What Are Gravity Convection Ovens, and Why Do You Need One?

 

Gravity convection ovens for laboratories have a unique design that works without using any blowing fan. It works on the principle of thermal expansion of hot air, which proves to be a cost-efficient alternative. They're also better at retaining heat and drying chemical compounds to yield better results in any thermal expansion.

These gravity convection ovens prove to be of great help in certain sensitive experiments, temperature control, and evaporation of chemicals. However, a brief introduction to the basics of gravity convection ovens is essential to make the best of use.

Gravity Convection Ovens For Lab                 

Gravity convection ovens work by air currents that form due to thermal expansion. The hot air rises, hit the ceiling, and then falls back down continuously, resulting in uniform heating of the material within the oven. Gravity convection ovens are designed with a separate entrance and exit to ensure that items placed within do not get burnt or damaged due to direct contact with hot air.

The working mechanism of Gravity Convection Ovens is similar to that of forced convection ovens; they differ only because they don't use any blower fan or circulating pump. Instead, the heated air inside the oven rises upwards by buoyancy while cool air flows in from the bottom, which in turn helps heat the material inside.

Why Do You Need One?

In addition to saving cost and energy, gravity convection ovens are ideal for drying chemical compounds. The air within is heated along with the material placed in them, and the convection currents lead to an even distribution of heat.

Temperature can be easily maintained at the desired level by controlling the flow of coolant from the bottom. This allows you to adjust the temperature per your required field and get optimum output. Take a look at these pointers to understand the importance of these ovens in your lab:

ü  Control Temperature

Since these ovens work without electricity, they allow easy temperature control. You can easily adjust the heat and maintain it at the desired level. In addition, the flow of coolant from the bottom can be adjusted as per requirement, which further helps to keep the temperature at an optimum level.

ü  Uniform Heating

The heating in gravity convection ovens is uniform throughout because the air currents induced are balanced and don't end up affecting a particular area within the oven, like in forced convection ovens where heated air rises. However, hot air tends to hit one side of the material placed due to a lack of airflow.

Thick glass makes up the walls of these ovens, which helps retain heat for a long duration; this proves helpful in temperature-sensitive experiments that require heating or cooling at a constant rate over a long period. For example, it can help dry different chemical compounds by evaporation.