Ultrasonic Cleaning Heater Selection Guide

How to Choose the Installation Position of the Heater?

1. Bottom Heater

Advantages:

• Uniform temperature rise.
• Simple structure.
• Lowest overall cost.

Disadvantages:

• If the heater is too close to the transducer, it may affect ultrasonic wave distribution.
• Oil sludge may accumulate at the bottom, making the heater prone to scaling.
• Larger tank sizes may require higher heating power.

2. Side Heater

Advantages:

• Less likely to be affected by oil sludge and scaling.

Disadvantages:

• Temperature rise is slightly slower than a bottom heater.
• Higher risk of collision, which may cause damage.
• Higher power may be required depending on the tank size.

3. External Heating

Advantages:

• Does not interfere with ultrasonic energy inside the tank.
• Fast temperature rise.
• Easy maintenance.
• Lower electric heating power consumption, saving more energy.
• Saves internal tank space.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost.
• Requires overflow circulation cleaning to maintain the internal tank temperature.

How to Choose Heater Power? Closely Related to Tank Capacity and Flow Rate

What happens if the power is too low?

• Slow temperature rise.
• Ultrasonic cleaning efficiency cannot be improved.
• Difficult to maintain temperature.

What happens if the power is too high?

• Easy to overheat, causing equipment damage.
• Increased power consumption.

Formula 1:

Calculate Required Heating Power Based on Tank Capacity

Power (kW) = Volume (L) × ΔT (°C) × 0.001163 ÷ Heating Time (hours)

• Volume (L) = water volume in liters
• ΔT = expected temperature rise, for example 25°C → 60°C, ΔT = 35°C
• 0.001163 = heat conversion coefficient for pure water
• Heating time = desired time to reach the target temperature

Example: Circulation Flow Rate 20 L/min, Temperature Rise 40°C

• Flow rate = 20 L/min
• ΔT = 40°C

Formula:
Power = 20 × 60 × 40 × 0.001163
Power ≈ 55.8 kW

This means that when the flow rate is 20 L/min, at least a 56 kW heater is required to maintain a stable temperature rise.

Formula 2:

Calculate Instant Heating Requirement Based on Circulation Flow Rate (L/min)

Power (kW) = Flow Rate (L/min) × 60 × ΔT (°C) × 0.001163

• Flow Rate (L/min) = the amount of water flowing per minute in liters
• ΔT = expected temperature rise, for example 25°C → 60°C, ΔT = 35°C
• 60 = conversion from minutes to hours
• 0.001163 = heat conversion coefficient of pure water

Example: 100 L Tank Requires a 40°C Temperature Rise in 30 Minutes

• Volume = 100 L
• ΔT = 40°C
• Time = 0.5 hours

Formula:
Power = 100 × 40 × 0.001163 ÷ 0.5
Power ≈ 9.3 kW

Therefore, if a 100 L tank needs to increase by 40°C within 30 minutes, a heater of approximately 9 kW is required.

Heater Material Comparison (SUS304 / SUS316 / Titanium)

1. SUS304 Heater

Advantages:

• Lowest cost
• Suitable for most water-based cleaning solutions
• Good thermal conductivity and fast temperature rise

Disadvantages:

• Not resistant to strong acids
• May suffer pitting corrosion when exposed to chloride-ion cleaning solutions
• High-concentration liquids may shorten service life

2. SUS316 Heater

Advantages:

• Contains more molybdenum (Mo) than 304, greatly improving corrosion resistance
• Stable resistance to acid and alkali
• Less likely to corrode when exposed to salts or chlorides

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost than 304
• Not recommended for use with strong acids and alkalis

3. Titanium Alloy Heater

Advantages:

• Strongest corrosion resistance
• Suitable for almost all acid and alkali solutions
• Longest service life

Disadvantages:

• Most expensive
• Thermal conductivity is slightly lower than stainless steel, so the temperature rise is slower

The heating system for ultrasonic cleaning is not simply a matter of “the larger, the better” or “the thicker, the better.” It must be evaluated together with the characteristics of the cleaning solution, tank size, and ultrasonic energy configuration.
The heater’s power, material, and installation position all affect cavitation efficiency, equipment service life, and temperature control stability.
Through proper selection, the system can improve heating speed, reduce failure rates, and ensure consistent cleaning quality.
YONG JI Enterprise can configure the most suitable heating method according to the process liquid, tank structure, and ultrasonic energy field, helping you build high-efficiency, stable, and durable ultrasonic cleaning equipment.