Air is a gas that contains approx. 78 % nitrogen, 21 % oxygen and 1 % argon. Different types of Loval heating elements can be used to heat air, such as rod elements, finned and convector plate elements.

Room heaters, ranges, sauna stoves, grills, fan heaters and different types of radiators are examples of appliances that use air heating elements. Several rod elements can be grouped together to form for example a duct heater.

As air heating elements can be used in most versatile of applications, there are also several different element solutions. Optimum construction for each application is found by taking into account technical factors, functionality, reliability, expected life of element and cost factors.

In certain applications, such as sauna stoves and radiators, the operating temperature can be very high. Special attention must be paid to heat resistance of the sheath material and to the resistance coil which normally determine the expected life of the element.

Special challenges are presented by applications such as room heaters, where relatively high power needs to be put into small space so that surface temperatures still remain relatively low. Heat transfer must be improved by increasing the surface of the elements. This can be done e.g. by fins.

Finning improves heat transfer in gases, but can be a disadvantage in liquid heating due to possible blocking of fins and consequent deterioration of heat transfer. Finned elements can be either rectangular finned or convector type elements.

There are also a lot of industrial applications where gas heating is performed with Loval heating elements. If heating requires pressure, then the heater is normally built into a cylindrical vessel with a DN-type flange. Also other gases, such as nitrogen, can be heated with this type of heater.