A cartridge heater is an element used in industrial heating and mainly consists of resistive wiring enclosed in a cylindrical-shaped straight metallic tube. The wires that penetrate the enclosure on one side are connected to an electrical source to produce heat. Two common types of cartridge heaters available in the market are the standard swaged construction and the standard loose pack ones. Regardless of the type of cartridge that you choose for your industrial heating, you can customize it to accommodate the adverse conditions of your application. This will extend its operational life and enhance the performance of your application, thereby boosting your competitiveness in the long run. Below are some common customization approaches you can use.
Attaching mounting flanges
If you intend to use an application where the cartridge heater will be subjected to impact or vibration, you can attach a flange next to its lead end. You can either weld or braze the flange on the heater to allow for specific positioning and mounting. This modification will allow the heater to stay in place and work efficiently in the midst of the vibrations.
Protecting the lead wire
To protect the lead wire of the cartridge heater from sharp edges and abrasion, you can use a flexible stainless steel conduit. The conduit is available in right angle and straight configurations, which makes it easy to find one that suits your application. Another option that will protect the lead wire from abrasion is installing a metal braid that comes in both right angle and straight configurations. Neither of these modifications interfere with the flexibility of the lead wire, which is needed to ease installation.
Installing threaded bushings
You can attach stainless steel or brass bushings on the cartridge heater through welding or brazing. These threaded fittings will make it easier to install the heater into an immersion application with a threaded hole. This type of modification is usually suitable when the heater is screwed onto a container and used to heat oil or water in an industrial setting. In such an application, the position of the heater is of utmost important as the fluid levels must always cover it completely, ensuring it is never exposed during operations. Be sure to keep this in mind when fixing the threaded bushings.
Fitting epoxy seals
To protect your cartridge heater from moisture, you can fit the end of the sheath with an epoxy seal. This seal will also prevent the heater from getting contaminated by fumes, cleaning solvents, plastic debris and oil. The beauty with these seals is that they can withstand high temperatures required by various applications for continuous operations.
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