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Finned Electric Heating Resistors for Air

Heating air requires a much larger heat-exchange surface than liquids, due to air's lower heat-transfer coefficient: for this reason resistors for air are typically finned (aluminium or steel fins) to increase the dissipating surface. They are used in drying ovens, drying tunnels, hot-air process ducting and air-handling units.

  • Finned tubular element that increases exchange surface and lowers the skin temperature of the resistive wire
  • A safety airflow switch is required: the heater must never operate below minimum air flow
  • ATEX certification required in environments with combustible dust (Zone 21/22)
  • Typical use: industrial drying ovens and dryers, drying tunnels, hot-air process ducting
  • Dimensions and fin pitch calibrated on air flow rate and required temperature rise

The technical drawing below shows an example configuration: use the guided configurator to tell us the power, length, dimensions and operating temperature of your air application.

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Illustrative example

Intended use: Air

The values shown in the drawing are an indicative reference to help you read the technical diagram: they do not correspond to a real model, price or product specification.

TECHNICAL DIAGRAM — AIR ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE — indicative values, not a real product specification ATEX POWER 9 kW LENGTH 2000 mm DIMENSIONS Ø 60 mm, elemento alettato OPERATING TEMP. 350 °C Generic technical drawing, not to scale — actual dimensions will be confirmed in the quote.

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Frequently asked questions

Air has a lower heat-transfer coefficient than liquids and therefore needs a much larger exchange surface: fins (aluminium or steel) increase the dissipating surface and lower the skin temperature of the resistive wire.
A safety airflow switch is required: the heater must never operate below minimum air flow, to avoid overheating the element and possible failures or ignition risk.
In industrial drying ovens and dryers, drying tunnels, hot-air process ducting and air-handling units. ATEX certification is required when the environment contains combustible dust (Zone 21/22).