Steam / Air
The Proven Process

These are some of the many ways in which the steam / air process offers important advantages over other available processes.

Optimum Heat Transfer
Steam is the most efficient medium for the transfer of heat to products being processed. Saturated steam condenses and releases heat to the product. The forced circulation of a steam / air mixture removes condensation from the container, allowing fresh steam to condense. This increases the heat transfer to the product.

Pressure and Temperature Control
Pressure in a conventional steam retort is a function of temperature. As temperature increases, so correspondingly, does pressure, and vice-versa. Semi-rigid or flexible packages are pressure sensitive and cannot survive the internal / external pressure differentials that develop as they are heated and cooled during a conventional retort cycle. In the Steristar steam / air system, temperature and pressure can be controlled independently; temperature through the increase or decrease of steam, and pressure by the addition or release of compressed air. Most importantly, by maintaining a compensating overpressure in the retort, package deformation is prevented.

Precise Ramping of Temperature and Pressure
By controlling critical elements and utilities, Steristar Retort Systems precisely ramp temperature and pressure during come-up and cool periods. Overshoots in come-up and cool phases are minimized, thus conserving energy and reducing water consumption.

Uniform Temperature Distribution
Uniform temperature distribution is maintained throughout the entire retort by circulation of the steam / air mixture at high speed, with the specially designed radial fan, which requires little energy.