Thermo oil heater systems

What it addresses

Processes such as stenters, dryers, presses and reactors need steady high temperatures. In thermal fluid systems, problems usually show up as uneven temperatures between consumers, slow heat-up, degraded fluid, or heater trips.

Most of these problems come from the system around the heater: circulation, expansion and venting, fluid condition and controls.

What we cover

• Heater, circulation pump and heat exchanger integration
• Expansion tank and deaeration engineering
• Thermal fluid quality testing and flushing
• Control panel and safety interlocks

Typical applications

• New thermal fluid heating systems
• Extending an existing system to new consumers
• Systems with fluid degradation, poor circulation or temperature problems
• Burner and control upgrades on existing heaters

System considerations

• Heat load and the operating temperature each consumer needs
• Circulation: pump selection, flow to each consumer and pressure drop
• Expansion tank, deaeration and venting
• Thermal fluid selection, condition and replacement
• Piping, insulation and leak points, since thermal fluid leaks are a fire risk
• Controls and safety interlocks for flow, temperature and level

What to prepare before an assessment or quotation

• Heater details: make, rated capacity, fuel and maximum operating temperature
• A list of consumers with the temperature and heat each one needs
• The thermal fluid in use, its age and any recent analysis
• A piping layout or photographs
• A short description of the problem or the change you need

Limits of this information

Heater capacity, fluid condition and the work needed can only be confirmed after a site inspection and, where relevant, a laboratory analysis of the fluid. This page is not a design.