How to Properly Tune you Steam Injection
Steam injection is an integral part of the productive process of a steam tunnel finisher. The steam injection serves several purposes that will relate directly to efficiency and effectiveness. Too little steam will affect your garment quality; too much can affect the garment, your surroundings, and your wallet.
Steam injection brings the garment fabric up in temperature quickly and humidifies the fabric to begin the wrinkle release process. Too little will not provide the needed energy and moisture; too much can take it the other way and ultimately waste precious energy that you have worked so hard to produce.
When installing a new steam tunnel finisher or reviewing the operation of an existing one there are two pressures that you must be aware of, incoming steam pressure and the actual injection pressure. Incoming steam pressure should be no higher than 125psig and no less than 80psig. The actual injection pressure should be in the 5-40psig range. We typically set up new systems at 20psig and then review the quality of the garment being produced and ultimately adjusting up or down as the need dictates. The simple fact of the matter though is this, you do not want to utilize more steam injection than is necessary to produce a quality garment. If you are, then you are wasting steam that you have already purchased.
To set your steam injection at the lowest possible pressure and still produce the quality that your customers deserve follow these steps: First note the incoming steam pressure on your steam tunnel finisher gauge which should show full line pressure from the boiler. Initiate the steam injection system and note the steam injection pressure; if you are using a common gauge the pressure should drop considerably. Now, while the steam injection is operational reduce the injection pressure by 5psig and then review your garment quality. You should have some type of valve prior to your steam injection supply lines that will allow you to do this…if not please call us for help. When you reduce the pressure review your garment quality. If the quality did not suffer due to the reduction in steam injection pressure, then follow these same steps again. Continue doing this until you see a detrimental change in the garment quality, then simply raise the pressure back by 5psig, review the quality again, and you should be set. This will allow you to use the very minimum to produce the best quality.
There may be some side benefits as well to reducing your steam injection pressure, you may see less condensation in the system, your exhaust system may contain better, and your heating system may work a little more efficiently due to the reduced moisture in the system.
Regardless of the benefit, you will be operating in a more efficient manner without having to sacrifice the quality of the end product. If you have any questions please feel free to call Leonard!