of 500 mm is used as an axis;
- screw turns are made of steel rings with an outer diameter of 100 mm and an inner diameter of 45 mm;
- the rings are cut on one side, the coils are moved apart and put on the axle;
- all structural elements are fixed by electric welding, the auger is placed in the housing;
- covers are welded to the ends of the body, and a chimney is attached to the sides.
Important! When cooling, condensate is released from the smoke, so a condensate collector is connected to the bottom cover.
In the smoke emitted during the smoldering of sawdust, in addition to aromatic substances, there are resins, soot and other components. They spoil the taste of the finished product, and to improve the quality, the smoke of the right smoke generator should be passed through a cleaner.
This is a pipe with a larger diameter than the chimney. Inside it are steel shavings or metal washcloths for washing dishes.
Smoke generator with condensate collector
As the smoke cools, condensate is released from it. Getting on food, moisture worsens the taste and appearance of smoked meats, so it must be removed from the smoke.
To collect condensate in the chimney, a tee is installed with a drain into a plastic container. There are two ways to install it:
- With electric welding. The chimney bends in the middle third and a branch is welded in the lower part of the bend, on which a tube is put on to collect condensate.
- With the help of water tees. If water pipes are used for the chimney, then a tee is screwed onto them with a tap into the condensate collector. Due to the design, the outlet will be the lower part of the horizontal chimney.
Installed condensate drain tee
Various accessories for a smoke generator
To improve the quality of smoke, a smoke generator with additional devices is suitable.
Smoke generator injector device
The most important and complex part of the apparatus is the ejector. The quality and quantity of smoke and the operation of the entire installation depend on its manufacture and adjustment.
The principle of operation of this device is as follows:
- the flow of air moving through the chimney creates a reduced pressure inside it;
- low pressure in the chimney pipe draws smoke from the smoke generator and creates additional draft through the lower openings.
Thus, the operation of the ejector enhances the flow of smoke into the smoking chamber, the smoldering of wood chips and the intensity of smoke emission.
Design and self-assembly of the ejector
You can make this device from a water tee. The middle part is connected to a source of smoke, one of the extreme ones is connected to the smoking chamber, and a plug with a tube from the compressor is screwed into the opposite one. The temperature is relatively low, so the cork material can be any: plastic, rubber or metal.
The tube for supplying air to the ejector is taken with a diameter of 6-10 mm and such a length as to go into the chimney by 8-10 cm. It is important to ensure the alignment of the nozzle and the chimney. To do this, it must fit tightly into the cork - it is inserted into the rubber one, and screwed into the metal one on the thread.
Cooler for smoke generator
In cold smoking, room temperature smoke is used, and it leaves the generator up to 120 ° C, especially when the chimney is connected at the bottom. To reduce its temperature, a cooler, or cooler, is installed.
This is a cylindrical or square chamber with a size similar to the body of the smoke generator. Getting into this chamber, the smoke slows down the movement and cools down. For greater efficiency, the cooler enters from the top and exits from the bottom.
When cooling, condensate is released from the smoke, which accumulates at the bottom of the cooler, therefore, in addition to it, it is necessary to install a condensate collector.
The principle of operation and the scheme of operation of the cooler are shown in the picture.
Smoke generator filter
To improve the quality of smoke, it should be cleaned of tar, soot and other substances. To do this, a filter is installed in the chimney.
Structurally, this is an extension of the chimney filled with steel shavings or metal washcloths for washing dishes. This extension can be made in the form of an additional chamber with a cover for filter replacement or a pipe with a larger diameter than the chimney. In this case, to replace the chips, the chimney will have to be partially disassembled.
The operating principle is shown below.
Cold Smoked Smoke Generator Compressor
One of the important components of the smoke generator is the compressor. It directs the flow of air through the ejector. This flow carries the smoke into the smokehouse, creating a vacuum in the combustion chamber and additional draft.
Self-made compressor
The simplest compressor can be made from a computer cooler and a plastic bottle:
- a hole is cut in the bottom of the bottle corresponding to the diameter of the cooler;
- a fan is inserted into it and fixed with adhesive tape;
- a hole is made in the lid for the connecting tube;
- the tube is inserted into the lid, and the junction is also wrapped with tape;
- The cooler can be connected to any 12 V DC power source.
