Industries

Chemical Industries

The nature of processing chemical mixtures in various applications often require heating elements to be designed to allow for even flow heat transfers along an entire area. Immersion heaters are designed to apply a gradual heat that can reach the extremities of a container with the proper insulating factors. Chemicals with acidic properties often require a lower watt density to prevent the erosion of a sheath (stainless steel 316 is often used) in which case for large containers, Wattco flanged heaters are used. For smaller mixtures, often 500 gallons or less, screw plug heaters are used for their ease of use and maintenance. Larger containers that do not have access openings on the bottom of the tank, or polypropylene tanks with open covers often use Wattco over the side heaters where they can rest on the side of the tank wall and emanate heat to the extremities of the tank basin. Cold section risers are available to prevent jeopardizing the structural integrity of the polypropylene tank. Horizontal elements found at the bottom of the tank use heating properties (heat rises) to heat up the chemical mixture from the bottom up. This efficient use of electric heating allows for your mixture to be thoroughly heated to your target temperature without any worries of damage to the structural integrity of your tank. Additional benefits of over the side heaters include the ability to move the element to several tanks, reducing overall costs of purchasing more than one heater for your application.

Petrochemical Industry

Petrochemicals often require certain temperatures in order to maintain its viscosity in process applcaitons as well as in harsh external environments.

Flanged heaters are often chosen in order to apply a relatively moderate heat source that can penetrate the heavy lubricant evenly across the containment. Bitumen often uses flanged heaters to help with the extraction process in the oil industry. Circulation heaters are used when circuits of flowing liquid exist and users are looking for minimal heat applications. The liquid starts off at ambient temperatures but the residual heat that already exists in a well insulated circuit is assisted with bursts of gradual cyclical heat from a heat source: the flanged heater. Using precise instrumentation such as a thermocouple or an RTD, users can often reach the temperature required with efficient use of clean energy while achieving their goals. Control panels are also used with high limit controllers to help prevent higher temperatures that could result from caking material that stick onto the heating elements. Low watt densities assist with the preservation of heating elements but a good control that shuts off the elements in the presence of high temperatures is an effective means to preserve both the heated medium as well as the heat source: your WATTCO flanged heaters.

Food Industry

Electric heating elements are an important part of the food service industry as they are used in both the service industry as well as the the food processing industry.

Kitchen appliance industry uses tubular elements to help maintain food groups at certain temperatures. Steam tables use screw plug immersion elements with standard mechanical thermostats to maintain higher temperatures for food preparations. Stainless steel utility stands have tubular elements fastened onto the main frame that are supported with fittings that help maintains solid structural support as well as offers maintenance ease should elements need to be replaced.  Cold buffet tables often use multiple stainless steel screw plug elements installed horizontally to offer even heat distribution along the heated area. Equipment storage cabinets use tubular heating elements that are fastened along the wall of the cabinet to emit radiative heat along heated racks to maintain required temperatures. Other pieces of equipment that often use Wattco heating elements are dishwashers, supermarket equipment, worktables and equipment stands as well as heated units for hotels and cabinets and racks.

Process Industry

The process industry is a large field of expertise which covers the chemical and mechanical steps to process certain types of items that are carried in a large scale. Often requiring precise temperature controls as well as heating elements that need to provide immediate thermal conductivity throught a large containment area. Flanged heaters are often selected for their ease of installation as well its efficient properties that enable engineers to provide a heat source that would meet their objectives of heating liquid mediums to certain temperatures within a fixed period of time. Circulation heaters use flanged heater assemblies along with precise digital temperature controls that heat up controlled circuits of liquid within a short period of time. Chemical processes that are outdoors use these types of heating equipment that are moisture resistant or even explosion proof to ensure safety precautions are adhered to. NEMA 4 (moisture resistant) and NEMA 7 (Explosion proof) housings are used to help prevent unsafe scenarios. The petroleum industry uses Wattco elements specifically in areas using hazardous materials where exposure to highly volatile gas is present and safe heating equipment is necessary.

The chemical industry uses Wattco elements to heat up various compounds and help with the mixing processes of delicate and highly sensitive compounds. Often NEMA 7 terminal boxes are used along with precise control instrumentation. Flanged heaters as well as circulation (in line heaters) heaters are used but more often over the side heaters are  preferred for their mobility and they cost efficiency. Examples include the liquefaction of gases for ease of transport as well as the supercritical drying mediums. Scrubbers also use Wattco flanged heating elements in the process of removal of pollution from exhaust gases. Wattco over the side heaters are often custom designed to meet these customer requirements and offer a “best fit” solution for many heating needs.

Defence Industry

The defense industry uses precise heating equipment for many applications. Fuel preheating processes as well as pressure heaters use Wattco flanged heating elements within their delicate processes.The flexibility of these immersion heater types include the ability to select the exact type of flange required, fittings as well as desired lengths that meet tank requirements. Flanged heaters are CSA and UL approved to meet industrial guidelines. Recirculation heaters are used in conjunction with demineralized water storage tanks to help with the  process and heating control requirements. The inline heaters are available in a wide range of wattages, flanged fittings, threaded terminals, alloys as well as vessel sizes and terminal enclosures to meet the most stringent design requirements. Large tanks with 300,000 GAL of liquid or more often utilize Wattco pipe heaters in their designs that offer ease of maintenance as maintenance of heaters do not require emptying the contents of the tanks. Wattco pipe heaters are inserted in (ie.) 3 inch SCH40 pipes that are not in contact with the liquid. NEMA 4 housing ensures terminal protection and a gradual heat is used along the length of the tank. Coiled elements are standard however for environments of high vibration, tubular elements can also be used achieving extremely favorable results.

Wattco flanged heaters are used in the refueling storage units in process lines and help achieve the temperature requirements needed. Specific types of heating solutions Wattco provides are: large tank heating systems, Immersion heaters, duct heaters as well as circulation heaters for fuel oil and emergency generators. Wattco immersion heaters are used for lube oil application where low watt densities are required for bearings and moving components. Wattco heaters also provide required heat needed for hydrogen storage applications and use precise temperature instrumentation.