What is Electric Heating and its Advantages?

Heating is required for domestic purposes such as cooking and heating of buildings, as well as for industrial purposes such as melting of metals, hardening and tempering, case­hardening, drying and welding. Practically all the heating requirements can be met by some form of electric heating equipment.

The main advantages of electric heating over other systems of heating (coal, oil or gas heating) are given below :

1. Economical: Electric heating is economical as electric furnaces are cheaper in initial cost as well as maintenance cost. It does not require any attention so their is a considerable saving in labour cost over other systems of heating. Electrical energy is also very cheap as it is being produced on large scale.

2. Cleanliness: Since dust and ash are completely eliminated in electric heating system, it is a clean system and cleaning costs are rendered to a minimum.

3. Absence of Flue Gases: Since no flue gas is produced in this system, there is no risk of atmosphere or objects being heated and operation is, therefore, hygienic.

4. Ease of Control: Simple, accurate and reliable temperature control can be had either by hand operated or by fully automatic switches. Desired temperature or temperature cycle can be had accurately in electric heating system, which is not convenient in other heating systems.

5. Automatic Protection: Automatic protection against overcurrents or overheating can be provided through suitable switchgears in the electric heating system.

6. Upper Limit of Temperature: There is no upper limit to the temperature obtainable except the ability of the material to withstand heat.

7. Special Heating Requirements: Certain requirements of heating such as uniform heating of material or heating of one particular portion of the job without effecting others, heating of non-conducting materials, heating with no oxidation, can be met only in electric heating system.

8. High Efficiency of Utilization: The overall efficiency of this heating is comparatively higher, since in this system of heating the source can be brought directly to the point where heat is required, thereby reducing the losses. Further there is no product of combustion in which heat losses are involved.

It has been practically ascertained that 75 to 100% of heat produced by electric heating can be successfully utilised whereas in cases of gas, solid fuel and oil heating the efficiencies are 60%, 30% and 60% respectively.

9. Better Working Conditions: This system produces no irritating noise and also the radiating losses are low. Thus working with electric furnaces is convenient and cool.

10. Safety: This is quite safe and responds quickly.

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