Self-made compressor
Do-it-yourself smoke generator liquid
In addition to smoke generators designed for smoking products, there are devices that create smoke on the theater and concert stages.
In these devices, smoke is produced when a special solution enters the heater and evaporates, that is, it is not smoke, but steam.
The composition may be different, for example:
- glycerin - 15%;
- alcohol - 10%;
- distilled water - 75%.
Naturally, the steam from such a solution is not suitable for smoking products.
As you can see, making a do-it-yourself smoke generator according to the drawings is not so difficult if you follow our instructions and diagrams.
Simple and traditionally used in all culinary cultures of the world, cold smoking technology is designed to obtain appetizing appetizers from fish and various types of meat.
Own smokehouse in the house or in the country diversifies the process of cooking delicacies, especially when it comes to avid fishermen and hunters.
This device, which is simple and reminiscent of a simple stove, can be assembled from improvised means in various situations.
Do-it-yourself collapsible smokehouse
You can build a temporary smokehouse right at the fishing spot, or make a stationary structure in the courtyard of the house, which will give scope for culinary imagination and allow you to enjoy the unique smoked taste without harming your health.
The main principle of smoking is long-term fumigation with smoke at a certain temperature of pre-salted products.
Therefore, before you start studying various recipes for smoked fish or sausages, you need to get a smokehouse - a chamber in which smoke will be produced in the right mode and with the right properties.
The main working device of the smokehouse is a smoke generator, which can be made from improvised means.
A food chamber can be built by giving a second life to a damaged refrigerator, gas stove, metal barrels and cylinders.
A portable and collapsible homemade smokehouse is most convenient to use. It can be dismantled and stored, as well as taken out for picnics, hunting and fishing.
The prefabricated design allows you to introduce improvements, replace parts and containers. For the manufacture of such a smoking apparatus, you will need an old gas cylinder, two metal barrels, steel plates and rods, 5 half-meter sections of pipes with a diameter of 10 cm, from tools - a grinder, a drill and a welding machine.
The gas cylinder becomes a furnace, smoking chambers are cut out of metal barrels, in which metal nets and rods for products are installed.
A chimney is mounted from the pipes, into which a home-made smoke generator is inserted - a device for the production and supply of smoke to the chambers with products. The temperature of the smoke is regulated by the length of the removable pipe.
The principle of operation and assembly of the smoke generator
Before you make a smoke generator with your own hands, you need to imagine the principle of operation of the smokehouse: in the furnace, due to constant heating, combustible material smolders, the smoke, passing through the pipe, cools to the desired temperature - from 20 to 40 degrees Celsius, depending on the product being processed.
It also cleans from harmful impurities and condensate settles, after which the smoke enters the smoking chamber to fulfill its purpose.
The body of the smoke generator for smoking can be any metal utensil, for example, a can or a deep pan, in the lid of which you need to drill a hole for a fitting - a part connected to the chimney.
Sawdust intended for combustion is placed on the bottom of the container, on the side, at a height of about 3 cm from the bottom, an ignition hole must be provided.
Then, a connection for an aquarium compressor is made in the housing, and opposite the firebox, a hole for a chimney is made, which is connected to a chamber with products.
The photo shows what a homemade smokehouse with a smoke generator might look like.
Note!
Variety of smoke generator designs
The appearance and functionality of a homemade smoke generator depends on the situation. Temporary structures can be built in 5 minutes, but with a more serious approach, you can get factory quality and aesthetics.
The smoke generator compressor can be installed both at the bottom and at the top of the housing. Instead of an aquarium processor, you can use any other electric pump with a power of 4-5 watts.
The main purpose of the compressor is to supply oxygen for combustion, so craftsmen can adapt coolers and fans from various devices for this purpose.
There are many options for selecting a housing, it can be made from a heat-resistant pipe, various options for outlet pipes can be used, the design can be supplemented with a container for collecting condensate, an ordinary water tee is used as an ejector.
You can improve the ignition point by attaching a metal spiral to the bottom of the body.
Note!
DIY smoke generator photo
Note!
To carry out the process of smoking products, equipment and technology are required. It is possible to mount a structure that performs this with your own hands. Homemade device perfectly copes with its function. The smoke generator for cold smoking at the same time will correspond to individual needs.
