Forced Air Drying Ovens:Functions and Applications

When it comes to ovens, many lab owners prefer a forced air oven over other types of lab ovens. Not only does it surpass the overall performance of other ovens, but it is also a more cost-effective option if you are on a limited budget.

Read on to learn what a forced air oven is and how it differs from other types of drying ovens. 

What is a Forced Air Oven?

Also known as hot air oven or mechanical convection oven, a forced air drying ovens evenly distributes heat throughout the compartment. An internal fan constantly circulates the hot air, heating all areas of the item evenly.

The built-in fan also provides faster heating and drying time, which is a significant advantage for materials testing labs that process high volumes of samples daily.

Forced Air Oven Vs. Gravity Convection Oven

In many ways, a forced air oven is the more efficient choice compared to a gravity convection oven.The latter is generally more affordable than the former because it doesn’t have a fan. Instead, it relies on the natural rising of hot air to heat samples. However, the problem with this heating method is that hot air loses heat energy as it rises. This can lead to uneven heating or drying, creating cold spots on the object that can compromise output quality. 

A forced air drying oven doesn’t have this problem because the fan prevents cold spots from forming. Thus, you can dry your samples uniformly and according to their requirements. 

Forced Air Oven Vs. Vacuum Drying Oven

Forced convection drying blows hot air through a circulating fan, while vacuum drying uses a vacuum pump to draw out the air inside the box so that the atmospheric pressure inside the box is lower than atmospheric pressure.

Applications of Forced Air Ovens

Below are some of the applications of using a forced air oven: 

1.Sample drying, glassware drying

2.Heat-resistant material testing, Aging testng

3.Baking

4.Dry sterilization

Advantages of Forced Air Ovens

1. Get even heating throughout the entire process

Since the fan inside evens out heating, there are lower chances of cold or hot spots developing in different areas of the chamber. So, you can expect your samples to dry uniformly, even on the inside.

2. Faster heating and drying development

Items placed inside the forced air oven pick up heat faster because they’re always in contact with hot air. This dries them out quicker compared to if you used a gravity convection oven.

3. Get faster temperature recovery

Hot air ovens also offer faster temperature recovery compared to basic drying ovens. This lets you use the heated items almost instantly since they cool down quickly. 

4.Kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms

The hot air that passes inside the chamber can kill most disease-carrying pathogens. The heat can also penetrate deeply into thicker objects, so you get an in-depth sterilization effect even for packaged items.