If you are faced with a situation where the process appears to need more power, the first thing to consider is heat loss.

Remember, electric heat is 100 percent efficient by definition, so look to where the heat is not focused on the end application:

  • Air is cheap, and stagnant dry air is a very effective insulation layer that can be incorporated as a barrier into the design.
  • Mounting locations for the tool can be reviewed for isolation to minimize heat loss.
  • Materials and surface conditions can be chosen as interface surfaces to break heat conduction.
  • Convective airflow can be shielded to help retain heat. 
See the related feature article, "5 Essential Rules for Effective Heat Transfer Design," to learn how following the basic rules of thermal transfer design will increase your project’s efficiency, decrease energy loss and optimize your process.