Integrate a heating element into the ionizer

Technical Questions
#1

Hello everyone,

I am currently studying a potential modification to an air ionizer system and would appreciate your feedback and experience on this topic.

The idea is to integrate a heating element into the ionizer in order to slightly warm the airflow being delivered to the workstation. The objective is to improve operator comfort and possibly reduce condensation issues in certain environments.

My main concern is whether introducing heat into the ionized airflow could negatively impact ionizer performance. In particular, I am wondering about possible effects on:

  • Ion balance (offset voltage stability)
  • Charge decay time and overall neutralization efficiency
  • Ion recombination rate due to increased air temperature
  • Airflow behavior (e.g., convection altering ion distribution)
  • Relative humidity reduction and its indirect impact on ESD control

If anyone has experience with heated ionized air systems, or has tested similar configurations, I would be very interested in your insights, recommendations, or any known best practices.

Thank you in advance for your support.

#2

The overhead ionisers that we use has a heater incorporated into it as standard (you can turn the heater on/off with a switch), for the central fan. Its a Simco Aerostat unit.

#3

Agree with Susan, there are many manufactures out there that already incorporate heater into their products. (SimcoIon, Desco and others). No need to re-invent the wheel and is probably more cost effective for you.

But to answer your question. We have many ionizers here at my site (over 200) and none of them have had problems like the concerns you have mentioned here.

#4

Our heated fan is the center heated fan and this fan always produces the best most consistent result & dissipates a charge fastest (in a controlled manner). Recombination’s/reduced effectiveness etc has been more of an issue where a grounded item is located between the ioniser and the item that you are actually trying to neutralise