PTC heating elements
Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC), PTC heating elements are components that contain polycrystalline ceramic with barium titanate as the base material. A characteristic feature of this solution is the opposite arrangement of metallic coatings acting as electrodes. The whole thing is enclosed in a well-conductive heat and electrically insulating coating.
Principle of operation
Thanks to the special resistance-temperature characteristics, the PTC heating element can be used in various types of heating – in most cases without the need for temperature regulators and limiters. Products of this type are distinguished by an extremely favorable course of the resistance curve, depending on the temperature. The working area is usually limited to the low-impedance part of the characteristic, which allows high power levels to be achieved. As the temperature increases, the resistance of the PTC heater also increases, which reduces the power. There is a phenomenon of self-regulation, so there is no need to introduce systems protecting against overheating.
The same mechanism works in the event of a voltage change at a constant temperature. As the voltage rises, the PTC heater consumes more energy, but thus its temperature rises, which means that it is thermally stabilized, reaching maximum resistance. Unlike conventional solutions, its power cannot be proportional to the square of the voltage. In practice, this means that the same product can be used for 24V, 48V and 120VAC and 240VAC, obtaining the same output power. The characteristic properties of the heating elements make it possible to dose the power, and thus maintain the temperature at the set level. The amount of power depends on the amount of heat.
Advantages and Properties
The PTC heater can therefore be an effective and inexpensive solution, as it provides a highly efficient heat source in relation to the size, so you can replace the existing solution with a much smaller one with the same power. PTC heating elements allow you to reduce costs, because they work in the optimal use of power between the assumed minimum and maximum for the required temperature. Since these types of heaters are self-regulating, thermostat regulation may not be necessary in some cases. Of course, there are cases where the use of an additional thermostat is useful, and in such situations a small bimetallic regulator can usually be used, which will not add much to the cost of the overall solution.
The range of parameters of PTC heating elements is very extensive:
- Supply voltage; 12V – 600V
- Power; 50W -2000W
- Temperature; 40C -280C
- Size and Shape: Can be formed into rectangle, square, circle, ring.
Application
Most of us already have some experience with PTC heaters without even knowing it. Every day we have contact with the devices in which they are used, namely: air fresheners, ironing irons, coffee machines, dishwashers, heating cables used for de-icing pipes, etc. The products have a virtually unlimited life, do not generate EMC disturbances, and the scope of their application is very wide. Typical outdoor applications include ticket dispensers, parking vending machines, metering devices, crane cabins, control cabinets, surveillance cameras, liquid crystal displays, traffic control housings, transformer housings, telecommunications cabinets, medical devices, railway signaling, and many more.
You can also learn more about our products: PTC heating elements, Heating devices for telecommunications cabinets and vehicles,Heaters for forklifts, internal combustion vehicles and large telecommunications cabinets, Silicone heating mats, Ultrathin flexible heaters, Regulation and control