Process Air Heaters

Process Air HeatersOverview

Heat processing applications vary widely from industry to industry. Curing, drying, heat treating, comfort heating, sterilizing and bonding represent just a few of the many uses for electrically heated air. Applications vary in temperature from super cool cryogenic to high temperatures up to 1200°F. Chromalox electric heaters can also be designed to heat special atmospheres such as argon or nitrogen. Special materials and custom designs are available for marine applications, power plants or hazardous applications.

Chromalox can supply individual fi nned elements for use in OEM equipment or entire duct heater assemblies where we have complete control over the product including the elements, frames and controls. Chromalox has earned an outstanding reputation for exceptional quality, reliability and long life.

Finned Heating Elements

Fintube ® Elements — The finned tubular design provides the same benefi ts as the finned strip heater and additional features, allowing for special bending confi gurations to provide higher concentrations of installed kW for a given area. The elements can be supplied with bulkhead threaded fi ttings, and may include optional hermetically sealed terminals, or extra heavy wall thickness for use in atmospheres containing hazardous fumes or gasses. Element diameters of 0.315" and 0.475" are standard, with high temperature aluminum painted steel sheath and furnace brazed fi ns being the most common materials. Stainless Steel or MONEL ® sheath and fi ns are also available for corrosive environments. Finstrip ® Elements — Superior to open coil elements, the heating coil is completely encased in a metal sheath, minimizing a shock hazard due to accidental contact with the heater. The rigid metal sheath minimizes hot spots and electrical shorting, likely with open coil elements. Application temperatures to 565°F are typical using fi nned strip units.

Duct Heater Assemblies

High Temperature — Type ADHT is designed to provide outlet air temperatures up to 1200°F using conservatively rated, low watt density, INCOLOY ® tubular elements. The heater includes three inches of high temperature rated insulation below the mounting fl ange to reduce heat transfer to the wiring enclosure. The elements are prewired and subdivided into 48 Amp maximum circuits in compliance with the National Electrical Code. The heater is provided with a Type “K” thermocouple attached to the sheath of one element to be used with a Chromalox high limit control.

Medium Temperature — Application temperatures to 750°F are common for ADH and TDH type duct heaters which feature INCOLOY ® sheath tubular heating elements. These versatile units are fully assembled and prewired with the elements subdivided into 48 Amp maximum circuits in compliance with the National Electrical Code.

Low Temperature — Outlet air temperatures to 440°F are typical for types CAB, CABB and DAB which use fi nned strip heater elements in an assembly which is then inserted in and bolted to existing ductwork.

Comfort Heating Duct Heater — Chromalox DH Series duct heaters are complete custom duct heater systems which are listed with the Underwriters Laboratory for comfort heating applications in commercial and industrial buildings.

Process Air Heaters — Selection Guidelines

Type Feature Rating KW Model Page
Fintube® 0.475" Fintube® 0.315" Fintube® 0.475" Single End 0.315" Single End 0.47 - 10
0.5 - 6.2
0.5 - 4.3
0.3 - 2.4
FTS & FTI
FTS & FTI
SFTS & SFTI
SFTS & SFTI
E-3
E-4
E-5
E-7
Finstrip® Finstrip® Circular Strip 0.2 - 4.1
1.9 - 5.0
OTF
KSEF
E-9
E-11
Air Duct Medium Temperature High Temperature Medium Temperature Low Temperature Round Duct 5 - 270
5 - 300
6 - 60
6 - 100
2.5 - 5
ADH
ADHT
TDH
CAB & CABB
DAB
E-12
E-12
E-16
E-17
E-19
Portable Blower Heater High Temperature 30-60 SDRA E-20
Tubular Air Duct Heaters (Specification Data Sheets)   E-23

 

Download the Process Air Heaters Selection Guidelines