Steam Tunnels
Mechanism : Steam tunnels use steam to heat the products. The tunnel is filled with steam from a boiler, which evenly heats the product as it moves through on a conveyor.
Applications : Primarily used in the beverage industry for labeling bottles, as steam can evenly shrink a label around a container without creating wrinkles or air bubbles. Also used in the textile industry for setting fabrics or in food processing.
Temperature Control : Less precise temperature control compared to heat tunnels, as the temperature largely depends on the steam pressure, which can be harder to fine-tune.
Energy Source : Requires a boiler to generate steam, which can be powered by electricity, gas, or other fuels.
Moist Heat : The use of steam provides moist heat, which is beneficial for certain applications, like removing wrinkles from garments or applying shrink labels without distortion.