This is a method of culinary processing of food products, in which they acquire excellent taste qualities. Their shelf life is extended. Spices and firewood from various tree species will make meat, fish, and poultry dishes varied.
Cooking food by smoking is a long process. A traditional appliance requires a certain amount of firewood and must work for several days. Burning continues uninterrupted. The smoke generator for cold smoking produces smoke, which is fed into the cabinet with processed blanks. As a result, products pre-marinated with a special method are transformed into delicious dishes ready to eat.
The cold smoked smoke generator device has a simple design, which you can mount yourself. . Materials for this are sometimes at hand. The temperature inside the smoke cabinet is not very high, so the products do not burn. Smoke is obtained from smoldering sawdust, wood chips or shavings. The task is to make the combustion constant, uniform and somehow feed it into the cabinet. You can set up automatic operation.
A simple design is arranged as follows.
- Fuel (firewood) is smoldering in one of the chambers.
- The chamber, in which the food products are hung, is connected to it by a cylinder with a soldered branch pipe having a branch. Air moves through it under low pressure.
- The flow moves to the second chamber, followed by smoke from the smoke generator.
The combustion chamber, equipped with a device that creates a stream of smoke and air directed to the products, is nothing more than a smoke generator. Its size should be optimized according to the principle: the larger it is, the longer the process. To make it with your own hands, an aluminum milk can, a fire extinguisher body, and an old thermos are suitable.
But the best solution- create a smoke generator from a steel pipe with the following parameters: diameter up to 10 cm, length - 0.5 m. One side must be closed with a lid by welding. The second is open, but a hole is made on the side for ignition. You will also need a side hole for connecting a branch pipe (short tube - outlet), through which the air driven by the compressor will flow.
The location of the pipe is important. Optimally, it should be located farther from the combustion area for the following reasons.
- If this is not the case, then the combustion chamber will have height restrictions, which will cause the wood to fade.
- And also the service life of the smoke generator can be reduced. Intensive smoke extraction means fast combustion.
- The draft inside the smoker will decrease, especially at times when the compressor is not working.
- If the nozzle is low, chips can get inside, block the passage.
- In the high temperature area (bottom) at the nozzle, the service life may be reduced.
There are other options for manufacturing the intermediate part. Pipes can be connected using a thread with a tee - a fitting between them.
Principle of operation
The smoke generator for cold smoking produces smoke going through a cylinder with a branch pipe and a branch pipe to the chamber with products. The pressurized air pulls it along. At the same time, it is completely absorbed by the product and does not leave the device. That is, it is consumed without loss. The larger the volume of the combustion chamber, the longer the products are smoked.
The smokehouse consists of two parts: for burning fuel and hanging products. Firewood should only smolder, so there should be little fresh air with oxygen in this chamber. These parts are connected by a pipeline through which smoke flows. The more it is, the more intense the smoking occurs. There should be a hole in this middle part so that excess smoke can be expelled. With its help, a rarefied atmosphere is created.
When smoking products for several hours, it is necessary that the fuel constantly smolder. Firewood is added, which forces you to be nearby. By making a smoke generator with your own hands, it is possible to eliminate this need.
When the smoke from burning firewood ends up in a chamber with hung products, they are impregnated, which gives the effect of canning. And also acquire a peculiar taste and appetizing aroma. The steps of the device are as follows.
- The smoke generator is loaded to a volume of up to 1 liter with wood chips or sawdust, sealed with a lid.
- The compressor nozzle is connected, the chimney is combined with the smoking chamber.
- Through the side hole, we set fire to the wood.
- The fan turns on. The smoking has begun.
The principle of operation of a smoking smoke generator is implemented using an injector, the role of which is played by a tee with a fan. A rarefied atmosphere is formed in the chimney, which draws out the smoke. The stream goes to the smoking cabinet. The side openings of the smoke generator provide a simultaneous supply of external air. Thanks to this, combustion occurs without human intervention. The built-in thermometer controls the temperature inside. If the length of the chimney is changed, the conditions are adjusted from hot to cold smoking.
Equipment
In order to make a smoke generator for cold smoking yourself with your own hands, you need to prepare the following components.
