In an extrusion machine, heating is one of the key steps. Different heating methods will directly affect the melting and extrusion effect of plastic. At present, the common heating methods of PE film granulators include electric heating, electromagnetic heating, and ceramic heating. In this article, we will compare these three heating methods and discuss how to choose the right heating method for granulator plastic recycling.
Electric heating extrusion machine
Electric heating is a common way of heating PE film granulators. Heat is transferred to the screw extrusion zone and dies head through a heating coil or electric heater to melt the plastic. The advantages of electric heating are ease of control, high thermal efficiency, and rapid response. However, electric heating consumes more energy and may result in higher operating costs. Moreover, electric heating elements require regular maintenance and replacement, which will increase the maintenance cost of the extrusion machine.
Electromagnetic heating granulator plastic recycling
Electromagnetic heating is to heat the plastic material through the eddy current heat generated by electromagnetic induction, which is more efficient. Compared with other extrusion machine heating methods, electromagnetic heating does not produce energy loss and is more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. However, the initial investment in electromagnetic heating PE film granulators is higher. In addition, electromagnetic heating granulator plastic recycling requires high conductivity of plastic materials and is not applicable to all kinds of plastics.
Ceramic heating extrusion machine
Ceramic heated PE film granulator has good uniform heating characteristics, which can make the plastic material melt more evenly. Moreover, ceramic-heated granulator plastic recycling is less susceptible to chemical corrosion and has a longer service life. However, ceramic heaters have a slower heating rate and may take longer to reach the proper operating temperature. In addition, the temperature adjustment of ceramic-heated extrusion machines is relatively less flexible.
How to choose the right heating method？
Choosing the right heating method for an extrusion machine requires comprehensive consideration of various factors.
First of all, the production demand and plastic-type determine the required heating power and capacity. For low-power and small-scale granulators for recycling, electric heating, and ceramic heating are good choices. Because they are easy to operate and have low investment. While for high power and high capacity requirements of PE film granulators, electromagnetic heating may be more suitable as it can provide higher heating efficiency and more energy saving.
Secondly, you also need to consider the stability of the extrusion machine equipment, maintenance cost, and energy consumption. In order to achieve a better heating effect, it is also possible to coat the ceramic heating ring with a layer of the electric heating ring. This combination of heating methods is called “double heating”. Double heating is a common and effective heating method. By combining ceramic and electric heating rings, the plastic pelletizing process can be optimized and controlled to meet the requirements of different sizes and demands.