Air and Space Heating Systems

Air heaters transfer heat by convection to the air flowing over them. They are used in drying ovens, ventilation ducts, process dryers and space heating. The critical parameter in this family is the air flow rate: insufficient air flow makes the heater surface heat up faster than it can withstand and burn out. For this reason air heaters are usually commissioned together with a flow switch or thermal protection.

Selection Criteria

The required power is calculated from the air flow rate and the desired temperature rise. Whether the air travels inside a duct or is blown into open space determines the housing type. In high-temperature, low-flow applications a finned heater is preferred; the fins multiply the heat transfer surface and lower the surface temperature.