An electric steam generator enquiry needs both a steam specification and an electrical specification. A machine that matches the desired steam output may still require changes to the incoming supply, distribution equipment or installation layout. Establish those boundaries before comparing purchase prices.
Confirm the steam duty first
Specify normal and peak steam flow in kg/h, required working pressure, operating hours and feedwater temperature. Explain whether demand is continuous or intermittent. Ask the supplier to state the conditions behind the quoted steam output, including any allowance for blowdown and auxiliary equipment. Do not assume that an electrical kW rating is a steam-output rating.
If the generator feeds more than one machine, list their demands and operating sequence. Identify the steam quality needed at the point of use. An electrically heated industrial generator is not automatically a clean-steam or pharmaceutical-grade system; that requirement needs its own agreed equipment and documentation scope.
Send the actual site electrical details
- Nominal voltage, number of phases and frequency.
- Available electrical capacity after allowing for existing equipment.
- The intended installation location and distance from the distribution point.
- Site requirements for controls, enclosure protection and emergency isolation.
- Any tariff periods, demand charges or restrictions relevant to operating hours.
Request the total connected load, heater stages, maximum operating current and auxiliary loads for the exact proposed configuration. Have the site electrical designer confirm the supply, protection, isolation, earthing and cable design from the manufacturer's documentation and local requirements. A catalogue voltage alone is insufficient to size an installation.
Compare costs using a production schedule
Estimate purchased electricity from the agreed operating power and time at each load, then apply the site tariff. For example, an assumed average demand of 60 kW over eight hours represents 480 kWh before adding anything excluded from that assumption. This is an arithmetic example, not a consumption claim for a particular generator or steam output.
Ask whether the quoted consumption includes pumps and standby operation. Compare with a fuel-fired proposal using the same useful steam demand, operating hours and scope. Equipment cost, electrical upgrades, water treatment and servicing should be listed separately so the comparison remains understandable.
Check the non-electrical scope
Include feedwater treatment, feed tank and pump, steam distribution, drainage, blowdown and maintenance access. Identify who commissions the unit, supplies operating instructions and handles destination inspections. Request the maintenance schedule and a priced list of recommended service parts for the proposed model.
Review the compact electric steam generator and the wider steam generator range. Use our boiler versus generator guide for the system comparison. Send an enquiry with both the steam duty and site electrical details to obtain a configuration-specific offer.
