The Importance of Temperature Uniformity in an Industrial Oven

Applications

Temperature uniformity is a key consideration for industrial oven applications. The term temperature uniformity refers to the consistency of the temperature within the oven chamber. To verify uniformity, profile testing with thermocouples is performed at different points throughout the chamber. The test is often repeated at multiple temperatures.

Many factors may affect the temperature uniformity within an industrial oven. If the oven is not properly insulated, heat loss may occur through the areas in the walls. Door seals are important to ensure that cold are does not enter the oven through open gaps. Insufficient mixing of fresh air with re-circulated air can cause the formation of air pockets at different temperatures throughout the chamber of the oven.

Air duct configuration and volume of air moving throughout the oven chamber are two of the most important factors determining temperature uniformity. Part loading and placement should also be taken into consideration when configuring airflow. Airflow that reaches all points within the oven chamber minimizes cold spots and large variances in temperature, resulting in better temperature uniformity.

Benefits of Temperature Uniformity in Industrial Ovens

Consistent Quality – Variances in temperature during a heat treat application may create inconsistent results and a lower quality final product. Temperature uniformity during these processes provides reliable product results and quality.

Reduced Part Rework – Temperature uniformity reduces part rework because it ensures that all parts are treated at the same temperature for the same process time. Without tight temperature uniformity, a part may be loaded in a cold area and not be fully treated during the process, while others are located in a hot spot and treated at a temperature higher than intended. In both of these cases, the final part result would not meet the manufacturer’s requirements and would need to be reworked.

Energy Efficiency – Sufficient insulation and proper balancing of airflow maintain the temperature within an oven and reduce the use of energy. When an oven loses heat due to poor insulation of door gaskets, the heating system will continue to call for more heat to maintain the temperature.

For more information on industrial oven temperature uniformity, contact the Wisconsin Oven aftermarket team. Our trained professionals can provide on-site uniformity testing and certification for your industrial oven. Wisconsin Oven uniformity testing uses calibrated and certified instrumentation. To learn more about the industrial oven services from Wisconsin Oven visit www.wisoven.com or contact our sales team at sales@wisoven.com. For more information like the above, follow Wisconsin Oven on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and be sure to check back next month for our next blog.