Circulation Heaters for Gas and Steam Heating Applications

WATTCO delivers a wide range of circulation heaters for the industrial process heating industry. Circulation heaters, containers/vessels with the heating element inside, are used to heat gases and steam for different types industrial applications. (See Figure 1.)
 
 

Figure 1
Applications
 
Argon
·         Creates a suitable environement for welding that is of high quality
·         Prevents oxidation during processing.
·         Provides an environement for heat processing. 
 
Helium
·         Creates a protective atmosphere for production/manufacturing  in the electronics niche
·         Fills baloons and other types of transportaion objects
·         Fills airbags.
 
Nitrogen
·         Provides an atmosphere for welding Nitrogen and is used as an assist gas for laser cutting applications.
·         Used as a pressurizing gas, nitrogen can help propel liquids through pipelines.
 
Steam is used for:
·         Heating/Sterilization.
·         Propulsion/Drive.
·         Atomization.
 
Construction and Operation
 
Circulation heaters are capable of providing indirect heating to a variety of gases or steam with flanged immersion heaters that are mounted in a thermally-insulated chamber/vessel.
 
For gas and steam heating applications, the user can choose from a wide range of flange and sheath materials, terminal enclosures, wattage, power (kilowatts) ratings and the size(s) of the vessel.
 

 
For proper heating, the gas or steam should enter the circulation heater through the inlet which is near the flange immersion heater. Desired temperature is achieved when the gas or steam flows through the length of the vessel. A nozzle is there for the gas or steam to come out.
 
There are two types of mounting for circulation heaters: horizontal and vertical.  
 
One salient feature for circulation heaters is a valve for draining out of water. This valve can be positioned at any place of the vessel.
 
In circulation heaters, there are thermocouple probes or thermostats to control the gas or steam temperature to the desired level and also for over-temperature protection. Thermo couples are mounted on the outlet nozzle for process control.
 
There are different types of terminal boxes for circulation heaters. In most cases, a basic terminal box is sufficient. The terminal boxes are also moisture resistant. With specialized terminal boxes, WATTCO circulation heaters are also approved for use in explosive environments.
 
Selecting the proper circulation heater
 
For gas and steam application, the selection of circulation heater and vessel design will depend on:
·         Flow rate of the water
·         Watt/area specification of the heating element (sheath material)
 
You can also choose the mounting (horizontal or vertical) type, depending on the physical space that you have available.
 
 
Benefits
 
Circulation heaters transfer heat very efficiently to gas or steam.
Circulation heaters allow easy maintenance for servicing or replacing heating elements (rods).
 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
Q1: For gas or steam, what are typical temperatures that you can achieve with circulation heaters?
 
750°F, when you plan to achieve a medium temperature.
1400°F, when you plan to achieve a high temperature.
 
Q2: Which measures have been taken for safe use of circulation heaters?
 
Circular heaters are designed for safe use. Wiring connections follow electrical code and IEC. The user should also make sure to conform to local electrical codes.