Heating elements

Heating elements are different types of metallic components that can electrically conduct heat in many products. They are used in various configurations. They are capable of heating particular areas or items directly or indirectly. Some heaters consist of only the heating element. In this case, the heating element is not only a component of a larger heater or system, but actually serves as a product all on its own. Heating elements of different shapes and sizes are manufactured to fit particular applications, and have heating configurations unique to the particular need as well.





Types of Heaters
A wide range of heating elements include all kinds of heaters like:

• Cartridge Heaters
  They are often used in immersion applications as well as other applications due to their cylindrical shape. They contain several features, such as internal temperature detectors, grounding wires, cryogenic use, split sheath style etc. They are corrosion resistant as well as explosion resistant.
  
  
• Ceramic Band Heaters
  Band heaters are ring-shaped heating elements. They are fixed with a cylindrical object and heat via conductive heat transfer. They include ceramic band heaters and mica band heaters. Ceramic band heaters are used in plastic injection molding machines, extruders and blow molding equipments. Mica band heaters are made from a mica core and are designed with closed ends to prevent contamination.
  
  
• Water Immersion Heaters
  Water immersion heaters are best devices for various clean water requirements. They are mainly used for heating water and are attached with a number of water heating devices.
  
  
• Air Heaters
  These devices are used to heat the surrounding air. They have forced air products along with numerous types of radiant and space heaters.
  
  
• Nozzle Heaters
  These devices are ideal for all types of plastic processing equipments and offer custom flexibility.
  
  
• Tube Heaters
  They are applied in several industries.
  
  
• Oil Immersion Heaters
  Oil immersion heaters are used for pure oil requirements.
  
  
• Cast Heaters
  They are made from durable cast aluminum or bronze and have high heat transfer capacity.
  
  
• Strip Heaters
  They are industrial heating elements and can be used for heating air as well as other objects.

Brazing Application in Different Heating Appliances
Heating elements for hot water systems are made of heat conducting elements, such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. Higher the conduction of heat by the material better the efficiency of systems. For joining the different metallic sections of heating elements, brazing is the most convenient and effective method. Brazing joins the different sections of the heating element with ease and the joints are strong and corrosion resistant. Brazing must be carried out under vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere.

• Geyser Heaters
  Geyser heaters are usually made from superior quality copper tube, and are nickel-plated. Brazing is the most suited joining methods to joint its parts. It helps in the formation of stronger and clean joints.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Kettle Heater
  It is usually made of nickel alloyed with some amount of chromium and magnesium. Brazing with the help of nickel based alloys produce stronger, efficient, and long lasting services.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Cooking Range Heaters
  The cooking range heaters are strip brazed to allow fitting in the cooking range.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Toaster Heaters
  Toaster Heaters are made of steel tube and are bent to shape to fit into the top and bottom plates of the sandwich toaster. Different brazing processes, such as torch brazing, induction brazing can be used.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Electric Iron Heaters
  Brazing with aluminum based alloys and fluxes are best suited to tubular heaters cast in aluminum.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Washing Machine Heater
  Brazing is the most efficient method used for the joining of washing machine heaters.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Defrost Heater
  Another good application of brazing is the defrost heater.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Brazing Alloys
For most of the brazing applications in joining the heating elements, nickel based alloys are most suited brazing alloy. The nickel based brazing alloy is used for brazing nickel and nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, cobalt and cobalt alloys, steels and stainless steel, and also for special metals and their alloys. The brazing process should be done in protective atmosphere or vacuum.

Composition:
These brazing alloys have following common constituents:

• Nominal Composition
  Nickel, Chromium, Phosphorous
  
  
• Additional Elements
  Silicon, Boron, Iron, and Carbon
  
  
• Traces
  Aluminum, Cobalt, Sulfur, Selenium, Titanium, Zirconium.