What You Need to Know About PTC Heaters

Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters consist of specialized heating discs built from advanced ceramic materials. These safe, powerful, and energy-efficient heaters allow for exceptional heat production and transfer within even the smallest spaces.

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PTC heaters fall into one of two categories: fin elements or honeycomb forms. While both types offer a wealth of benefits over conventional heaters, users should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each before deciding which option to go with.

FIN PTC Air Heater

FIN PTC air heaters are self-regulating systems that employ temperature-limiting effects that remove the risk of overheating. Because of these self-regulating features, FIN PTC air heaters always operate at the highest safety levels possible. These conditions also allow for better conductivity and higher efficiency, resulting in a longer lifetimes than other heating systems.

These machines circulate air through the use of large aluminum fins, whose surface area ensures homogeneous heat transfer with low outlet. Users can also adjust the airflow volume to automatically regulate the system&#;s heating power at any given time.

 

 

 

Honeycomb PTC Air Heater

Honeycomb PTC air heaters function below the combustion point of paper, meaning that they&#;re incredibly safe and energy-efficient for everyday use. In these units, small heating discs function as the heating element, connecting directly with the power source to convert electricity into heat.

Holes in each disc allow for greater airflow access, meaning that these heaters can process higher volumes of air than other heating systems. Honeycomb assemblies can hold three, four, or five discs at a time to produce up to 2,000 watts of heat output.

Applications of PTC Heaters in Various Industries

· Transportation: PTC heaters bring a wide variety of benefits to the automotive and aerospace industries. These systems provide compact, lightweight means to heat the interiors of planes and vehicles. Anything from seat and steering wheel heaters to plane de-icers will likely use a PTC heater.

· Healthcare: Because PTC heaters&#; high safety records, medical workers frequently turn to them for a variety of applications. PTC heaters work especially well as under-body heating systems on operating tables, gurneys, and beds.

· Recreational: Outdoor clothing manufacturers can weave PTC heaters into their clothing. Because of their ability to run open-loop (without the use of electronic controls), jackets, vests, socks, and gloves can all incorporate PTC heaters.

· Food and beverage: PTC heaters can keep foods and fluids at consistent temperatures while they&#;re being transported or stored for later use. These systems appear at many stages of the food processing and distribution process&#;processing plants, food transportation, and restaurants all benefit from PTC heaters.

· Public spaces: PTC heaters provide efficient, portable methods to heat outdoor venues such as restaurant patios, stadiums, and convention centers. Because of their light weight and energy efficiency, they can be moved and repositioned as needs and weather conditions change.

PTC Heaters Will Improve Your Home and Business

Dealing with dangerous and unreliable heaters can be stressful. PTC heaters improve on previous heater designs to provide safe, energy-efficient heating systems for applications large and small. Understanding the benefits to these heaters over traditional coil or ceramic chip options can help make a world of difference in both safety and effectiveness.

 

Advantages & Disadvantages of the PTC Fan Heater

Advantages & Disadvantages of the PTC Fan Heater

- Dec 20, -

 

Advantages & Disadvantages of the PTC Fan Heater

 

       PTC is a kind of ceramic electrothermal element. It employs the electric fan to drive air flow through PTC electric heating element to force convection, which is the main way of heat exchange. A temperature limiter is arranged in the air outlet, and when the air outlet is blocked by the fan, power can be automatically cut off. Some also have the function of automatic power-off tilted to the ground. That is, when the heater is tilted or overturned, the power supply can be cut off automatically. PTC heater output power is generally at 800 - watts, can be adjusted at will. 

 

Advantage of the PTC fan heater:

       The PTC fan heater has the advantages of soft air supply, fast heating, automatic constant temperature function, PTC elements is generally equipped with the waterproof function, so it is suitable for use in the bathroom, is an ideal portable household electric heater. 

Disadvantage of the PTC fan heater:

       It can only be used on a small scale. For a long time to blow to the same place, the human body 's skin may feel discomfort. And long-term use without timely cleaning, the bacteria on the warm air blower will also be accelerated into the air, even becoming a health hazard. In addition, the power of the heating fan is generally small, the noise is also a headache when starting.

 

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PTC Element Fan Heating

PTC Fan Heating Improves Efficiency

New PTC ceramic heating elements improve the efficiency of typical resistive heating elements used in applications where electrical forced-air heating is required. The PTC, Positive Temperature Coefficient, the heating element is built into extruded aluminum profiles combined with a fan to effectively transfer heat quickly to an adjoining space.  Aluminum profiles are designed for optimal heat transfer with the forced air across the fins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Efficient Transfer of Energy

In any heating application, some form of energy, electrical, gas, oil, or even hydropower is being converted into heat.  The energy of one is converted to heat energy which in turn raises the temperature of the adjoining air or physical object to bring both into equilibrium.

