Many industrial processes require the application of an electric process heater to heat liquids and gases. The electric heater is used in various industries where object or process temperature needs to be increased. Electric heaters use electricity to raise the temperature of liquid and gas within systems. An electric heater may be used directly or indirectly, depending on the application.
In the long run, electric heaters cost less and have storage power. So they can keep up with seasonal changes. It also means that the system will be efficient enough during the summer months as they are highly efficient at circulating the heat. It is essential to realize that the efficiency of either system can change over time. It means that some industrial heaters will remain steady while others will be more or less fully operational during the peak period of usage.
Types of Electric Process Heaters
1. Circulation Heater
Industrial Circulation Heaters are portable and highly efficient, specially designed to deliver high circulate heating and circulating fluids to various components in manufacturing industries. Circulation heaters use air to transmit heat from one temperature to another through a fine-threaded steel plate, which results in a more efficient transfer of heat to the location to be warmed. These units are most often used for space heating because their size prevents the need for a large amount of electrical power.
2. Application of Circulation heater
Choosing a specific heater is vital for every application intent. Various industries and applications utilize circulation heaters to heat fluid as they flow directly over the heating element through the system. Circulation heaters are compress and highly effective heaters used in forced or natural circulation systems to heat flowing liquids or gases.
A temperature sensor is situated at the heater outlet to measure temperature and measure temperature input to the control temperature board or plant control room. Application of circulation heater depending on the design temperatures and pressures of the process air, fluid or gas and the overall system parameters.
3. Immersion Heater
The power supply to an immersion heater consists of a small electrical motor plus one or more elements such as a metal plate or a silica gel or quartz crystal that creates a controlled heat transfer across the surface of the heated item. The element can either be a conductor of electricity or a dissipating element that will dissipate the heat when the power is removed from the circuit.
The type of element chosen will depend on your needs; other elements such as ballast and threshold controls may be needed. Ensure that you select an appropriate element for the heating object to match the power requirements and the specifications.
Check out: 4 Portable Home Appliances Every Student Needs in 2021
Application of immersion heater
They are most often used in industrial settings to produce gas and oil at high pressure, in pipe manufacturing and in stabilizing pressurized liquid storage tanks. The temperature range is generally controlled electronically, and some even use a variable damping system. The amount of heat produced varies depending on the type of heated materials; this makes an immersion heater very flexible to operate. They are most often powered by electricity but maybe solar-powered if you have access to a sunny and warm area.
Final Words
Process Heaters are basically used to keep heat in a compressed liquid medium such as oil, water, and other chemicals and stabilize the temperature. These process heaters get their name from the process that takes place during which heat is generated. The process can be carried out with the aid of a catalyst or a non-catalytic oxidizer. This process gets done carefully because a single minor glitch could lead to a drastic effect.
These process heaters are very useful for industrial applications. Process heaters work on principles similar to the above but use an insulated fluid to transfer heat. The heated gas flows through small gaps in the insulation and heats the insulation. A portion of heated gas is transferred to a burner, and the remaining portion is sent to a blower. The blower transfers the warmed air to other heating applications.