STEAM CLEANERS

Industrial steam cleaning is an entirely different process from hot water pressure washing. Water in an industrial steam cleaning machine is heated up to 320°F (160°C) at a low pressure up to 250 PSI (17.24 BAR). The commercial steam cleaning equipment uses steam’s expansion to accelerate water droplets, at the boiling point, to a high velocity out of a specialized steam cleaning nozzle. Unlike a pressure washer nozzle, the steam cleaning nozzle has an expansion zone placed past the pressure orifice, which directs the water vapor energy to a smaller area, instead of dissipating in all directions. The tremendous expansion is directed by the conical steam nozzle, accelerating the water droplets. The expansion nozzle's effect can be compared to that of the choke of a shotgun. Not only does the expansion nozzle direct the steam cleaner's output, but it also serves as a propulsion chamber. The closer the steam cleaner's nozzle is to the surface to be cleaned, the higher the temperature and velocity of the water/steam mixture, and the more rapid the cleaning action. For many cleaning applications, the nozzle should be held close to the soiled surface to achieve the best results.