Steam Heating Elements for Automotive Applications

A major manufacturer of automotive parts in Ontario and Detroit Michigan, required a heat source to help them with the cleaning of automotive parts in their assembly line. Steam pressure systems were used and required maintenance free reliable heating components to raise the temperature high enough to sanitize each component free of grind and milling residue.

Wattco supplied two types of electric heaters: tubular heaters and over the side heaters. The tubular elements were 0.430 inch diameter seamless stainless steel with 035 wall thickness and were custom shaped to the application requirements.

With stainless steel bushings to hold it in place against the wall of their tank, the heaters were able to provide the temperature they required. The tubular heaters also were easily replaceable with only minutes of downtime should the need arise. A Wattco technician was also provided for the installation process.

Twelve “L” shaped over-the-side heaters were used in their cleaning solution tanks along with 3 screw plug heaters. Each immersion heater was 12 KW on 480V 3PH and the screw plug heaters were 9 KW each. Thermostat controls were more economical than digital controllers and, easily replaceable should the need arise. Wattco also provided dual voltage availability for the heaters in case the customer wanted to use an alternative voltage source (the plant had 240V and 480V available).
 
Benefits
A fully installed unit was able to reach the desired temperature as per the customer requirements
Thermostats were used instead of expensive digital controllers which helped the customer manually control each heater to the temperature required
Heating assemblies were installed that can be used in different tanks – eliminating the need to purchase more than one unit.
Electric heating provided a smoke free, healthy environment for all the workers in the plant.