Air heater in which spiral steel fins are wound onto a tubular heater to increase the heat transfer surface.
Also known as: Finned heater · Finned tubular heater · Finned heating element
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General Information
A finned tubular heater is produced by winding steel strip spirally around the sheath of a standard tubular heater and fixing it with spot welds. The fins increase the surface area through which heat is transferred to the air by approximately three times. Compared with a plain tubular heater of the same power, the surface temperature is significantly lower.
A lower surface temperature has two benefits. The first is product life: the element is under less stress from the heat it generates. The second is safety; it prevents airborne dust and organic particles from touching a red-hot surface and burning, which is especially important in food and textile applications.
The fin material is selected according to operating temperature: below 400 °C galvanised or carbon steel is sufficient, above that stainless steel fins are used. The fin pitch is also determined by the application; in dusty environments a wide pitch is preferred, because dust accumulating between closely spaced fins blocks air flow and stops heat transfer.
Applications
- Drying ovens
- Air ducts
- Space heating
- Dehumidification
- Heat treatment furnaces
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Frequently Asked Questions
In clean air, a close fin pitch gives the highest heat transfer. Where the air carries dust, fibres or oil vapour, a wider pitch should be chosen; otherwise the gaps between the fins clog and heat transfer drops. The fin pitch is defined for each project according to the operating environment.
No. The fins are designed for air; in liquid the gaps between the fins become fouled and cannot be cleaned. Plain tubular heaters should be used for liquid applications.
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