Chemical Industry

The nature of processing chemical mixtures require a specific heating element design. Custom-manufacturing allows 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. This prevents the erosion of a sheath. Stainless steel 316 provides further erosion resistance.

 

Chemical Heater Selection

In larger containers, Wattco flanged heaters are used. For smaller mixtures, often 500 gallons or less, screw plug heaters are popular. They offer 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 (OTS). OTS heaters rest on the side of the tank wall and emanate heat to the extremities of the tank basin. Cold section risers are available. These 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 this electric heating element allows for your mixture to be thoroughly heated to your target temperature without any worries of damage to the structural integrity of your tank.

An additional benefit of over-the-side heaters is the ability to move the element to several tanks. Only purchasing one heater for your application serves to reduce overall costs.

Applications of Over-The-Side heaters in the Chemical Industry

As one of the best practical and economic products, over-the-side immersion heaters have become an important part of the chemical industry, where solutions are heated and surrounding is protected with their quality to resist corrosive elements.  Every product has its owner specifications, dimensions, weaknesses and strengths that make it suitable for a certain kind of job.

Most heaters are a custom design, having a thermowell and various tubular elements to control the temperature and other operations. They are economically feasible with mobility and flexibility. This makes them usable in different projects, no matter if they are constructed with stainless steel or exotic alloys.

Over-the-side heaters are categorized into different groups according to their nature and strengths. Some of them are:

  • Copper sheath heaters
  • Steel sheath heaters
  • Stainless steel heaters
  • Teflon coated heaters
  • Cast-iron heaters
  • Lead sheath heaters
  • Titanium sheath heaters

And, below are their industrial applications:

Copper sheath heaters

These heaters are capable of heating clean water with pH 6 to 8.

Steel sheath heaters

These over-the-side immersion heaters are useful for chemical companies to heat:

  • Degreasing solutions
  • Alkali
  • Solvent type oils
  • Soaking cleaners
  • Medium weight oils
  • Heat transfer fluids
  • Soaking cleaners
  • Caustic solutions

The design of low watt density heaters makes them ideal for wax, paraffin and heavy oils.

Stainless steel heaters

The chemical industry uses them for heating:

  • Alkaline cleaners (electrified)
  • Copper sulphate
  • Wash tanks
  • Alkaline soaking cleaners
  • Electro cleaners
  • Dip tanks
  • Alkali
  • Detergent
  • Soda
  • Caustic and other fluids.

Teflon coated heaters

This series of over-the-side heaters is used in the chemical industry for heating:

  • Alkaline solutions
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Sulfuric acid solutions
  • Electroless copper
  • Hydrofluoric fluids
  • Ammonium bi-fluoride.

Cast-iron heaters

Since over-the-side heaters are available in huge ranges of versatile heating elements, you will find their series ideal for heating metals like stereotype metals,  solder and tin. These heaters normally work below 950℉ and therefore, make themselves perfect for heating metallic objects.

Titanium sheath heaters

Used to work against corrosive solutions, titanium sheath heaters can efficiently work in chemical industry, whether it is silver, chrome and gold plating or gold, nitric and chromic acid. Companies will always find them perfect for any sort of heating procedure. All they have to do is to determine the type of medium and come up with the right choice.

Lead sheath heaters

Lead sheaths are a type of over-the-side heater worth considering. They are recommended for:

  • Copper and nickel plating baths
  • Sulfuric acid solutions with below 10% concentration
  • Pickling solutions
  • Electric-plating baths.

Mentioned Products

 

 
 

A unique choice for easy maintenance of tanks. These heaters enter into a pipe that is fixated into your tank. The heater does not come into contact with your liquid solution (usually corrosive or viscous). So replacement is simple without the need to empty your tank.

Very effective as an oil heater, circulation heaters allow for solutions and oils to be viscous enough to pass through pipe circuits. Wattco circulation heaters are available in a wide variety of watt densities and we tailor to your application’s specific needs.

An excellent choice for open tanks. Wattco custom designs OTS heaters for your specific tank dimensions with a digital control panel (or a mechanical thermostat) for accurate temperature control. The mobility of these units allows users to use one heater for multiple tanks if required.

Ideal for rapid direct heating of chemical solutions or process applications. Durable alloys such as steel, stainless, titanium and Hastelloy for a wide of temperature ranges. Temperature controls and digital controllers make this product an optimum choice for industrial applications.

Air heaters that rapidly heat up ducts and open areas. They are available in coil or tubular element design. They come with digital or mechanical controls. Custom made to your application.