How to Meet the Needs of Different Industries with Heat Pipes?

July 16, 2004 | Enterprise Technology

As a core heating component for industrial production, civil manufacturing and other fields, the stability, durability and adaptability of electric heating tubes directly determine the operational efficiency, production safety and product quality of downstream equipment. Significant differences exist in production processes, service environments and temperature control standards across various industries, leading to distinct requirements for the core performance of electric heating tubes such as temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and temperature control accuracy. This compels manufacturers of electric heating tubes to abandon the one-size-fits-all standardized production model, orient themselves to industry characteristics, and accurately meet the personalized needs of each industry by virtue of flexible customized production capacity, professional selection of materials and processes, and targeted solution design. Combined with the production characteristics of various industries, the following section will specifically analyze the adaptive solutions provided by electric heating tube manufacturers.

From the high-temperature and harsh environments of the chemical and metal processing sectors to the food processing industry with stringent hygiene requirements, and further to the precision manufacturing field of electronics and semiconductors, different industries have distinct demands for electric heating tubes in terms of temperature range, heating efficiency, material properties and structural design. The core solution for manufacturers is to focus on the core production needs of each industry and conduct customized R&D and production in aspects such as material selection, process design and structural optimization, thus achieving in-depth adaptation of electric heating tubes to the production processes of various industries.

01 Chemical and Metal Processing Industries

Electric heating tubes for the chemical industry are mainly applied to core equipment such as reactors, steam generators and chemical pipelines, and they often operate under complex working conditions of high temperature and strong corrosion, which imposes exceptionally stringent requirements on their comprehensive performance. The industry not only demands that electric heating tubes can withstand high-temperature operating environments of 800℃ and above, but also places high requirements on their corrosion resistance due to prolonged contact with various chemicals and corrosive gases. Meanwhile, the requirements for continuity and stability in chemical production dictate that electric heating tubes must achieve uniform heating, preventing local overheating from causing uncontrolled material reactions or local cooling from impairing production efficiency.

To meet the demands of the chemical industry, manufacturers prioritize the use of high-temperature and highly corrosion-resistant special materials such as molybdenum alloys and ceramic tubes for manufacturing electric heating tubes, laying a solid foundation for the equipment from the material perspective. Meanwhile, based on the reaction characteristics of different chemical materials and the application scenarios of the equipment, they design customized heating solutions and optimize the power distribution structure of electric heating tubes to ensure the uniformity and controllability of the heating process, thus adapting to the complex working conditions of chemical production.

02 Food Processing Industries

Electric heating tubes for the food processing industry are widely applied to equipment such as food baking, steaming and sterilization machines, and they come into direct or indirect contact with food raw materials. Their safety and temperature control stability are directly linked to food quality and edible safety. The industry’s core requirements for electric heating tubes focus on three aspects: first, hygienic safety – the materials and surface treatment must comply with national food safety standards with no harmful substances leached out; second, stable temperature control – minor fluctuations in heating temperature may affect the taste, color and quality of food, so the sustainability and uniformity of thermal efficiency must be guaranteed; third, easy cleaning and maintenance – the structure of electric heating tubes should be designed to avoid dirt accumulation, which may lead to food contamination.

To meet the requirements of the food processing industry, manufacturers adopt food-grade stainless steel such as 304 and 316L as the core material of electric heating tubes to ensure hygienic safety from the source. Meanwhile, based on the specifications of food processing equipment, they customize electric heating tubes of various sizes and power ratings, and optimize the product structure with a detachable and easy-to-clean design for the convenience of enterprises' daily maintenance and cleaning. In terms of temperature control, precise power calibration is applied to ensure the stability of heating temperature, which meets the requirements of standardized food production.

03 Metal Processing Industries

Electric heating tubes for the metal processing industry are mainly applied to metal heat treatment, smelting furnaces, forging equipment and other such applications, and they operate in ultra-high temperature working environments for long periods of time, making this industry one of the most demanding in terms of the high temperature resistance of electric heating tubes. The industry requires that electric heating tubes can withstand extreme high temperatures of 1000℃ and above, and maintain stable working performance in high temperature environments without issues such as power attenuation and structural deformation. Meanwhile, oxidation reactions are prone to occur during the metal heating process, so electric heating tubes must have good oxidation resistance to ensure the reliability of long-term continuous operation.

To meet the stringent requirements of the metal processing industry, manufacturers select high-temperature and oxidation-resistant special alloy materials such as nickel-chromium alloys and tungsten-molybdenum alloys for manufacturing electric heating tubes, and adopt precision seamless welding and forming processes to enhance the structural strength of the products. During the production process, high-temperature aging tests are conducted on the electric heating tubes to ensure their stability and durability under extreme temperatures, enabling the tubes to adapt to the operational requirements of core processes such as metal smelting and heat treatment.

04 Electric Heating Tools Industry

The electric heating furniture industry is an important civil application field for electric heating tubes, which are mainly used in electric heating tables, rice cookers, electric heating beds, baseboard heaters and other furniture products. Its core demands center on three key aspects: safety, energy efficiency and comfort, while also taking the miniaturization and aesthetic design of products into account. This industry requires electric heating tubes to have excellent insulation and waterproof performance to avoid potential safety hazards such as electric leakage and short circuit during civil use. In terms of temperature control, multi-gear adjustment must be achieved to meet the heating needs of different groups of people, with high thermal conversion efficiency that complies with the energy efficiency standards for civil products. In addition, the internal space of electric heating furniture is limited, so electric heating tubes need to be compact in size and structure to adapt to the appearance design of furniture.

To meet the requirements of the electric heating furniture industry, manufacturers use 304 stainless steel as the base material and apply double-layer insulation and waterproof sealing treatment to electric heating tubes, complying with the safety standards for civil electrical appliances. By optimizing the structure of heating filaments, they improve thermal conversion efficiency and reduce energy consumption to meet energy-saving requirements. Meanwhile, based on the styles and internal space of electric heating furniture, customized miniaturized and special-shaped electric heating tubes are produced. On the premise of ensuring heating efficiency, the product volume is minimized to balance the aesthetic and practical performance of the furniture.

05 Plastic Processing Industries

Electric heating tubes for the plastic processing industry are mainly used in equipment such as injection molding machines, extruders and blow molding machines, serving as key components for plastic melting and shaping. Plastics have a narrow melting temperature range – excessively high temperatures can cause plastic decomposition, while excessively low temperatures will impair shaping effects, making the industry impose extremely high requirements on the temperature control accuracy of electric heating tubes. Meanwhile, the fast production rhythm of plastic processing requires electric heating tubes to have the capability of rapid heating and cooling with uniform temperature distribution, preventing excessive temperature differences in the equipment from causing product defects. In addition, as electric heating tubes are in long-term contact with high-temperature plastic raw materials and various additives, they must also have a certain degree of wear and corrosion resistance.

To meet the requirements of the plastic processing industry, manufacturers provide electric heating tube products in a full range of specifications and power ratings to adapt to different plastic processing equipment. By optimizing the arrangement of heating filaments, the tubes can reach the target temperature in a short time with uniform temperature distribution. For materials, high-temperature and wear-resistant options such as high-alloy steel and ceramics are selected to extend the service life of the electric heating tubes. Meanwhile, the temperature control accuracy is improved through the matching of precision temperature control components, which accurately meets the melting process requirements of different plastic raw materials.

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