Immersion Heaters that are used for industrial tanks in the oil and gas industries as well as biofuel, waste oil heating and chemical and process industries

1. Immersion Heaters Gaining Industrial Traction
Immersion heaters are installed in a tank or container and used to heat a liquid during industrial
processes. They are effective in as an industrial heater for oils, solvent, plating baths, water,
acids and salts, and are adept at bringing chemicals, petrochemicals or water containers to
desired temperatures. They can also be used as an electric heater during certain biofuel
creation processes and as waste oil heaters.
The tank heaters are gaining in popularity for industrial uses as a way to concentrate heating
elements, making the entire industrial process more energy efficient. Because the heating
process quickly achieves the desired temperature, less energy is expended. Electric heating
has the added bonus of leaving no residue discharge, thus making it one of the best solutions
for companies that are looking to cut back on industrial waste and produce products with less
energy costs.
There are three types of installations:
1) Over-the-side, used when an immersion heater cannot be easily installed on a container’s
side. The heater is placed through the top of the container, and the heating element runs along
the side or bottom of the container. It relies on the fluid’s natural circulation to evenly distribute
its heat.
2) Flanged heaters, wherein the heating element is bent into a hairpin shape and welded or
brazed into a flange, then outfitted with wiring boxes to permit electrical conductivity. It is one of
the more widely used immersion heating methods and is easy to install and maintain.
3) Threaded heaters, wherein heating elements are bent into a hairpin and then welded or
brazed into a screw plug, then outfitted with writing boxes to permit electrical conductivity.
Screw plugs are inserted directly through a threaded opening in a tank wall or into a matching
pipe coupling, half-coupling or welding flange. They vary in size, ranging from half-inch to twoand-a-half inch pipe threads. The temperature inside the tanks is regulated by thermostat
controls located outside the containers. The temperature controls can vary in their sensitivity,
but there are highly accurate controls available when a high degree of accuracy in temperature
is needed.

2. The use of immersion heaters has grown in the last few years, as the cost of fuels and utilities
has risen. Energy efficient immersion heaters require less energy to achieve the proper
industrial processes temperatures. Thus, they are both cost-effective and environmentally
friendly.
For more information visit http://www.wattco.com