- The pipe is square or round stainless steel up to 120 mm in diameter.
- Pipe sections (diameter from 2.5 to 4 cm, length - up to 0.4 m) for the smoke channel during hot smoking.
- Corrugated plastic hose (pipe) up to 3 m long or a metal sleeve with a diameter similar to that of a chimney. This is necessary for cold smoking.
- Electric fan as part of the compressor. You can take it from the aquarium.
- A tee fitting designed for pipelines with diameter-to-size pipes.
- Switch, wires for connecting to the mains.
- Temperature meter (thermometer).
Cold-smoked delicacies have the following advantages: excellent taste and long shelf life. But in this case, you can’t do without a smoke generator for a smokehouse. The unit delivers a gaseous smoky mixture under a small pressure and the same concentration, which simplifies the cooking process.
Do-it-yourself smoke generator
From a home-made smoke generator for a smokehouse, due to the dispersion and direction of air from the compressor and the resulting vacuum in the chimney, smoke is drawn into the chamber where the products are pre-laid. In order to properly establish the process of generating a gaseous mass (air, smoke), you must adhere to the following recommendations indicating how to make a smoke generator for a smoking apparatus.
Combustion chamber preparation
A pipe with an inner diameter of 90 mm and a length of 50 cm is suitable for preparing the smoke generator body. These are the optimal dimensions to avoid frequent loading of wood chips.
Next, drill holes for the chimney and ejector bosses. They retreat 5-7 cm from the top of the pipe and make holes based on the selected outer diameters of the chimney and the boss. Also, a hole is drilled in the lower part of the body (3-5 cm from the bottom) with a diameter of 10 mm to kindle wood chips.
A folding bottom is screwed to the lower part with a wing nut, made according to the diameter of the pipe in order to remove the ash.
To remove ash, a grate is arranged inside the body at a distance of 2–3 cm, which is tacked to the body by welding. You can fix the grate with an old stretched spring, picking up the ejector tube with the other end of the spring.
The lid is made in the form of a cork. You can take a plate ∅100 mm and cut off a ring 20 mm high from a pipe DN 100 and scald along the contour.
schematic drawing Ejector
A do-it-yourself smoke generator for a cold-smoked smokehouse is necessarily equipped with an ejector. During installation, any metal tubes are used, which are connected to each other in various ways: by soldering, welding, threaded connection. There are several types of smoke generators for smokehouses, depending on the location of the ejector:
In our case, consider the location of the ejector in the upper part of the smoke generator.
So, the transfer for a cold smoked smoker with a do-it-yourself smoke generator involves the use of a ¾ inch diameter tube that serves as a chimney, a boss and an air supply fitting. The chimney and the boss are welded to the holes made using a welding machine,
The fitting with the ejector tube is screwed into the boss. The length of the tube is selected from the conditions that it goes 1 cm into the chimney (more clearly shown in the schematic drawing). Next, a flexible hose from the compressor is connected to the fitting.
Compressor
A pump for supplying air to the fitting is purchased at a pet store. These are units that are used for aquariums. The main selection criterion is productivity (liters per hour). This do-it-yourself smoke generator involves the operation of a small compressor - up to 60 l / h.
Experienced home craftsmen manage to build a compressor from a plastic bottle and a cooler from an external computer unit.
Smoking chamber
Before installing the generator with your own hands to produce smoke, you need to determine the volume of the smoking chamber. It should not be large and can be a barrel, wooden or cardboard box. The main condition is the tightness of the joints, the presence of a smoker (for smoke circulation and condensate removal) and maintaining a constant temperature regime. 
The smoke generator is inserted into the hole and cantilevered with a chimney to the side wall of the smoking chamber. Additionally, chimney clamps are installed or, alternatively, make a flange connection.
Wood chips
Making a smoke generator for cold smoking on your own is not difficult, but for the cooking process itself, you need to use the right raw materials. To do this, use chips of fruit trees and alder.
Conclusion
The video below was used as the source for the article.
How to make a smoke generator for home use? For this, it is allowed to use any improvised materials, fittings and connecting elements. According to the principle given in the article, most do-it-yourself smoke generators for cold smoking are made, and the design is also modified to allow the unit to be used for portable and stationary smokehouses.
