Choosing Industrial Oven: Key Considerations

An industrial oven is the key to a wide variety of testing procedures for materials from concrete to soil. As such, every materials testing lab needs to have one that suits their needs and is built to last. Keep these considerations in mind as you browse for an industrial oven for your lab or facility.

Oven Type

Before you get into finer details like features, you first need to identify what your industrial oven will be used for. Does it need to support high temperatures? How large are the samples you’ll be drying or baking? Do you need an oven that heats up rapidly, or does speed not matter as much? Take a look at each of the most common industrial oven types listed below to find out which ones will get your job done.

Gravity Convection Ovens

Gravity convection ovens dry and bake samples through the simple process of heat rising. They’re an economical option for general baking and drying purposes, with good temperature uniformity and decent lifespans. Certified Material Testing Products offers a wide variety of gravity, or natural, convection ovens.

Forced Convection Ovens

Also called mechanical convection ovens, forced convection ovens use fan systems to disperse heat faster when drying or baking samples. They tend to have greater temperature uniformity than gravity convection ovens, but because of the airflow within the chamber, they might not be ideal for smaller samples. The ovens available at Certified Material Testing Products are temperature accurate to ±1%.

Vacuum Ovens

If you need an industrial oven for drying, degassing or moisture determination, a vacuum oven might be the right choice for you. They prevent heat transfer due to convection while also maintaining uniform temperatures to ensure your samples come out great every time. Certified Material Testing Products also offers vacuum pumps to help complete your industrial lab.

Gas Ovens

Gas ovens have many of the same benefits of electric convection ovens, but often have lower running costs. They also tend to have a higher initial expense, but the ROI from saving on utilities may be worth the price for facilities that will be frequently use industrial ovens for extended periods of time.

Temperature Requirements

Knowing the temperature range you require is extremely important when choosing an industrial oven. If you will need high, consistent temperatures, convection ovens are generally the best choice. However, if you require lower temperatures, low temp ovens would be ideal for high-quality curing and heat treating, or even just baking and drying.

Size & Capacity Requirements

One of the easiest considerations to figure out is how large your industrial oven can or should be. If you frequently perform material tests that require samples to be baked or dried or often have high-volume samples, it may be best to opt for a large-capacity oven. A Grieve oven is an economical choice for drying and curing large-volume samples, and Certified Material Testing Products has one of the best selections online. In addition to the spacious interior, Grieve ovens also have plenty of shelving to allow for sample storage during drying, curing or baking.

On the other hand, if you have limited space or only perform tests using small samples, benchtop ovens would make great choices. Lab Companion Bench Ovens, featured at Certified Material Testing Products, offer superb air dispersion, optimal air circulation and uniform temperature distribution. The Lab Companion is one of the most popular industrial ovens we offer, thanks to its exceptional quality.

Oven Features

Desirable features in an oven could include anything from shelving to digital timers and controllers, like a programmable logic controller (PLC). A PLC allows industrial ovens to perform actions without the need for manual intervention, such as turning heaters or fans on or off or activating exhaust blowers. Despatch ovens, for example, have setpoint digital proportioning controllers and rocker switches for power and heater control. In addition to digital controls, a Quincy lab oven comes with two adjustable shelves, allowing you to alter your oven’s capacity.

An industrial oven is a heated chamber used for a variety of industrial applications, including drying, curing, or baking components, parts or final products. These ovens can be used for both small and large volume applications, in batches or continuously with a conveyor line, and can operate at a wide range of temperatures, from just above ambient to over 1000 u00b0F (u00b0C).

Types of Industrial Ovens

1. **Batch Ovens**: Also known as cabinet ovens, batch ovens process products one at a time or in a single group. These ovens are ideal for small to medium-sized workloads and are typically used for curing, drying, aging, heat treating, and baking.

2. **Conveyor Ovens**: Designed for continuous processing, they move products through a heated chamber at a consistent speed. Conveyor ovens are used for mass production and are ideal for food baking, drying, and curing.

3. **Curing Ovens**: These are used to cure paint, powder coating, and adhesives. The curing process requires a specific temperature to create a chemical reaction in the product.

4. **Drying Ovens**: Used to remove moisture from products. Applications include pre-treating and painting. Drying ovens are designed to dry parts or components quickly and efficiently.

5. **Refinery & Petrochemical Ovens**: Specialized for the petrochemical industry, these ovens handle tasks like thermal cracking and distillation.

Key Components

– **Heating Elements**: Generate the heat necessary for the oven’s operation. The type of heating element can vary, including electric, gas, or infrared.

– **Insulation**: Keeps the heat within the oven and maintains energy efficiency.

– **Controls and Thermocouples**: For precise temperature control and monitoring, often connected to digital interfaces for user control.

– **Conveyor Systems (for conveyor ovens)**: Move the products through the oven at a controlled speed.

### Applications

– **Industrial Manufacturing**: For hardening, stress relieving, and heat treating of metals.

– **Electronics**: For soldering and reflowing of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards).

– **Automotive**: Paint baking and component manufacturing.

– **Food Production**: Baking and drying food products.

– **Pharmaceuticals**: Sterilization and drying of pharmaceutical products.

### Advantages

1. **Efficiency**: Uniform temperature is achieved and maintained with minimal energy expenditure by industrial ovens designed for this purpose.

2. **Customization**: Can be tailored to specific processes, temperatures, and size requirements.

3. **Quality Control**: Ensures consistent quality and performance of the product.

4. **Automation**: Can be integrated with other industrial processes for a seamless operation.

### Challenges and Considerations

– **Energy Consumption**: High energy usage can be a significant operating cost.

– **Temperature Uniformity**: Essential for process consistency but can be challenging to maintain.

– **Safety**: High temperatures necessitate safety precautions to protect workers.

– **Maintenance**: Regular maintenance is required to ensure longevity and efficient operation.

### Future Trends

The future of ovens includes greater automation, energy efficiency, and integration with Industry 4.0 technologies. This integration allows for better process control, predictive maintenance, and enhanced efficiency.

In conclusion, industrial ovens play a crucial role in various industrial processes. Their design, operation, and maintenance are critical for the efficiency and quality of the products they help produce. With advancements in technology, these ovens are becoming more efficient, safer, and more integrated with other industrial processes.

Find the Right Industrial Oven for Your Lab at Certified MTP

Certified Material Testing Products offers equipment from reputable oven manufacturers who understand your needs and build exceptional ovens to meet them. If you have additional questions about how to find the best industrial oven for your lab or facility, contact us today. Our team of materials testing experts will be more than happy to help.