What is the principle of heating of electric heating tube?

With continuous exploration and innovation in the electric heating tube industry, electric heating tubes are being used in a wide range of industries. They have numerous applications, including heating water, oil, air, and even molds. Those unfamiliar with electric heating tubes may wonder why they generate heat and how they do so. This article aims to answer these questions and explain how they work.

As you can see from the diagram above, electric heating tubes primarily consist of several components:

1. Heating tube housing:

This type of tube comes in various grades, and you can choose the right one based on the operating environment and temperature.

2. Resistance wire:

Resistance wire, also known as heating wire, is electrically conductive and heats up, forming the heating core of the electric heating tube. The heating function of electric heating tubes is largely due to the resistance wire. Commonly used resistance wires include iron-chromium-aluminum and nickel-chromium wire, and the choice depends on the operating environment.

3. Magnesium oxide powder:

This is a powdered filler that provides insulation and thermal conductivity. Low-temperature, medium-temperature, and high-temperature grades are available, depending on the heating temperature.

4. Terminals:

These are typically threaded iron terminals, which are widely used due to their excellent electrical conductivity.

5. Ceramic Heads:

These are ceramic products whose diameters can be customized to suit the tube diameter. The ceramic heads primarily serve as insulation and sealing.

The heating principle of an electric heater is that the terminal blocks are connected to a power source. This electricity is then conducted through the terminals to a resistance wire (the ends of the resistance wire are wrapped around the two terminal blocks inside the tube). The resistance wire generates heat, which is then transferred to the surface of the heater via the highly thermally conductive magnesium oxide powder. This heat is then transferred to the object or liquid being heated, achieving the desired effect.

The surface of the heater is non-charged because a layer of magnesium oxide powder, which is both highly insulating and thermally conductive, is placed between the resistance wire and the outer shell. This eliminates the risk of electric shock, whether the heater is used to heat water or a metal module.

From the above introduction, we should know the principle of heating of electric heating tubes. The method of heating other objects by energizing the resistance wire to generate heat is a very energy-saving and efficient heating method.