What is Needed to Design and Quote an Electric Tank Heater?

When the design engineers at Thermal Products have a request from a customer to design an Electrical Tank Heater, we will consider many factors, including:

• Direct or Indirect Heating: Does the application call for the heater to have a direct immersion into the media to be heated?  Or does the application call for a heater with a drywell option.  The drywell option allows the heater to be serviced will maintaining the volume in the tank.  This option can be very beneficial with a tremendous cost and time savings to empty and refill your tank.  

• Fitting or Mounting Requirements: Mounting options include NPT Screw Plug Heater, ANSI Flange Heater, Dry Well Heater and Over the side Heater (OTS).  The over the side heater is installed from the top of the tank through a manway or appropriately sized port directly into the tank contents.  The OTS heater can be suspended from the top or designed to sit on the bottom of the tank.

• What electric codes and pressure vessel standards will guide the design: NEC, CSA, CE, European ATEX, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, PED (Pressure Equipment Directive – Europe), CRN (Canadian Registration Number).  All guide our engineers to offer the most optimally designed electric circulation heater while ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency.

• Electrical Area Classifications we can build to: 

Class I, Division 2, Groups B, C and D

Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D

Class II, Division 1, Groups E, F and G

UL STD 50, Type 4 or 4X

• Process requirements: 

• Voltage
• Media to be heated
• Beginning and ending temperatures
  • Or if maintaining temperature please offer set point temperature.
• Tank drawing or dimensions
• R-value of tank
• Ambient temperature
• Total volume
• Any area classifications with temperature code (“T” Code)
• NEMA Rating

• Max watt density requirements, if any
• Control Panel – SCR or Contactor
• What controls are needed?
  • Hi-limit thermocouple
  • Process thermocouple
  • Remote control needs

• Construction materials: Include Incoloy, 316 SS, Titanium, Copper, carbon steel and other higher alloys.  Gaskets should be compatible with the process media.  We offer many gasket materials and types, but spiral wound and compressed fiber are most common.

Please look for Thermal Products Electric Tank Heater RFQ form or click here.