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Product Briefing Outline: Watlow has introduced thick film quartz heater modules for wet chemistry applications. They feature an optical trip that protects the heater from excessive boiling, non-contact dry fire and insufficient fluid flowing through the heater. Intended for deionized (DI) water and aggressive chemicals, these thick film quartz heater modules provide ultra pure semiconductor-grade quartz performance.

Product Briefing Outline: Watlow has introduced thick film quartz heater modules for wet chemistry applications. They feature an optical trip that protects the heater from excessive boiling, non-contact dry fire and insufficient fluid flowing through the heater. Intended for deionized (DI) water and aggressive chemicals, these thick film quartz heater modules provide ultra pure semiconductor-grade quartz performance.  Problem: The use of thick film technology has allowed Watlow to supplant the inefficient heat output of a traditional infrared quartz heater. Thick film avoids the permeability problems experienced with TeflonÒ-coated products by utilizing semiconductor-grade quartz. Watlow’s thick film heating elements are applied directly onto the exterior surface of the quartz tubes, providing efficient transfer of heat energy with rapid response to changes in flow and temperature.

Solution: The improved product benefits include: rapid thermal response, maximum efficiency in varying flow conditions, compact package size, glassware fluid pressures up to 75 psi, low element temperature, single- and multi-phase power forms, and ultra-pure quartz, which eliminates risk of metal contamination.

Applications: For use in aggressive chemical applications such as ammonium hydrochloride, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, phosphoric acid, ultra pure 18 megohm deionized water and others.

Platform: The heater module is claimed to be 50 percent smaller than other competitive heating technologies. The heaters’ design eliminates process contamination risk in the event of element failure. The heater can be supplied as single module unit that can integrate directly into a tool. Watlow can also combine multiple modules in parallel to achieve higher power levels to provide a complete turnkey heater and control system.

Availability: October 2007 onwards.