As the name suggests, air heaters are devices used to heat or warm up the air. They include forced air products and some types of radiant and space heaters. Forced air products are used to control and moderate the air temperature by passing it through a heat source with a blower or fan. When this air current flows through the heater, it absorbs thermal energy and then leaves the heater at an increased temperature. Radiant heaters work by radiating heat from a point source and heating objects close to that point source. The temperature differential results in a free-flowing convection cycle that heats the surrounding air. On the other hand, space heaters are self-contained and can operate using any of the mentioned methods.
Components of Air Heaters
Every air heater features two main components that are:
Source of Air Flow
The air source can be a blower, fan, or air compressor. The best source to determine mostly depends on the application and the type of heater. For example, a space heater does not require high-velocity air; therefore, a fan is preferred. However, an industrial blower or compressed air is preferred in industrial applications where there is a requirement to transfer a large amount of heat to a focused stream.
Heating Element
Air heaters usually consist of an element that is usually a coil of wire with high resistivity. When an electric current is passed through the wire, it produces heat. The configuration of the resistance wire is heavily based on the purpose of the heater. The element is not supposed to be powered by airflow because it may overheat and eventually burn.
Applications of Air Heaters
The method for heat transfer might be utilized to explain the heater. However, it is free of application. Air heaters might be utilized for private, business, or modern applications. Private and business heaters are used for HVAC frameworks and room or space warming. Modern applications incorporate calcining, drying, dissolving, preheating, and other substance processes. Air radiators are utilized in an assortment of bundling, car, plastics, elastic, material, and hardware applications. Air heaters cure adhesives, de-flash molded parts, weld plastic or vinyl textures, and dry ink. In the semiconductor business, heaters are utilized in preheating process gases, fastening lead frames, wafer and PC board drying, and heat contracting wire protection.
Types of Air Heaters
Air heaters is a broad terminology that you can use to describe different types of heaters. Some of the concisely defined types of heaters include the following:
Duct Heaters
Duct heaters are utilized to heat moving gas streams. They are usually installed in the center of a gas stream to heat the air as it passes through the heater.
Enclosure Heaters
As the name indicates, enclosure heaters are specifically designed to be used within enclosures. They prevent freezing and protect against humidity.
Forced Air Heaters
In such types of heaters, forced convection is used to move the air past a heat source with the help of a fan or a blower.
Heat Torches and Flame Heaters
These are commonly known and rather simplistic heaters. They emit a concentrated flame or hot air or gas.
Space Heaters and Room Heaters
These heaters are specifically designed for narrow spaces. They do not emit any harmful pollutants or fumes and are generally portable.
Tubular Heaters
Tubular heaters are commonly utilized in custom heating applications. They can bend them into either standard or custom shapes.
