Benefits of Immersion Heaters In Cold Climates

Published 31 Mar 2018

T&D are leading UK distributors of commercial, industrial and hazardous area process heaters ; this includes a broad range of immersion heaters.

Today, T&D present a Guest Article by Ilan Toledano (Vice President from Wattco) explaining the benefits of using immersion heaters for cold climates.

Ilan is a “thought-leader” and international blogger on Electric Heating subjects including Top Advantages of Electrical Heating, A Look at Industrial Immersion Heaters for Tanks in Cold Weather and Why Over-The-Side Immersion Heaters are Used in Petrochemical Industry?

Wattco

Industries like the chemical, petrochemical, and oil industries require their liquids to remain at a proper temperature no matter what. Aqueous solutions stored in tanks need to be protected from exterior freezing temperatures.

If the liquids currently being stored in tanks are not maintained at a regular temperature, the cold winter months can cause the liquids to freeze. When this happens it results in a large amount of waste for these expensive liquids. But with the use of immersion heaters, these liquids can be kept in their liquid state.

Freezing Points

Industries that need to store their production machinery outdoors need to take extra care to protect against freezing. At 32 degrees water based mediums will start to form crystals. Oils solidify at freezing temperatures and convert into wax or gel like substances.

As this happens, pipelines become clogged or blocked. But preventing the liquids from taking a dive below 32 degrees enables various industries such as chemical, petroleum and even food industries to set up a defence against freezing and economic loss.

Industrial immersion heaters, or those heating systems which are immersed into the liquids to heat them up quickly, are used as a method of direct contact heating of the oils, solvents, or other viscous materials. Electric immersion heaters will generate heat within the liquid which results in heating applications that are 100% environmentally friendly.

In addition, immersion heaters can be used in conjunction with alternative energy sources like solar energy to provide the additional heating needed to prevent freezing.

Benefits of Immersion Heaters

Immersion heaters are fast and powerful
Immersion heaters are simple to install
Immersion heaters are compact and lightweight
Immersion heaters are economical to maintain and to repair
Immersion heaters are resistant to corrosion and moisture
Immersion heaters are safe and durable
Immersion heaters benefit the global economic environment

There are multiple designs and sizes for immersion heaters:

Circulation Heaters

Benefits of Immersion Heaters In Cold Climates Circulation heaters are perfect for large vessels or pipelines. They absorb the liquid via an inlet and then heat it before pumping it back into circulation.

Over-The-Side Immersion Heaters

Over-the-side immersion heaters have mounting options which enable them to be installed easily to the storage unit. These immersion heaters are meant for vessel tanks. They are immersed inside of the liquid along the bottom of the tank or the side of the tank.

They take up little room and are well regarded for their easy maintenance and the ease with which they can be installed or removed. There are different models to heat oils, plating baths, salts, water, solvent salts, acidic medium, and more. The heating abilities of this design are fast and uniformed.

Flanged Heaters

Benefits of Immersion Heaters In Cold Climates Flanged heaters are ideally suited for heating gasses or liquids contained inside of a tank or a pressure vessel. The flanged immersion heaters have hairpin tubular components which are welded directly to the flange with their wiring box.

The heating device is immersed inside of the tank or the reservoir and the electrical control box is fixed to an exterior wall. The heat is provided directly into the content and is evenly divided, thus preventing corrosion.

The installation and monitoring of these designs are simple. They offer environmentally friendly heating that comes with direct support and minimal costs for maintenance.

There are multiple temperature controls for the immersion heaters so that they can be set to heat liquids of any viscosity, including hazardous materials or those under high pressure.

Overall, the use of an immersion heater can prevent your liquids from freezing with precise protection. All of these heating varieties are fast and uniform, ensuring that the liquids are heated efficiently and thoroughly. In addition, their maintenance and installation costs are economically friendly!

Who Are Wattco?

Wattco is a manufacturing company developing electric heating products for use around the world since 1969. With uncompromised dedication to customers, Wattco offer solutions and not just products. Wattco development in oil and gas industries, renewable energy, HVAC systems and government projects help customers get alternative solutions for their projects to get off the ground in the most cost efficient way.

Circulation heaters, flanged heaters and industrial immersion heaters are an important heating product of many industries. Wattco heaters are used to prevent freezing and act as a catalyst in many chemical reactions in both the petrochemical industry as well as processing industries. Wattco manufactures electric heating elements for a wide range of applications

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Thorne & Derrick are Specialist Distributors of Hazardous Area & Explosion Proof Equipment with IECEx & ATEX Certifications to the onshore and offshore oil, gas, petrochemicals and process industries.