How to solve the steam leakage of electric food steamer

Steam leakage is a major hidden danger in the operation of industrial equipment. Its root cause can usually be attributed to the failure of three key modules: sealing system, steam generator and structural components. Among them, the failure of the sealing system is the main cause. Silicone sealing rings are prone to hardening, deformation or cracking after long-term use in high-temperature steam environment. When the compression of the sealing ring is insufficient, steam will escape from the door gap or interface. Therefore, during maintenance, the thickness of the sealing ring must be measured with a vernier caliper and compared with the original design parameters. If the deviation exceeds 10%, it should be replaced in time. In addition, for equipment with a double-layer sealing structure, it is also necessary to check the fit of the steam baffle and the sealing strip at the same time to ensure that there is no misalignment.

Component failures of steam generators should also not be ignored. The jamming of the steam valve or the failure of the spring will destroy the pressure balance of the system, resulting in abnormal discharge of steam from the pressure relief port. During the maintenance process, the valve needs to be disassembled and the valve core cleaned, the sealing surface repaired with abrasive paste, and the preload of the spring adjusted to the standard value. For the sealing gasket at the connection of the steam pipe, if the temperature resistance grade of the selected material is lower than 150℃, creep failure is very likely to occur at high temperature. Therefore, during maintenance, gaskets made of fluororubber or silicone rubber should be selected, and the bolts should be tightened according to the designed torque using a torque wrench to ensure the reliability of the connection.

Defects in structural components may also cause steam leakage. For example, the loosening of the door hinge will cause the door to sink, thereby destroying the parallelism of the sealing surface. For this reason, it is recommended to use a laser level to detect the installation accuracy of the door body and adjust the hinge position to control the error within 0.5mm. In addition, the blockage of the steam nozzle will change the flow direction of the steam and cause excessive local pressure. Therefore, during maintenance, an ultrasonic cleaner should be used to remove scale and check whether the nozzle angle meets the design requirements to ensure the normal flow of steam.

For different leakage locations, maintenance strategies need to be differentiated. If a leak is found in the door body, first check whether the installation direction of the sealing ring is correct. Some electric steamers use a chamfered sealing design, which will cause leakage if installed in reverse. If there are scratches on the surface of the sealing ring, it needs to be polished with 400-grit sandpaper. For steam pipe leaks, the segmented detection method can be used. Use foam water to apply to the pipe interface and observe the location of the bubble. For leaks with a diameter of less than 2mm, aluminum foil tape can be used for temporary plugging, but it needs to be replaced with a metal patch within 48 hours to ensure long-term sealing.

When repairing leaks in steam generators, be sure to follow safe operating procedures. After depressurization, use an endoscope to inspect the inside of the furnace. If cracks are found, argon arc welding is required for repair welding, and the welds need to be X-rayed to ensure welding quality. In addition, the failure of the water level sensor may cause a false water level signal, which may cause the heating element to dry burn. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the resistance curve of the sensor and compare it with the standard curve. If the deviation exceeds 15%, the sensor should be replaced in time to ensure the safety and stable operation of the equipment.