Ceramic hot surface ignitors feature long lifespan and rapid heating response time, making them popularly used to ignite fuel in most pellet stoves and furnaces.
They are also commonly utilized in gas water heaters.
These ignitors come ready-to-install as prefabricated solutions in various lengths and diameters designed for 230 V AC voltage, boasting excellent insulation properties as well as resistance against overheating and thermal shock.
Ceramic Ignitors' lifespans depend on various factors, including use time, surface temperature and voltage applied. Applying higher voltage than it's designed for will cause it to malfunction; this is one reason HSIs often fail prematurely; replacing and keeping appliances clean are essential in prolonging its longevity.
Silicon carbide igniters tend to last 3 - 5 years while ceramic ignitors can last up to 15! Additionally, these durable units can withstand more heat, making them the go-to choice for wood pellet or biomass furnaces.
Hot surface ignitors are typically constructed of silicon carbide or silicon nitride and work like the filament in a light bulb by heating up when an electrical charge passes through them, reaching searing temperatures when an electrical charge passes. Once they reach this state, gas ignition takes place easily and they can be formed into different shapes and sizes to meet any furnace or gas boiler appliance's specific requirements. Furthermore, they're much safer than metal-sleeve electric spark plugs as they're less prone to mechanical wear-and-tear issues - typically flat stick or spiral shapes which allow easy mounting to the top of furnaces or gas boiler appliances.
Spark plugs or ignition electrodes typically ignite gas by creating an electrical spark, producing enough heat to ignite it. Ceramic hot surface ignitors use Joule heating (the same principle behind light bulb illumination) to warm up and ignite gas; their use allows them to be utilized in harsh environments where spark-based solutions could fail.
Hot surface ignitors consist of a carbide element heated up by electricity through its wire connection and ceramic base insulation, creating Joule heating which causes it to glow with voltage being applied; when long enough it auto-ignites.
As such, many of the leading pellet grill manufacturers have recently switched over to ceramic heaters and ignitors in their more modern models of smokers and ovens, as well as upgrading older AC Traegers with ceramic upgrade kits such as Muxall's Ceramic Upgrade Kit which offers improved ceramic igniters that last longer than metal versions while lighting more pellets per burn grate cycle.
Ceramic hot surface igniters offer higher ignition cycle capabilities and are less prone to corrosion than metal ones, making them perfect for applications involving wood pellets, gas logs and coal briquettes. Furthermore, you can even use them with furnace or stove burners!
Ceramic igniters offer several distinct advantages over their metal counterparts, including quick ignition times and long lifespan. Ceramic igniters may even last for years or even decades before needing replacing; making them particularly beneficial in applications where rapid ignition is essential - such as instantaneous water heaters.
Igniters of this invention are fabricated using sintered compositions consisting of 12 conductive zones, booster zones and power enhancement zones as well as a hot or ignition zone. Preferred hot zone compositions tend to feature a combination of relatively high amounts of semiconductive materials (like molybdenum disilicide or tungsten disilicide) with lower percentages of insulating material for best performance.
Typically, booster zones and power enhancement zones are composed of silicon carbide or molybdenum diboride. A conductive zone forms between these two zones; wire leads are then attached to this region of conductive zone material such as silicon carbide (doped or undoped), molybdenum disilicide, tungsten disilicide or titanium nitride.
Ceramic hot surface igniters differ from their metal counterparts in that they only need an electrical circuit to heat up, significantly decreasing energy usage while increasing ignition cycles without burning out or losing their refractory properties.
Ceramic tiles of a typical igniter are usually constructed of silicon nitride and feature embedded conductive ink circuits that, when activated, produce voltage that sparks within a discharge gap - an immense improvement over traditional metal igniters that require much more power in order to produce similar effects.
Ceramic igniters can be used to efficiently ignite various solid fuels such as wood pellets, logs and coal briquettes. Due to their fast heating times and efficient performance, ceramic igniters also help burn off residues from other fuel sources quickly - making them an ideal choice when cooking with natural gas or propane.
Ceramic igniters are extremely robust and reliable, making them an excellent choice for outdoor applications where moisture, temperature fluctuations, or physical impacts could occur. Their strong construction ensures they can remain operational despite prolonged exposure, cutting maintenance costs and increasing user satisfaction.