What Is a Belt Heater?
Belt heaters are belt-shaped heaters designed to heat objects by covering the surrounding object.
It can heat objects regardless of their shape, and is used to heat objects that have complex shapes or are difficult to heat over an open flame. Depending on the material of the belt, this heater excels at heating objects in the range of human living temperatures up to around 200°C, and is used in a variety of fields.
Because they heat objects by converting electricity into heat, they can be heated as long as electricity is available. Since they require a few other tools, they are easy-to-use heaters with a low degree of difficulty.
Uses of Belt Heaters
Belt heaters are used in a variety of applications for heat retention and heating. They are used in a very wide range of fields, including medical, health, and physical/chemical equipment. In winter in cold regions, belt heaters are also used to prevent freezing of pipes such as water pipes, making them an important heater for daily life.
Because they heat evenly over a surface when heated, they are also used in applications where localized temperature changes that can cause damage, such as during thawing, are not desirable. When using belt heaters, be very careful when using sharp tools such as cutters nearby to avoid cutting or damaging the belt section.
In particular, when removing a belt heater, the belt portion is often damaged along with the auxiliary jig (string, plastic wrap, etc.) that secures the heater to the object being heated. Also, be sure to check how the belt heater is attached when removing it.
Principle of Belt Heaters
Heaters heat objects by converting electricity into heat, and their performance as heaters is graded according to voltage and electrical capacity. It is also important that the belt, which serves as the heating part, be flexible enough to follow the various shapes of the object to be heated. When using the belt, it should be handled in such a way that it does not undergo extreme shape changes beyond its operating range.
If the circuit of the heater section where electricity flows is ruptured, the area to be heated may be localized, or the heating may stop or even cause a malfunction.
Structure of Belt Heater
Belt heaters consist of two major components: a lead wire that takes the power supply for heating and a belt that is the heating part. The temperature range that can be handled varies depending on the material used for the heating part.
Similar products called cord heaters and tape heaters are also available, but the difference is whether the heating part is in the form of a belt or not; the heating principle and structure are almost the same. It is recommended to select the shape that best suits the purpose of use.
How to Choose a Belt Heater
1. Material
Silicon rubber-like material is often used, but belts made of braided heat-resistant fiber (heat-resistant polymer fiber such as polyamide or polyester) are also used in areas where the heating temperature is high, and materials vary depending on the expected temperature range.
Rigid materials are not suitable for belts, as they must be able to follow the shape of the heated object. Other materials with the necessary resistance, such as electrical insulation, heat resistance, and chemical resistance, should be selected as needed to meet the needs of the application.
2. Shape
Depending on the size and shape of the object to be heated, belt heaters of various shapes, from thin to thick, and from short to long, are deployed in the market. In addition, in order to cover small-diameter objects to be heated, the belt must be thin in thickness to cover them well.
Select the shape of the belt heater by carefully checking what kind of shape you want to use, its length, and its ability to follow the object. When installing a new belt heater, it is important to select and design the best combination of heater length, voltage/capacity, and lead wire length for the intended use.
In some cases, it may be possible to hire a specialist to custom-build a belt heater to your specifications. We recommend the systematic introduction of belt heaters of various materials and shapes to make heating as efficient as possible.