A tubular furnace is a type of electric furnace used to heat and control the temperature of a large sample (such as a batch of pharmaceutical compounds) in stages to complete the synthesis or purification process. The tube furnace uses an electric resistance element, such as heating elements inside or outside of a quartz tube, to raise and maintain the temperature of the sample by passing electricity through the tube. The heating element is turned on to start a reaction, and electricity flows from one side to the other. As the reaction takes place, more electricity flows across the resistance element and raises the temperature. The higher temperature can be controlled by adjusting the amount of electricity flowing through the heating element.
How does it work?
The tubular burner is a type of burner that may be applied to combustible or non-combustible fuels, such as air and gas. Tubular burners consist of an outer annulus or cylinder made of thin tubes of uniform diameter, typically copper or copper alloy, and a cylindrical inner cone or tube made of thicker tubes of different diameters. The inner tube is split into two halves which fit together to form a combustion chamber. The secondary cone is mounted above the inner cone, forming a combustion chamber. The outer tube has openings through which air may enter the inner tube. These openings are referred to as air holes, flame holes, etc. The openings in the outer tube provide a means for mixing air with gas. The combustion air is drawn into the inner tube by a puller and passes through the air holes and then through the annular space between the two halves of the inner tube into the outer tube, where it is mixed with the combustion gas from the secondary cone. The combustion gases from the secondary cone are drawn into the inner tube, pass through the air holes, and then out of the inner tube through the flame holes into the outer tube. Finally, the mixed combustion gases and air leave the outer tube and exit through the fire hole that is discharged into the room.
What are the applications?
Tube furnaces are not just for large-scale industrial applications – they are also an excellent solution for small-batch manufacturing. The lower costs associated with tube heating and cooling, coupled with the unparalleled thermal uniformity, make them a perfect fit for a wide range of thin-film applications, including microelectronics, photovoltaic and solar cell encapsulation, printing inks, food processing, pharmaceutical bioprocesses, and much more. The high temperature and thermal uniformity of a tube furnace mean that thin-film processes can be run at much higher temperatures than other types of heaters. This makes them ideal for applications in which heat transfer is a critical factor, such as the processing of specialty materials with high porosity.
Summary - With a longer service life and higher efficiency, the tubular furnace is an excellent choice for your next investment in thermal processing equipment. Tempsens is one of the leading manufacturers of tube furnaces, providing solutions for a wide range of heating applications in a variety of industries.
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