Customers who wish to control three phase heaters require power controllers. How do you decide which method of control to select? ‘Two-leg versus three-leg control’ and ‘zero cross versus phase-angle control need to be considered.’ The following will help you decide when each method is appropriate.
Switching all three legs of a heater load is only necessary for the following:
Grounded ‘Y’ heater: Each phase controls to neutral. Grounded heaters have 4 wires attached. The center of the ‘Y’ heater is connected to the neutral
Thermal systems are integral to myriad processes that drive industries of all types, from semiconductor processing and energy generation to medical and foodservice equipment and beyond. Found within each of these industries are sensitive processes that require varying levels of temperature regulation. For instance, when a manufacturing process molds and shapes metal, equipment needs to maintain a temperature above a certain threshold, but an exact temperature may not be necessary. However, another process that involves melting plastic may need to reach a certain temperature but not exceed it—or the material will start to burn.
In those situations for which precise temperature control is required, closed loop systems offer the ability to closely monitor and compensate for environmental changes.
Closed loop temperature control incorporates sensors and ongoing feedback to the system to continually regulate temperature based
Heat treatment processes are a crucial component of many manufacturing processes, and thermal loop solutions have become increasingly popular for achieving improved temperature control and consistent outcomes. But many OEMs are missing opportunities where thermal loop solutions offer more than just greater control. In this article, Peter Sherwin and Thomas Rücker, industrial heating technology supplier Watlow, explore the possibilities of thermal loop solutions.
A thermal loop solution is a closed loop system with several essential components, including an electrical power supply, power controller, heating element, temperature sensor and process controller. The electrical power supply provides the energy needed for heating, the power controller regulates the power output to the heating element, the heating element heats the material, and the temperature sensor measures the temperature. Finally, the process controller adjusts the power output to maintain the desired temperature for
