Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of infrared heating and electromagnetic induction heating in hot runner systems

Infrared heating and electromagnetic induction heating each have their own advantages and disadvantages in the hot runner system. The following is a comparison of them:
Heating principle
Infrared heating: infrared rays are emitted through infrared radiators. After the heated object absorbs the infrared rays, it is converted into heat energy to increase the temperature of the object.
Electromagnetic induction heating: The alternating magnetic field is used to generate an induced current in the metal object. Due to the effect of resistance, the current generates heat in the metal body, thereby achieving heating.
Advantages
Infrared heating
Fast heating speed: Infrared radiation can be quickly absorbed by the object and converted into heat energy, which can quickly increase the temperature and shorten the heating time.
Selective heating: Infrared radiators of different wavelengths can be selected according to the material and shape of the heated object to achieve precise heating of specific parts.
Simple equipment: The system structure is relatively simple, mainly composed of infrared radiators, controllers, etc., with low cost and easy installation and maintenance.
Clean and environmentally friendly: No pollutants are generated during infrared heating, which is environmentally friendly and has no electromagnetic radiation.
Electromagnetic induction heating
High heating efficiency: Electromagnetic induction directly generates heat inside the heated object, with little heat loss and a thermal efficiency of more than 90%. Compared with traditional heating methods, it has a significant energy-saving effect.
Precise temperature control: The heating temperature can be precisely controlled by precisely controlling the parameters of electromagnetic induction, and the temperature control accuracy can reach within ±1°C.
Uniform heating: The magnetic field is evenly distributed, and the heat generated in the heated object is also relatively uniform, avoiding local overheating or overcooling, which is conducive to improving product quality.
Safe and reliable: The electromagnetic induction heating system has no open flames, no safety hazards such as combustion and explosion, and the equipment has a variety of protection functions, such as over-temperature protection and over-current protection.
Disadvantages
Infrared heating
Limited heating depth: The penetration ability of infrared radiation is weak, and it can generally only heat a few millimeters of the surface of the object. The heating effect is not good for thick-walled or large-sized objects.
Low energy utilization: Some infrared radiation may be absorbed or reflected by the surrounding environment and is not fully utilized, resulting in relatively low energy utilization.
Poor temperature uniformity: When heating a large area of ​​objects, the temperature uniformity may be poor due to factors such as the distribution and radiation angle of the infrared radiator.
Electromagnetic induction heating
High equipment cost: The core components of the electromagnetic induction heating system, such as inverters and induction coils, have high technical content, and the equipment price is relatively expensive.
High requirements for the heated object: The heated object needs to have good electrical conductivity and magnetic conductivity. For some non-metallic materials or materials with poor electrical conductivity, special induction media need to be added for heating.
Existence of electromagnetic interference: An alternating magnetic field is generated during electromagnetic induction heating, which may cause electromagnetic interference to surrounding electronic equipment, and corresponding shielding measures need to be taken.