PTC Heaters – Positive Temperature Coefficient Heaters
thermo Heating Elements has produced PTC heaters for over 15 years. This patented technology is used to produce heating elements that have self-regulating properties. This means that the elements serve as their own sensor – they increase the wattage used in colder temperatures and decrease the wattage used as the temperature increases. This results in a more efficient heating system.
High Temperature Thick Film
High Temperature Thick Film heating elements are similar to Standard Resistance heaters in both manufacture and construction, but utilize higher temperature inks, substrates and bonding materials. The result is a moderately priced flexible heating element with the benefits of Standard PTF heaters, but also with an increased maximum surface temperature of 130° Celsius.
HRT – High Resistance Thick Film
Engineers often encounter issues when designs require heating elements with high resistance in very small areas. A traditional solution to this problem has been for the heating element manufacturer to use very fine, delicate resistance wire, leading to premature failure, low production yields and high unit cost. Often the required resistance is so high that none of the traditional technologies will provide a solution.
Using our core technology of polymer thick film heating elements, Thermo has developed HRT – high resistance technology elements that surpass the resistance density of the traditional product offerings. Because the elements use our polymer thick film technology, heating element costs are much lower than the traditional elements and are available in multiple configurations and design options.
PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating elements are often used in thermal management solutions for battery systems because of their unique properties and benefits.
Advantages of PTC Heating Elements
One of the primary advantages of PTC heating elements is their self-regulating behavior. PTC materials have a positive temperature coefficient of resistance, which means that as the temperature of the material increases, its electrical resistance also increases. This results in a decrease in current flow, which in turn causes the temperature to stabilize. This self-regulating behavior makes PTC heating elements ideal for use in battery systems, where maintaining a constant temperature is important for both safety and performance.
Another advantage of PTC heating elements is their reliability and durability. PTC materials are often ceramic-based, which gives them excellent thermal and mechanical stability. They can withstand high temperatures, thermal cycling, and mechanical stress, which makes them well-suited for use in battery systems that may experience harsh operating conditions.
PTC heating elements are also relatively easy to design and integrate into battery systems. They can be fabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be designed to fit specific applications and thermal management needs. Additionally, PTC heating elements can be controlled using simple electronic circuits, which makes them easy to integrate into battery management systems.
Overall, PTC heating elements offer a range of benefits that make them an excellent thermal management solution for battery systems. Their self-regulating behavior, reliability, durability, and ease of integration make them well-suited for use in a wide range of battery applications.