What Is a Line Heater?
A line heater is a specialized heater that uses the light from a halogen lamp to heat objects in a linear fashion. Capable of heating objects to over 1,000 °C, these heaters are efficient, converting over 85% of input power into infrared radiation. Utilizing a low heat capacity filament, such as tungsten, they offer rapid temperature adjustment in a non-contact manner, ideal for clean environments and various heating atmospheres.
Uses of Line Heaters
Line heaters are employed in various manufacturing processes due to their non-contact nature and precise temperature control. Key applications include semiconductor manufacturing, resin material processing, and heating specific areas of mechanical materials. In semiconductors, they are used for oxide film formation and activation post-ion implantation. Automotive manufacturing utilizes them for thermoforming steel sheets. Other uses include solar cell module processing, vacuum or high-purity gas atmosphere heating, soldering solar panels, and as heat sources in conveyor lines.
Principle of Line Heater
Halogen lamps in line heaters contain halogen gases like iodine or bromine, along with nitrogen or argon. A tungsten filament inside emits light upon electrical stimulation. The interaction between evaporated tungsten atoms and halogen gas forms tungsten halide, which dissociates near the filament, ensuring stable operation. Infrared light from the filament is focused onto the object using mirrors, allowing for high-intensity, non-contact infrared heating.
Types of Line Heaters
Line heaters are categorized by their heating mechanism:
1. Halogen Line Heater
These heaters focus halogen lamp light using mirrors or collimated light, suitable for factory line heating, semiconductor manufacturing, and fusing plastic rolls. Various mirror types provide different focal lengths and heating intensities. Cooling methods include natural, air, and water cooling.
2. Line Heater for Piping
These heaters heat air, gases, liquids, and steam in piping systems. Available in indoor, outdoor, and terminal cooling types, they integrate directly with compressors, fans, blowers, and boilers.
Heat exchange occurs as fluid flows through the heater, with options for temperature control and overheating prevention. Common uses include enhancing the heating capacity of water source heat pump systems and hot water boilers and raising hot water temperature for air conditioners.