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Briefly about the device of a smoke generator for cold smoking
On sale there are many ready-made food products obtained by cold smoking. The problems of non-compliance with technological cycles in food enterprises lead to the fact that the taste of the delicacies sold does not always meet the expectations of buyers. Many gourmets of modern food purchase industrial-made units for use, some craftsmen make cold-smoked smokehouse smoke generators with their own hands, which is relatively easy when understanding the situation and the principle of operation of the device.
In recent years, chemicals have been used to process meat and fish raw materials called "liquid smoke". Smoking is not observed in this process. The product is soaked in a diluted solution for a while, then the finished “delicacy” is removed, which has acquired the appropriate taste, color and shade. Preparations for such production have test certificates and are allowed as food additives. But consumers want to see on their table not chemically processed products, but naturally obtained meat, lard, cheeses and fish.
Generator device
The device for cold smoking and its working conditions are relatively simple. They consist in the fact that the crushed wood fuel smolders, while oxygen access is reduced or completely absent. The emitted smoke envelops the products that are smoked with his participation.
The generator itself is a metal container of any shape. Industrially manufactured units have a number of switches, thermometers and regulators. Smoking devices are equipped with feeders for wood chips. The devices maintain a certain temperature in the combustion chamber, which is necessary for the smoldering process. Smoke enters the smokehouse with products.
Classic design includes remote cameras, which are connected by a long pipe-tunnel for cooling the emitted smoke. As a result of the smoking process, the products are not heated, but as a result, a high-quality smoked delicacy of a soft consistency is obtained.
The composition of the smoke generator for cold smoking
The unit can be made by hand in a private house, this will require:
- A combustion chamber, which can be used as any container, for example, a large metal thermos, a fire extinguisher, a piece of a pipe with a large diameter (about 100 mm). For operation, the hole on one side is welded tightly, and on the other, a hole is made for igniting the fuel.
- The fan or pump becomes the second part of the smoke generator. You can use an aquarium pump with a motor power of up to 6 W, which is enough to pump fresh air. Sometimes craftsmen make a compressor, for which they use a computer fan and a small plastic container, a fan is attached to the bottom, and a lid with a hose inserted there is provided on the neck.
- Ejector from water pipes with accessory adapters (bends, bends, tees, etc.). Assembly drawings can be seen online. The ejector attachment point is at the bottom or top of the generator.
- A food placement cabinet (smokehouse) is made from a spacious case of an old refrigerator, a metal box or an old barrel. Having assembled the entire structure with your own hands in accordance with the drawings, filling it with sawdust or shavings, you can purchase products and make smoked delicacies. In the summer, the structure is placed outdoors.
- If the smokehouse is made strictly according to the drawings, then households and guests will enjoy smoked bacon, meat, ribs, poultry or fish delicacies with pleasure. Alder and willow wood is used to improve the taste..
The principles of operation of the smokehouse
Before proceeding with the assembly of a do-it-yourself cold-smoked smoke generator, the drawings of which are developed taking into account the needs, you should list all properties of a properly made smokehouse:
- the device perfectly generates smoke;
- resinous decomposition products during combustion remain on the walls of the smoke generator chamber;
- very little electrical energy is required to operate a pump or fan;
- working with such a unit is easy and simple.
Using a generator to smoke food includes next steps:
- place products in a cabinet or hang them on hooks;
- put fuel into the inlet of the combustion chamber of the smoke generator;
- connect the generator to the cabinet through a pipe or a wide hose and start smoking by igniting the fuel.
Cooking times for some foods
To get a soft and smoky product, you should know the specific time for it to stay in the smokehouse:
- fish of large varieties and lard are smoked until cooked for about 24 hours;
- small fish such as capelin or gobies are cooked for 8 ocloc'k;
- duck, goose, pig ham will require smoking for 30 hours.
Before placing food in the smoker, them salted. The standard recipe is a solution in which 200 g of sodium chloride per liter of water is added. After preparing the brine, the products are put on fire and simmered so that the water in the vessel does not boil. For all products, except for lard, about 35-45 minutes are enough, and lard is in a hot solution for about two hours. Various spices are used depending on the taste. After removing from the brine, all products are dried in the open air.
