ceramic vs infared TUNNEL dryers.
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rudi,
both do theyr job - producing heat.
When you are searching for conveyor dryer for screenprinting you choose which one has best price and it's maximum pieces of cured garment per hour is a little bit more than your maximum production of printed garments per hour.
Also notice that plastisols cure faster than water based inks - so if you want to print with water inks you need stronger conveyor dryer.
both do theyr job - producing heat.
When you are searching for conveyor dryer for screenprinting you choose which one has best price and it's maximum pieces of cured garment per hour is a little bit more than your maximum production of printed garments per hour.
Also notice that plastisols cure faster than water based inks - so if you want to print with water inks you need stronger conveyor dryer.
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15 Posts
I am not sure of the working differences when it comes to curing shirts, but I can tell you a bit about the physical differences... the science side of the question:
IR Heaters typically use a wire that heats when electricity is applied. More electricity, more heat. Less electricity, less heat. IR heaters generally come to temperature quickly, can change temperature reasonably quick, and in general are very simple to manufacture and maintain.
Ceramic Heaters take the same equipment above but encase the heating element in ceramic. The ceramic material adds thermal mass to the process which helps to prevent the heating wire from over-heating which is the primary cause of heating element failure. Ceramic Heaters take a bit longer to come to the desired temperature but provide a more consistent temperature. The heating elements tend to be more expensive, but they last longer so it balances out in the long run.
The temperature provided by an IR heater fluctuates up and down as the elements go on and off when the thermostat registers the correct setting. An old or bad thermostat can allow that fluctuation be 20 degrees or more.
The temperature provided by a Ceramic heater fluctuates much slower because of the thermal mass of the ceramic material. The temperature change is slower and therefore less drastic overall.
Or if you prefer a very simple analogy....
An IR Heater is like a gas stove. Fire on, heat on, fire off, heat off.
A Ceramic Heater is like an electric stove, power on, heat on, power off, heat slowly goes down.
Now, I don't know if that answers your question or not in regards to drying tunnels.... but now you have at least some understanding of the physical differences.
IR Heaters typically use a wire that heats when electricity is applied. More electricity, more heat. Less electricity, less heat. IR heaters generally come to temperature quickly, can change temperature reasonably quick, and in general are very simple to manufacture and maintain.
Ceramic Heaters take the same equipment above but encase the heating element in ceramic. The ceramic material adds thermal mass to the process which helps to prevent the heating wire from over-heating which is the primary cause of heating element failure. Ceramic Heaters take a bit longer to come to the desired temperature but provide a more consistent temperature. The heating elements tend to be more expensive, but they last longer so it balances out in the long run.
The temperature provided by an IR heater fluctuates up and down as the elements go on and off when the thermostat registers the correct setting. An old or bad thermostat can allow that fluctuation be 20 degrees or more.
The temperature provided by a Ceramic heater fluctuates much slower because of the thermal mass of the ceramic material. The temperature change is slower and therefore less drastic overall.
Or if you prefer a very simple analogy....
An IR Heater is like a gas stove. Fire on, heat on, fire off, heat off.
A Ceramic Heater is like an electric stove, power on, heat on, power off, heat slowly goes down.
Now, I don't know if that answers your question or not in regards to drying tunnels.... but now you have at least some understanding of the physical differences.
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1,945 Posts
And I think that ceramic dryers use a bit less electrical energy due to slower heat exchange right ?
Im looking for another tunnel dryer in the UK, currently have texi 700 panther which came with the business a while back, now we are lucky enough to be expanding.
I am doing probably going to be doing 80-100 per hour plastisol though it, mostly single colour on to
Anyone have any recommendations.
Thanks
John
I am doing probably going to be doing 80-100 per hour plastisol though it, mostly single colour on to
Anyone have any recommendations.
Thanks
John
Joined
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15 Posts
Questionable.
It takes more electricity for ceramic elements to come to temp so any savings in the running are probably lost. Over the life of the equipment there is probably a savings, but since I rarely see that as an advertising bullet in the equipment lists I am thinking the overall savings is very, very small.
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