Wattco News
The mining industry uses a variety of corrosive chemicals in the extraction process of minerals such as gold, silver, platinum and other valuable raw materials. In the extraction of gold, for example, chemicals that are used in the process (ie., sodium hydroxide and sodium cyanide), require to be constantly heated at certain temperatures in large containers (up to 50,000 gallons). Replaceable heating elements These temperatures also require precise controls in order to maintain their con...
Oil flow viscosity is a very real issue out in the oil fields and in other weather-exposed industries that rely on flowing oil. When it gets too cold it sludges up and becomes nearly unusable. For this reason many companies rely on fuel-fired burners to heat up the oil, but this method isn’t very even and comes with some drawbacks compared to using electric immersion heaters for oil. It’s easy to get a nice even heat distribution when the coils of the heater extend through the liqui...
One of the audacious projects that connect the US and Canada is found in the Keystone Pipeline Project stretching over 2,150 miles across the border, piercing through three provinces and more than half a dozen states like Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Of course, the biggest challenge is not about laying down the 36-inch pipeline that can transport up to 830,000 barrels per day, but how to keep the flow of such massive amounts of crude oil at an optimal condition without losing oil viscos...
In general, heat exchangers are the devices used to exchange heat between the same or different forms of matter through conduction, convection, or radiation. Industrially, the term ‘heat exchangers’ is used for devices that assist in exchanging heat between two fluids at different temperatures without physically mixing them. For example, room or water heaters are used to heat the ambient air or water by exchanging heat between the heating element and the surrounding air or water res...
A large manufacturer of steel cables from Detroit, Michigan contacted Wattco with a problem that the cables they manufactured were corroding in their warehouse and needed a solution to prevent this from happening. Steel products that often sat in inventory for long periods of time were more prone to corrosion. Traditionally, light lubricating oil was used to coat the cables, preventing rust from settling in. The cables were exposed to a steam heating tank, containing light oil at ninety-five de...
An advanced gas-cooled nuclear energy consortium contacted Wattco to help them with their research and development team. The requirement is an industrial heater to heat up Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The gas is for use as a cooling agent with graphite- a neutron moderator – in their nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor was developed for high gas temperatures for efficiency and additional testing was required to measure heat output as well as additional factors such as pressure drops and its rel...
Wattco heaters can be installed in a tank or a container that is mounted on wheels for easy portability. Many applications demand heat in hard-to-reach places, which require heaters to be situated and moved to nearby locations that are not known beforehand. Highly efficient flanged immersion heaters are used where heated gas or liquid is needed. The salient features of heaters on wheels are that all components, such as temperature controllers and control panels are assembled in one unit. The he...
A lot of emphasis is given to industrial heating elements and sheath materials, when discussing the electric heaters. However, equally important are the control panels for process heaters to function effectively. The control panel is a vital part of the immersion heaters to maintain stability. Failure to control the temperature may result in overheating and thereby, causing the deterioration of the medium that is being heated. Wattco makes it a point to design digital control panels for extreme...
The term ‘oil flushing’ is used extensively in the process heating industry to refer to the cleaning of pipes and process equipment. Typical applications use immersion or circulation heaters that heat oil for circulating through the system to a desirable Reynolds number. Viscosity and temperature play critical roles in such conventional oil flushing. In many process applications, conventional oil flushing is not suitable to achieve the desired cleanliness. Additional actions are nee...
Although immersion heaters are most often the best possible solution for tank content heating, sometimes it is not feasible. Wattco highlights some key alternatives. Processing tanks, storage tanks, and holding tanks with immersion heaters are regularly used within the processing industry. Whether these contain water, oil, chemicals, asphalts or another fluid, there is commonly a need for the tanks content to be heated. Heat may be required to: Prevent solidifying or freezing. Maintain the...
Air duct heaters are commonly used in the HVAC industry. They provide supplementary heat to the delivered air inside an air-delivery duct. For heavy duty industrial applications, air duct heaters are a perfect choice. With high tensile strength cages and durable tubular heating elements, air duct heaters provide appropriate heating solutions to the power generation industry. Air duct heaters An air duct heater is an electric-resistant heater mounted inside an air-delivery duct. It comprises b...
Heating corrosive solutions, whether alkaline or acidic, is often an important step in the process industry. Circulation heaters, from WATTCO, are designed and built to work for a variety of corrosive solutions. Chemical composition of corrosive solutions plays an important role when selecting the correct circulation heater. Construction Circulation heaters are sturdily constructed of metals such as steel, or stainless steel. The heater is insulated so no heat can escape. Circulation he...
In today’s industries, digital control panels find a broad range of applications. As system controllers in industrial settings, they are responsible for controlling and regulating the operation of various equipment and devices. Apart from enhancing efficiency, flexibility, and reliability of running devices, panels like temperature control panels allow engineers and technicians to easily monitor heat and other various parameters such as pressure, voltage, and so on. Safe instal...
One of the most effective methods of chemical cleaning is with the application of circulation oil heaters. There are many different types of circulation heaters on the market that can be used to chemically clean a variety of different equipment types. Some of these are inline heaters, flanged heaters, and screw plug heaters that can be used in several different applications. First, though, it is important to understand the methods of chemical cleaning that each kind of circulation heater e...
Xproof duct heaters are used in commercial duct heating applications in hazardous environments. Generally, this involves the manufacturing or presence of potentially explosive substances. Some of the industries that most often use explosion-proof duct heaters include: Mining Petrochemical Oil & Gas Sewage Treatment This article examines the application and selection of explosion-proof duct heaters in the mining industry. Mining: Explosion-Proof Duct Heater Applications The applica...
There is a growing need for oil pipelines in North America in recent years. The refineries in Edmonton, Alberta, for example, need immersion heaters now more than ever. The Keystone XL project, for example, is a daunting project. It stretches over 2,150 miles of oil pipelines from Canada to the United States. The refineries have various needs for immersion heaters, which are best, suited for use as an oil heater. Minimal maintenance Immersion heaters are best for oil heating for several reaso...
Electricity produced through solar panels is used for heating water effectively and efficiently when attached to immersion water heaters equipped with sensors and controls. Depending on the average hours of daylight and the number of panels contained in the system, not all of the electricity produced is utilized in the home or business. Some of the electricity produced can be stored for later use. Or, sold back to the electric company for cash or credits. Unused electricity When bus...
