Difference between ElectroMagnetic Coil and Heating Coil

In this article, we are going to discuss the difference between electromagnetic coils and Heating coils. Electromagnetic coils and Heating coils both are conductive coils but they have different functions and properties. Electromagnetic coils and Heating Coils both have a wide range of applications in electrical and electronics engineering. In fact, the major electrical loads either have an electromagnetic coil or have Heating Coil.

What is Electromagnetic Coil?

It is a conductive coil that creates a magnetic field or becomes an electromagnet itself when an electric current flows through it. 

An electromagnetic coil is nothing but a simple electrical conductor or wire in the shape of a coil or spiral. Actually, when an electric current flows through any conductor, a circular magnetic field is created around that conductor, but if that conductor is in coil or spiral shape, then the strength of the produced magnetic field will be more for the same given current. For this reason, every electromagnetic coil is designed in a coil or spiral shape.

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Electromagnetic Coil Properties and Material

The electromagnetic coil does not use any special materials, usually, they are made of copper conductors.

The properties of Electromagnetic Coil are,

1. DC Electromagnetic coils have resistance according to their design with the aim of current consumption, and magnetic field strength.

2. Generally, AC electromagnetic coils have very low resistance. And the current flowing through it is controlled by self-inductance property.

3. The strength of the magnetic field depends upon the no. of turns, the length of the conductor, and the current flowing through it.

4. The polarity of the electromagnet produced by the electromagnetic coil depends upon the direction in which the turns are made and the polarity of the power supply.

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Electromagnetic Coil Use, Function, Applications

The main function of an electromagnetic coil is to create an electromagnetic field when the electric current flows through it. 

Electromagnetic coils have a wide range of applications and use such as,

1. They are used in electromagnetic relays, Solenoids, etc.

2. They are also used in electrical machines such as electric motors, generators, transformers, etc.

3. They are used in speakers, actuators, electromagnets, etc.

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What is Heating Coil?

The conductive coil that converts electrical energy into heat energy is called Heating Coil. A heating coil is made of an electrical conductor. The conductor used in the heating coil generally has a high resistance. So when an electric current flows through the conductor it encounters by the resistance of that conductor and produces heat according to the joules law.

Actually, when an electric current flows through a high resistance conductor it creates, but when it is in a coil shape, we can get more heat at a particular point that can be used for any useful work. For this reason, heating coils are mostly designed in the shape of the coil.

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Heating Coils Properties and Materials

Mostly Nichrome wires are used to make heating coils. Kanthal(FeCrAl) and Cupronickel(CuNi) are also used for heating coils.

The properties of Heating Coils are,

1. Heating coils have high resistance properties.

2. The heat produced by a heating coil depends upon the resistance of that coil, the current flowing through that coil, and the time duration of the current flowing.

3. Heating coil properties do not depend upon the direction of the flowing current through it.

4. Heat produced by a heating coil is not the same for both AC and DC supply. For the same voltage level, a heating coil produces less heat in the AC supply than DC because the magnitude of voltage and current is changing in the AC supply.

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Heating Coil Use, Function, Applications

The main function of a heating coil is to produce heat when an electric current flows through it.

Heating coils have many useful applications such as - electric heaters, humidifiers, boilers, Electric Iron, Electric Cooker, etc.

Heating coils are also used in industrial processes that require controlled heating. They are employed in equipment such as industrial furnaces, heat treatment systems, kilns, and foundries for applications like metal melting, forging, tempering, and annealing.

In the HVAC Systems also the Heating coils provided a very important role. Here they are used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning purposes. They are used in air handlers and heat exchangers to warm the air before distributing it to various spaces in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

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Key Difference between Electromagnetic Coil and Heating Coil

1. Magnetic coil produces a magnetic field or magnetic energy when an electric current flows through it on the other hand Heating coil produces heat energy when a current flows through it.

2. Magnetic Coils are always in a spiral or round shape whereas heating coils may be in any shape like a tube, horizontal coil, vertical coil, etc.

3. Heating coils have high internal resistance whereas Magnetic Coil has low internal resistance.

4. Heating coils are not insulated but magnetic coils are always insulated.

5. Heating coils are made of high resistivity and high melting point materials whereas magnetic coils are made of low resistivity and low melting point materials.

6. Electromagnetic coil is an Inductive Load whereas Heating Coil is a Resistive Load.

7. Electromagnetic Coil can make changes in power factor(make lagging) but heating coil does not any changes in power factor(always unity).

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