Beginner project guidance

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello forum,
I'm an arduino beginner with a useful and attainable project to build. I'm looking for general guidance and suggestions for the right direction on this project.

The project is a large electric steamer with a rapid cool down function. The arduino related components/requirements consist of the following:

Screen and control dial for adjusting values. Was thinking 12864lcd

Temperature sensor to monitor the temperature inside the steam vessel and a second temp sensor to monitor the interior of product to be steamed. Was thinking this

220v 4500w water heater element

220v relay to switch on and off heater element
Any suggestions on quality relays?

Timer function (once the temperature is reached the temperature is held at set level for X amount of hours)

Solenoid operated vent gate (opens a port in the steam vessel to allow rapid cooling)

12v or 24v inline fan to push fresh air through the vent gate.

Recording of and remote monitoring of temperature would be a huge plus if not too difficult to implement.

Process outline is:
Product is loaded into steamer --- temperature is selected--- duration of that temperature is selected---- start process --- controller activates relay for heater element --- once temperature is reached countdown timer is activated--- 220v relay is switched on and off to maintain set temp--- after cycle time is complete heater relay is switched off --- Solenoid gate vent is opened and blower fan is activated - once temperature has fallen to 35c blower is disabled and gate valve closes and system is set for next cycle. At this point an email notification that cycle is complete would be really awesome but I am not sure how difficult that is.

I have the skills to do the general wiring and fabrication. What I'm looking for are suggestions on where to start and how to succeed with the controller side of things. Are all these functions possible to integrate into 1 standard arduino board?

If this project is successful I would like to add another steamer in parallel that would use the same controller, vent gate and cooling fan. It would require another relay and temp probe. Is there an arduino board that is able to handle these additions as well making the system upgradable without needing to purchase a new controller?

Is this an achievable task fir the arduino? Are there any examples/code that could be copied for this project?

3

I agree with Delta-G and for now I think you first need to learn basics and besides search Google for all projects solemnly and individually not your whole project.You have nicely divided it into several parts so find about such codes and then try to join those codes and compile.
I wouldn't say to experiment since it uses 220v which might prove harmful though Arduino is made to experiment

4

Thanks for the feedback,
I would like to learn to do the coding as I have future projects of a similar nature lined up. Can you recommend any good coding examples or tutorials based on my project?

6

You have given lots of details of your project and that is fine. There is one missing parameter. What pressure will your vessel operate at? What safety features have you incorporated in the design of the vessel? Think of a pressure cooker for cooking and canning.

If there is no pressure, then the maximum temperature will be that of boiling water at whatever altitude you are located.

7

Paul_KD7HB:
You have given lots of details of your project and that is fine. There is one missing parameter. What pressure will your vessel operate at? What safety features have you incorporated in the design of the vessel? Think of a pressure cooker for cooking and canning.

If there is no pressure, then the maximum temperature will be that of boiling water at whatever altitude you are located.

The vessel will not be under pressure. I am at 1000 meters and boiling water is sufficiently hot enough for this application. The reason for using the controller is to save energy once temp is reached and to activate rapid cooling cycle.