How to arrange a smoke generator for a cold smoked smokehouse with your own hands
Manufacturing options are different, but the following tips deserve attention:
A relatively sealed container is used as a firebox, where a smoldering process occurs with a small air current (usually it is crushed wood waste in the form of chips or sawdust). Provide a second door or damper, arranged specifically to regulate the air flow. It is necessary to try to create such a current of air from which a large fire does not burn, but at the same time it should be enough to slowly smolder the fuel and create a chimney draft.
In another version of the smoke generator, a two-chamber firebox, where a fire is kindled under the muzzle of the furnace in open conditions. The fuel material, the same as in ordinary cases, is placed on the metal sheet. For the formation of traction, the upper smokehouse, intended only for smoke, serves. It is filled with smoke, inside the layers-tiers are products that are doused with a smoked aroma. The method of smoke formation does not affect the duration of the process: in order to obtain a quality product, the entire smoking process should be constantly monitored.
Smoking refers to energy-intensive processes, fuel consumption is sufficient. You can make a smoke generator on electric or gas fuel, but then the cost of paying for the services of supplying companies will increase.
The smokehouse is placed on a brick base, which is buried in the ground: if you do not use bricks for installation, then soil moisture can cause problems. Drawings for the base device can be done by hand after calculating the width and length of the chamber. The dimensions of the base must be 20 cm wider than the chamber on each side.
The place should be flat and comfortable for work, it is placed in an open space without tall bushes and trees. After choosing a metal container for the combustion chamber, it is covered with a piece of metal to prevent smoke from escaping. The chimney channel is arranged at a level above the smoking chamber. For the same distribution and emission of harmful components after fuel combustion, the inlet is made at least 20 cm.
A homemade smokehouse is cooked from a grate on which food hooks are hung. A pallet of small height is laid under the grate, while making slots for harmful flue gases between the walls. From above, the entire structure is covered with a damp material, such as a tarpaulin, to protect products from contamination. The temperature in the do-it-yourself chamber is measured with an ordinary thermometer, which is mounted on the walls. The smoke generator does not require expensive building materials; items that in most cases are always at hand are used.
Cold-smoked products are subject to long-term storage. Due to the lack of heat treatment, many nutrients are retained in them. If the owner does not have the desire to make a generator with his own hands, then it is purchased in the store, since there are many models of various sizes on sale.
Using a Portable Smoker for a Smoker
Due to their large dimensions, home-made devices have a limited area of \u200b\u200bapplication. In some cases, a portable installation is required, which is taken with you to the country house or to another place. For such cases, developed smoke generator for smoking chamber. The device allows you to connect to the camera and create a large amount of thick smoke in a short period of time. Since the unit belongs to economical devices, the effective operation of the device is organized using a small amount of fuel resources.
Its fundamental difference from stationary devices is that a forced air flow is needed to obtain a high pressure area and cooling.
Professional smoking chamber with smoke generator
Factory units of this type are on sale in a large assortment. A solid product, completely ready for use, comes complete with detailed instructions on the rules of use. Together with the unit, a set of various pendants and hooks for different products and their smoking is sold.
Simple models provide for the cooling of smoke masses by passing through a long pipe. But in small compact models, the smoke cannot cool completely due to the small length of the chimney, and the cold smoking process cannot be obtained in an ideal form. In this case, the smoking time is reduced, but the quality of the product suffers.
Water cooling smoker
The design of the cooler in the smoke generator provides for housings located one inside the other, while water flows in the outer one. To reduce its consumption, they make a small pressure, and if necessary, do not pour out the liquid, but pour it from one tank to another. The inner casing is a heat exchanger with the function of cooling the flue stream. Water makes the walls cold, and the smoke from contact with them loses its temperature.
Air-cooled smokehouse
In this embodiment, a serpentine pipe is provided, which, due to the curvature, has a large length. The decrease in the temperature of the smoke flow occurs due to the exchange of heat with atmospheric jets. The chimney is made of metal and there are no length restrictions for such a design. The drawings consider the rational length calculated for each individual case.
Despite the fact that the payback of an industrial gas generator is large, since the prices for cold-smoked products are high, many users try to make such a device for smoking with their own hands. You can see educational video about this process.