Tunnel Microwave Fixing Equipment

  1. High‑efficiency Production: Adopting volumetric microwave heating, the unit delivers fast heating and supports continuous assembly‑line operation, greatly boosting throughput for large‑scale manufacturing.

  2. Uniform Heating & Stable Product Quality: Materials are heated simultaneously from inside out without large temperature differences. It avoids over‑cooked surfaces and under‑heated cores to ensure consistent finished‑product quality.

  3. Energy‑saving with Low Operating Costs: High microwave energy conversion reduces unnecessary heat loss. It cuts energy consumption versus conventional systems and requires fewer auxiliary facilities to lower overall operational expenses.

  4. Intelligent, Safe & Eco‑friendly: PLC closed‑loop control enables precise parameter adjustment. Featuring reliable anti‑leakage protection and integrated sterilization function, it creates a safe and clean production environment.

Product Description

Fixation is a key processing technique that deactivates polyphenol oxidase in fresh raw materials via high temperature. It restrains the enzymatic oxidation of tea polyphenols to avoid discoloration during subsequent processing, while eliminating grassy odors and stimulating the formation of pure, pleasant aromatic compounds.
The tunnel microwave fixing equipment adopts 2450MHz or 915MHz microwaves to penetrate the surface layer of materials. Under high-frequency electromagnetic fields, polar molecules such as internal water molecules rotate and oscillate at extreme speed. Intense intermolecular friction and collision generate heat instantly, enabling rapid and uniform overall temperature rise inside the materials. When the temperature quickly reaches 70~90℃, active enzymes including polyphenol oxidase are thoroughly deactivated. Meanwhile, high temperature accelerates the vaporization of free water to soften materials for convenient rolling in follow-up procedures, and volatilizes low-boiling grassy odor substances to optimize the final flavor.

 tunnel microwave fixing equipment

Main Advantages

  1. Rapid Fixing with Outstanding Productivity High‑frequency electromagnetic waves directly target polar molecules such as water molecules inside fresh leaves to deliver volumetric heating. Raw materials reach enzyme‑deactivation temperature evenly within tens of seconds to 2‑3 minutes; the whole fixing cycle lasts merely 1.5‑3 minutes, 8 times faster than conventional pan‑firing. Featuring tunnel‑style continuous workflow, the unit supports round‑the‑clock operation to satisfy large‑volume production.

  2. Premium End‑Product, Vivid Green Hue & Refreshing Aroma Low surface temperature during microwave fixing eliminates forced air cooling after processing. Chlorophyll remains largely intact for long‑lasting bright‑green color. Amino acids and vitamin‑C are well preserved for natural leaf appearance. Grass‑like off‑flavors evaporate while desirable aromatic compounds develop. No burnt leaves, scorched edges or debris are generated, delivering bright‑colored, well‑shaped tea with clean fresh fragrance.

  3. Even Heating with Zero Blind Spots Electromagnetic waves generated by magnetrons irradiate materials uniformly for simultaneous internal‑and‑external heating. Constant material travel across microwave peaks and troughs further balances thermal distribution. It avoids common drawbacks of traditional processing including over‑cooked surfaces with under‑processed interiors, damp inner layers and burnt leaf edges.

  4. Power‑Saving Performance for Low Operational Expense Microwave energy acts exclusively on feedstock rather than chamber walls or ambient air, eliminating redundant heat loss. It cuts power consumption by nearly 80 % compared with steam‑based fixing, and reduces energy costs to one‑third of thermal‑roller processing. Zero thermal inertia enables instant startup and shutdown for flexible operation.

  5. Smart Automation for Simple Handling PLC touch‑screen control offers precise adjustment for temperature (80‑120 °C) and conveyor speed (0‑5 m/min). Advanced variants monitor moisture content and enzyme activity to auto‑tune microwave power and temperature. Built‑in temperature control, belt deviation correction, alarm triggers and video monitoring reduce manpower requirement to 1‑2 operators, versus 5‑6 staff needed for traditional workflows.

  6. Integrated Sterilization & Mellowing Effect Thermal effects from microwaves suppress bacteria introduced during harvesting and manufacturing, bringing sterilization and mellowing functions. It notably mitigates bitter‑astringent notes for summer and autumn teas, a unique benefit unmatched by alternative machinery. Treated materials meet food‑grade sanitary standards for microbial count.

  7. Safe & Eco‑Friendly, Optimized Workshop Conditions Microwave suppressors fitted at inlet and outlet keep leakage ≤ 5 mW/cm² complying with national safety regulations. The process generates excessive heat, smoke or noise, with zero waste water and exhaust emissions. It serves as an eco‑friendly solution for energy conservation and emission reduction.

  8. Multi‑functional Unit to Lower Capital Investment Integrated fixing‑and‑drying continuous production is achievable. Around 30%‑40 % of material moisture is removed during fixing to reduce downstream drying costs. One single machine completes fixing, drying and sterilization, cutting equipment investment and saving factory floor space.

 tunnel microwave fixing equipment

Equipment Composition

Component
Function Description
Microwave Generating System
Equipped with core magnetrons to produce high-frequency electromagnetic waves of 2450MHz or 915MHz, which are transmitted to the heating cavity through waveguides for stable energy supply.
Heating Cavity
Adopts professional tunnel-type structure with metal inner walls that reflect microwaves efficiently, reducing energy loss and improving overall energy utilization rate.
Material Conveying System
Fitted with food-grade high-temperature resistant PTFE conveyor belt, supporting stepless variable frequency speed regulation within 0~5m/min to adapt to different processing requirements.
Microwave Suppressor
Installed at equipment inlet and outlet to block microwave leakage strictly, with leakage volume controlled ≤5mW/cm² to guarantee operational safety.
Moisture & Heat Exhaust System
Timely discharges excess water vapor and accumulated heat inside the cavity to maintain stable internal processing environment.
Automatic Control System
Features PLC touch-screen intelligent control, supporting automatic temperature regulation, belt deviation correction, fault alarm and real-time video monitoring for full-process intelligent operation.
Equipped with top-installed microwave generators and oil-immersed water-cooled transformers, the machine delivers stable and reliable round-the-clock continuous operation. Constructed primarily from high-quality 304 stainless steel, the entire unit offers outstanding corrosion resistance, long service life and convenient daily cleaning and maintenance.

Application Fields

This tunnel microwave fixing equipment is widely applicable for fixation processing of tea, flowers, Chinese medicinal herbs and other agricultural products, delivering stable processing effects and high-quality finished products.
  • Tea Products: Suitable for fixation of green tea, yellow tea, dark tea, oolong tea and other tea varieties. It effectively inhibits enzyme activity, maintains bright green tea color and retains fresh and pure tea aroma.
  • Flower Products: Applied to fixation processing of chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, rose, eucommia flower, gardenia, lavender, jasmine, lotus and other flowers. It presents excellent fixation effects and keeps bright and vivid material color.
  • Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Used for fixation of dandelion, wheat seedling, wolfberry sprout and other common Chinese medicinal materials to lock active ingredients and improve product quality.
  • Other Products: Ideal for fixation processing of health-care tea, dehydrated vegetables and other agricultural and sideline products.

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