Advantages of Electric Process Heaters over Fuel & Combustion Heaters

Electric process heaters are quickly becoming a preferred alternative to fuel and combustion heaters due to their numerous advantages. With easy access and ready availability of electricity, dependence on traditional natural resources for heating is slowly fading away. Some of the advantages of electric power for immersion heaters include safety, efficiency, greater control and precision, eco-friendliness and capable of operating at higher temperatures.

Safety

Electric process heaters are certainly safer to use. Fuel is not as stable as electricity. It is more vulnerable to fire or combustion. Electric process heaters come with control boxes that are equipped according to safety needs. They can simply protect workers from coming into contact with wires, or can even use explosion proof terminal boxes.

Efficient and Economical

Electricity, as a power source, is much more efficient. A fuel-based immersion heater is only 32% – 38% efficient where only a third of the heat produced is actually passed on to the medium. On the other hand, electric process heaters are 100% efficient. Combine this efficiency with the rising cost of fuels, and electricity becomes an even more economical option. Also, electric process heaters are less expensive to maintain. Combustion adds wear and tear to an immersion heater that you simply don’t get with electricity. That means electric heaters require servicing and maintenance less often, as well, the damage is less common. They also have longer life spans, so they do not need to be replaced as often.

Greater control

Electricity has a high degree of control. Combined with automation and temperature control panels, specific temperatures and ranges can be reached and maintained reliably. Thermostat or automatic shut off switches prevent overheating and protect processes.

Eco-Friendly

Electric process heaters are not only efficient, but also eco-friendly. Electricity produces no harmful emissions culminating in a smaller ecological footprint.

High-Temperature Capabilities

Electric process heaters can reach higher temperatures than fuel heaters. That makes them capable of performing tasks other heaters cannot. Being able to reach and maintain operation at high temperatures gives electric process heaters a huge advantage over combustion heaters.