variable current control with 220v AC circuits

When you try to regulate by contolling current there is going to be loss of energy. I would suggest you (1) energy regulator(duty cycle controller) (2) thyristor based temp controller (3) standard temp controller with thermocouple.

Try here for more info...

http://instrumentation-central.com/pages/scr_power_controls.htm

http://instrumentation-central.com/SCRPowerControls/hdr/Manual/PF1_15-70.pdf

Thanks, I have made preliminary measurements and found that the maximum current draw is 1 amp. Are there controllers available, off the self, to regulate/adjust the current flow for lower power / current draw applications ?

If you really want "closed loop" control to maintain a constant temperature under varying conditions, you will need to find a "temperature controller" , a "thermocouple" temperature sensor, and a "solid state relay" . If you can accept "open loop" control, it will be a much cheaper and simpler solution. Google "220V ac dimmer" and you should find many options to buy and/or circuit designs to build yourself. Good luck.

In essence you can't really control the current in any application, all you can do is control the voltage, which indirectly has an effect on the current. This effect is in limiting the current, but not totally controlling it in that you cannot make something use more current than it wants to. So what an SCR power controller does is control the voltage going to the load, and if there is a closed loop for sensing current, it can use the voltage control to limit the current the load consumes by reducing voltage as the current tries to increase.

I know it's a minor semantics issue, but one I have found important for understanding the situation..

Yes, This is what I thought. I have made preliminary measurements and found that the maximum current draw is 1 amp. Are there controllers available, off the self, to regulate/adjust the current flow using the closed loop sensing you referred ?

Yes, many thousands. Search on GlobalSpec (our gracious hosts) for "SSR" or "Solid State Power Control"