Applications of Heating Effect of Electric Current

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Applications of Heating Effect of Electric Current

Now, the generated heat can be viewed from many points of angles. Sometimes, it is only seen as a loss and is trying to be minimized. Various steps are taken to minimize heat dissipation from the conductor. But we can see many positive applications of heating effect of electric current in our daily life. Electric iron, the whole idea or working principle depends upon the heating effect of electric current. High resistant wire is used as the main coil in the electric iron when electric current flows through the coil, the coil gets heated and the iron works. But what about over heating of electric iron? This problem can be solved by using bimetallic conductors. Bimetallic plates made of two different metals are used in the circuit. As expansion co-efficient of heat is different for two metals, so due to heating effect one metal's expansion is different from the other metal; as a result the plate is bent and after reaching at a certain temperature the contact of the circuit is broken and electric current flowing through the coil is stopped and the electric iron too is not heated any more.

The same mechanism is used in electric heater, the only difference is that there is no bimetallic plate or circuit breaker involved.

Another application of heating effect of current is seen in electric bulbs. The wire which is used inside the bulb gets illuminated and emits light after reaching certain temperature. The metal used in the bulb is mainly made of tungsten.

Finally and perhaps the most important application of the heating effect of electric current is in electrical fuses, that are used in almost everywhere. From huge industries to domestic level, everywhere electrical fuse is a must. The fuse is made of such metals which has a certain melting point. They are okay for normal electric current but when over electric current flows through the circuit; the generated heat in the fuse wire is enough to melt the metal portion of the fuse wire and break the circuit. In this way the costly equipment is protected as huge electric current flow, can damage the equipment permanently.