The steam boiler heats water to boiling point through fuel combustion (fuel), generating high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam as the sterilization medium. Its core sterilization mechanism stems from three major characteristics:
1. Efficient latent heat transfer: When saturated steam condenses, it releases a large amount of latent heat (approximately 2260kJ/kg), which is much higher than the sensible heat transfer efficiency of hot water. It can rapidly raise the temperature of the sterilized substances to the sterilization threshold of 100-135℃.
2. Pressure permeation: A steam pressure of 0.1 to 0.4MPa can force steam molecules to penetrate into the interior of the packaging or the gaps between materials, killing deeply buried microorganisms and heat-resistant spores (such as botulinum bacteria).
3. Microbial destruction mechanism: High temperature causes denaturation of microbial proteins and rupture of cell walls. Combined with the moist environment of steam, commercial sterility or pasteurization goals can be achieved in a short period of time.
To ensure the sterilization effect, the boiler system must strictly control two key indicators: steam dryness ≥95% (to avoid thermal resistance caused by moisture) and non-condensable gas ≤3.5% (to prevent the formation of uneven temperature “cold spots”). The steam boiler heats water to boiling point through fuel combustion (or other energy sources), generating high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam as the sterilization medium. Its core sterilization mechanism stems from three major characteristics:
1. Efficient latent heat transfer: When saturated steam condenses, it releases a large amount of latent heat (approximately 2260kJ/kg), which is much higher than the sensible heat transfer efficiency of hot water. It can rapidly raise the temperature of the sterilized substances to the sterilization threshold of 100-135℃.
2. Pressure permeation: A steam pressure of 0.1 to 0.4MPa can force steam molecules to penetrate into the interior of the packaging or the gaps between materials, killing deeply buried microorganisms and heat-resistant spores (such as botulinum bacteria).
3. Microbial destruction mechanism: High temperature causes denaturation of microbial proteins and rupture of cell walls. Combined with the moist environment of steam, commercial sterility or pasteurization goals can be achieved in a short period of time.
To ensure the sterilization effect, the boiler system must strictly control two key indicators: steam dryness ≥95% (to avoid thermal resistance caused by moisture) and non-condensable gas ≤3.5% (to prevent the formation of uneven temperature “cold spots”).