The PTC air heater heating system is a common heating method in new energy vehicles, especially in pure electric vehicles. Since electric vehicles do not have the waste heat generated by internal combustion engines, they require an independent heating solutions. PTC is the abbreviation of "Positive Temperature Coefficient", which refers to the positive temperature coefficient. The resistance of this material increases with the increase of temperature.
The working principle of PTC air heater is to use this characteristic of PTC material to generate heat by passing current through PTC element. When the PTC element is heated, its resistance value will increase with the increase of temperature, thus limiting the further increase of current, achieving a self-regulating effect and maintaining a constant temperature output. This heater has the characteristics of energy saving, constant temperature, safety and long service life.
In new energy vehicles, PTC air heaters are usually composed of PTC elements, heat sinks and housings. The PTC element is the core component responsible for heating; the heat sink is used to dissipate heat; the housing protects the heater to prevent dangers such as electric shock. The PTC air heater can heat the air directly or indirectly by heating the coolant. The direct air heating method has a simple structure, but there may be safety hazards; the indirect air heating method uses a coolant pump to pump the coolant to the radiator in the car, and uses the heat from the coolant to heat the air. This method avoids the introduction of large currents and high voltages into the car and has higher safety, but the system is relatively complex and the cost is also high.
The advantages of PTC air heaters include low thermal resistance, fast heating, wide operating voltage, power self-limiting, long life, and high product maturity. However, its disadvantages are also obvious, mainly high power consumption, which may shorten the range of electric vehicles. In addition, the surface temperature of PTC heaters is high, which may heat the surrounding plastics and emit odors, so special attention should be paid when designing the installation location of the heater.
In actual applications, the control system of the PTC air heater will adjust the power of the heater according to the information of the temperature sensor in the car to meet the comfort needs of passengers while minimizing energy consumption. This type of heater is increasingly used in new energy vehicles, especially in situations where fast heating and high safety are required.
Post time: Jun-13-2025
