The difference between tunnel freezer and spiral freezer

In the food processing industry, choosing the right quick freezing technology is crucial to ensuring food quality and improving production efficiency. Tunnel freezer and spiral freezer are two common quick freezing machine, each with unique advantages and applicable scenarios. This article will analyze the difference between the two quick freezers to help you make a more informed decision when choosing quick freezing machine.

Tunnel freezer vs Spiral freezer : comparison of the working principles of the two

1. Working principle of tunnel freezer 

The tunnel quick freezing machine adopts a linear conveyor belt structure, and the food is quickly frozen in the "tunnel" by forced circulation of cold air. It is characterized by large processing capacity and high cooling efficiency. Continuous flow operation not only ensures the uniformity of food freezing, but also effectively retains the original taste, nutrition and appearance,suitable for continuous large-scale production.

2. Working principle of spiral freezer 

The spiral quick freezing machine adopts a spiral conveyor belt design, which makes the food spiral in the vertical direction, and effectively increases the storage capacity through a multi-layer structure. The equipment has two models, single spiral and double spiral, with flexible inlet and outlet design, perfectly adapted to the needs of modern assembly lines. Compared with similar equipment, the spiral freezer occupies a smaller area.

The main difference between tunnel freezer and spiral freezer

To help you understand the difference between tunnel freezer and spiral freezer more intuitively, we compare their main features:

Equipment type	Tunnel freezer	Spiral freezer
Freezing Efficiency	High efficiency, continuous production	Flexible and efficient, high space utilization
Application Scenario	Almost all food processing companies (meat, seafood)	Production lines with limited length space or require compact layout
Typical Food Applications	Whole meat, fish, prepared dishes	Small packaged food, ice cream, divided meat
Energy Consumption & Cost	High initial investment but long-term energy-saving	High initial investment, variable frequency drive reduces energy consumption in the later stages
Hygiene & Maintenance	Linear design, easy to clean and maintain	All stainless steel structure and cleanable evaporator design, easy to clean and maintain

How to choose a suitable quick freezer?

Choosing the right quick freezer is the key to ensuring food quality and production efficiency, which depends on your production scale and cost-effectiveness. The following are selection suggestions:

Production scale: For production capacity of 1 ton/h and above, if the site is limited, spiral freezers are preferred; For production capacity below 3 tons/h, tunnel freezers can be selected if there is enough space.

Cost-effectiveness: The cost of spiral freezers is slightly higher than that of tunnel freezers.

Tunnel freezers and spiral freezers each have their own advantages and applicable scenarios. Choosing the right equipment should comprehensively consider freezing efficiency, production scale and cost. Understanding the working principle and characteristics of the machine can help you make more informed decisions in actual production.

If you have more questions about quick freezing machine, please contact Sure International’s professional team to learn more about tunnel freezers and spiral freezers.