2 Basic Types of Electric Process Heaters
Posted in Uncategorised, on January 31, 2022 By Admin
In many complex chemical operations, it is important to increase or maintain the temperature of various fluids in a process system. For this purpose, process heaters are used, classified as thermal fluid, electric, direct fired process heaters and many other varieties. Here, the focus is on electric process heaters, specifically the two basic kinds of this equipment.
To elaborate, here’s a basic synopsis of electric process heaters and their 2 types.
What is an electric process heater?
In essence, this type of equipment uses electricity to increase the temperature of various fluids such as water, oils, gases and more. Electric process heaters can be distinguished from the rest by their versatility, as they can be used for both direct and indirect heating applications.
Types of electric process heaters
With the basics out of the way, here are the 2 types of electric process heaters.
Immersion Heaters
A rather simplistic version of the electric heater, an immersion heater is used for direct heating applications. Essentially, it comprises a tubular structure that functions as a heater. This structure is directly dipped into a fluid in order to raise and maintain its temperature. The simple nature of the process ensures an almost 100 percent efficiency, as all the electrical energy is directly converted to heat. In order to withstand direct contact with various fluids, immersion heaters are generally made of highly corrosion-resistant materials, a great example being Alloy 800.
Circulation Heaters
A more indirect method of heating fluids, circulation heaters are generally used for fluids that are highly pressurized and hence can’t be directly exposed to the process heater. It comprises an enclosed tube or pipe which contains the fluid that runs above the heater. To ensure maximum efficiency and to prevent any hazards, circulation heaters are highly specialized depending on the type of application.
Thus, immersion heaters are best suited for non-pressurized fluids whereas circulation heaters are best used for pressurized oil storage, cooling towers, and food storage equipment.
With decades of experience, we at McRae Engineering Equipment Limited specialize in supplying quality process heaters, industrial vacuum pumps, valve assemblies, actuators, and a whole lot of other engineering equipment. To know more about our product catalogue, contact us today.