A PTC fan heating system converts electrical energy through the resistive element to heat which transfers very effectively to the aluminum housing.  The aluminum housing is designed to radiate the heat to the air moving across its surfaces. The heated air is directed by the fan to the targeted area.  The heated air then transfers the heat to the cooler spaces until the surfaces, including human skin, reach equilibrium with the air. Due to the compact size of these heating elements and power density, the energy transfer is more efficient than many other types of heating elements.  The PTC elements draw more power initially due to lower resistance and heat faster but lower power as the element reaches equilibrium with the adjoining space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temperature Control

PTC elements are valued because of the relationship between temperature and the resistance of the circuit.  As the temperature increases the resistance of the circuit increases. This relationship is described as a Positive Temperature Coefficient.

More importantly, there is no risk of overheating due to the characteristics of the positive temperature coefficient PTC heaters.  The fan heaters have a set power input and self-limiting temperature.

Applications for PTC Element Fan Heating

Electrical Cabinets & Enclosures

Hair dyers are a common device that illustrates how PTC fan heater works.  There is an actual patent on utilizing PTC heater in a hairdryer.  The PTC heating element prevents the dryer from overheating but also allows it to reach the desired temperature quickly.  The resistance in the circuit is lower at start-up allowing more current to flow through the device and heat faster.  As it approaches the set temperature the resistance increase slowing the current and the rate of temperature change.

Condensation prevention is a more typical industrial application.  Preventing condensation is important in cabinets and enclosures exposed to the weather and elements.  In electrical enclosures that don&#;t lend themselves to convection heating fan heating is the alternative solution. The unique nature of a PTC air heater is ideal for these applications. The element adjusts heating based on ambient temperature preventing condensation from forming with temperature change.  Hydrostats are often included in the circuitry to detect humidity conditions. PTC fan heaters are available in 5-40 wattages for tight spaces.  DBK USA heaters come prewired with a 35mm DIN rail clip for mounting.  There is also a high power 300- 800 W 115 V or 230 V version with screw terminals for easy wiring.

Outdoor Equipment

 

 

Windmills, gas and oil pipelines, and other remote equipment exposed to the elements are examples of where PTC fan heaters are used to heat cabinets or open spaces efficiently. Electric Trains lack the engine heat for passenger compartment heaters and are turning to electrical resistant and PTC fan heating elements to fill the gap and circulate warm air.  

Food & Beverage Appliances

Commercial appliances used for food and beverage industries require minimum temperatures in a wide range of applications.  Many can use fan-powered PTC heating to ensure heat is distributed over a compartment or wider area maintaining food temperatures.

Benefits of PTC Fan Heating Devices

 

 

Self Regulation & Safety

The heaters are designed to prevent the ingress of external solids greater than 12.5 mm such as a human finger!  DBK USA heaters are built to IP 20 standards.

PTC heating elements are temperature and current self-regulating.  Each PTC ceramic element is manufactured to a specific temperature.  Once the device reaches that temperature the inverse nature of the device increases resistance in the circuit to infinity effectively shutting down the circuit.  

The temperature is relative to an ambient temperature such that at high ambient temperatures less current flows in the circuit to reach the set-temperature without external controls.  The self-regulating nature protects the device from over-temperature and current.

 

 

Compact & Custom Sizing for Applications

Traditional heaters require space for electrical resistive heating elements and control circuitry often making them unsuitable for applications with limited space.  PTC ceramic elements are embedded into custom-sized aluminum extrusions with fans requiring much less space and often no control circuitry.  Fans are integrated with the PTC heating element minimizing the overall space required.

PTC Element Efficiency

Electric heating with PTC elements is more efficient than traditional resistant heaters.  The Positive Temperature Coefficient element controls the resistance of the circuit to a specifically designed point. The warmer the element the higher the resistance.  The cooler the element the lower the resistance and more current will flow increasing the heat.

These characteristics are unique in that the change in resistance and temperature is relative to ambient temperature.  The higher the ambient temperature the higher the resistance will be in the circuit impeding current flow and heating the element slower. 

Flexible Voltages

PTC ceramic heating elements with fans support multiple voltages, both DC and AC.  Dual voltages are available powering the fan and the heater separately if required.  Voltage as low as 12 V, AC, or DC is supported.

High Power Density

These devices have a higher power density than resistive wire heaters.  The small size of the PTC ceramic heating elements and the ability to be embedded directly into materials for efficient heat transfer results in concentrated power density.  

How do you size a PTC natural convection heating element?

Some PTC heating devices are sized by reference temperature, the maximum temperature of the device before the resistance stops current flow.  Some are sized by power output.  Max inrush current is defined for each power rating for circuit design purposes. DBK USA has experts standing by to answer your questions.  Design engineers can utilize the handing power calculator on our website. Feel free to call our thermal engineering specialists directly at 1-864-607-.  Go to our resources page for more information on PTC convection heaters.

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