What Is a Pipe Heater?
A pipe heater is a device in which a resistance heating element is placed in a metal sheath (pipe) and energized to generate heat in the pipe.
By inserting a pipe heater into a liquid, the liquid can be easily heated even if there is no existing heating device attached to it.
They come in various shapes, including U-shaped, round, and spiral shapes, and efficiently heat liquids by increasing the surface in contact with the liquid.
There are many types of sizes, shapes, and heating values, and the appropriate one should be selected according to the application.
Uses of Pipe Heaters
Pipe heaters are used to heat water or other liquids quickly.
For example, they can easily heat water in a bathtub without a water heater, or heat liquid samples for experiments.
Pipe heaters can also be used to heat water for drinking or for other purposes during outdoor work in winter.
Since heating can be done simply by throwing the pipe heaters into liquid, it can be used in various situations, including testing, experiments, and temporary construction sites.
Principle of Pipe Heaters
Most pipe heaters are U-shaped, round, or spiral-shaped, increasing the contact surface with the liquid to improve the efficiency of heat conduction.
Most pipe heaters use copper as the sheath material, which has high thermal conductivity and can efficiently heat liquids.
The surface of the sheath is often nickel-plated to prevent rust.
The heaters are small, ranging in width from a few centimeters to 10cm, and can be placed in containers of various sizes.
The heating power ranges from several hundred watts to several kilowatts, depending on the volume and type of liquid to be heated.
There are also types that can be secured by drilling holes in the sides or bottom of the container and using packing or nuts.
Note that one precaution to be taken when using these heaters is that they should not burn when they are not in contact with liquid.
Care should be taken because heat may not be transferred to the surrounding area and the heater may heat up abnormally, which could lead to malfunction or fire.