How to determine the number of infrared heating lamps required for a blow molding machine?
Consider the size and shape of the preform
Size influence: The size of the preform is directly related to the number of halogen infrared heat lamp required. For larger preforms, the surface area is large and more heat needs to be absorbed to reach the appropriate molding temperature, so more heating lamps are needed to provide sufficient heat. For example, a 5-liter preform may require 2-3 times the number of halogen IR heating lamps to ensure uniform heating compared to a 0.5-liter preform, because its surface area may be several times that of the latter.
Form factor: The shape of the preform is also critical. If it is a regular cylindrical preform, the Infrared Halogen Heater Parts can be distributed more evenly around the circumference of the preform, and the number can be determined based on the circumference length and the irradiation angle of the heating lamps.
Based on heating time and production speed
Heating time requirements: If the preform is required to reach the molding temperature in a shorter time, higher heating power is required, which usually means more short wave infrared heater lamp are needed. For example, if the preform is required to be heated from room temperature to 120°C within 5 seconds, the number of Halogen Infrared Heat Lamp may need to be increased by about 50% – 100% compared to the heating time of 10 seconds to meet the requirement of fast heating.
Production speed matching: The production speed of the blow molding machine is an important factor in determining the number of halogen heat bulb. On a high-speed production line, the preform stays in the heating zone for a short time. In order to ensure that each preform can be fully heated, more heating lamps are needed to provide sufficient heat. For example, a production line with a production speed of 100 preforms per minute may require 3 – 4 times the number of heating lamps compared to a production line with 30 preforms per minute, with other conditions being the same, to accommodate the fast production rhythm.
Consider the power and radiation range of the Shortwave Quartz Infrared Heating Lamps
Power factor: The power of the heating lamp determines the amount of heat that a single heating lamp can provide. If low-power heating lamps are used, more heating lamps are required to achieve the required total heat. For example, when a total heat of 100 kW is required to heat the preform, 100 lamps with 1 kW are needed, while only 50 lamps with 2 kW are needed.
Radiation range: The radiation range of the halogen quartz tube heater element will also affect the number. If the radiation range of the lamp is smaller, more infrared halogen heating tube are needed to cover the entire surface of the preform. Generally speaking, a lamp with a radiation angle of 90° may require more lamps than a Infrared quartz heater replacement lamp with a radiation angle of 180° to ensure full heating under the same preform and heating requirements. For example, for a preform with a circumference of 30 cm, a infrared shortwave bulb with a radiation angle of 180° may only require 3 – 4 lamps to basically cover the circumference, while a lamp with a radiation angle of 90° may require 6 – 8 lamps.
