Purchasing Resources for Tunnel Ovens

Tunnel Ovens Key Terms

Understand the key terms related to tunnel ovens
By Howard Robertson Tunnel ovens are ovens that heat a product to bake, finish, dry or shrink-wrap in batch or continuous process. These ovens are useful in the food, metal finishing, packaging and automotive industries. These ovens move the products placed on conveyors and have single or multiple heat chambers for heating or melting the industrial products. Tunnel ovens are open on both ends. The processing of the products takes place in the tunnel ovens.

In this guide we will cover some of the key terms related to tunnel ovens such as infrared heating, electric heaters, conveyors, thermocouples, calibration and tunnel oven length.

Infrared heating

As the name indicates, infrared heating uses infrared light waves. These waves are invisible to the human eye and can be used to heat a component or a specific portion of the component. Infrared heaters are more efficient than the convectional heaters.
Try:  You can find the information about the infrared heating process at Solaronics, a reputable manufacturer of infrared heating products. Haraeus Noblelight also explains the basics of infrared heat through a flash presentation.

Electric heaters

Electric heaters are devices that use electricity to create heat through the heating elements.
Try:  Industrial Quick Search, a manufacturers’ directory, provides information about the different types of electric heaters and explanation for technical terms related to electric heaters.

Conveyors

Conveyors move the material from one location to another. The material and size of a conveyor depends upon the dimensions and weight of the package or component that needs to be moved.
Try:  Cisco-Eagle, a reputable manufacturer of the conveyor systems, offers information about conveyors, their different types and accessories.

Thermocouples

Thermocouples are devices that measure temperature and can be found in ovens, furnaces and other temperature-sensitive applications.
Try:  Omega Engineering provides detailed information about thermocouple products and types.

Tunnel oven length

Tunnel oven length is determined by the speed of the conveyor system and the dwell time. The tunnel oven is the place where the actual heat processing takes place.
Try:  The Grieve Corporation, a reputable manufacturer of heat processing equipment, provides information about tunnel oven length and methods to calculate it.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

BTU is the British unit for measurement of heat. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water 1°F from a starting point of 39.2°F.
Try:  To learn more about BTU and its relation with other units, read through the glossary of wood heating terms at Greenwood Technologies, a provider of renewable heating solutions. Alternative Energy Solutions also provides a glossary of biomass boiler terms, including BTU.

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