Nitrogen Heating System
Situation:
A rocket facility located in Cape Canaveral, Florida required a circulation heater capable of heating up nitrogen to high temperatures and able to withstand high pressure (2000 PSI). This industrial heater system required a skid in order for it to be easily mobile as well as accurate controls and safety mechanisms to both regulate and monitor temperature readings. This location also required the heaters to be Class 1 Div II hazardous area classification. A redundancy system was also required as a failsafe.
Solution:
Considering that this project required a horizontally mounted system a double skid mounted circulation heater was designed using 900# ANSI stainless steel flanges. Circulation heaters are very good with process heating as liquids or gases enter into the inlet of the vessel and exit at a required target temperature. Thermocouples can be installed at the exit outlet in order to regulate the temperature of the gas more efficiently. A slip on flange can also be installed to mate with any incoming piping that exists. Perforated baffles allow the flow of gas to pass without any interference. Sometimes a thermocouple is placed in the bundle of the tubular elements that are welded onto the flange. The purpose of this is to protect the elements from overheating. Temperature controllers can then regulate the intensity of the heat more adequately. Nitrogen is a common gas that is often preheated before prelaunch procedures. This heavy duty system was capable of handling 2000 PSIG, and was fabricated using stainless steel 316 alloy. There were 4 circuits – each had its own NEMA 7 terminal box – an added feature that allowed for easy connections. The unit was insulated against heat loss and mounted on a securely fastened skid that offered both protection as well as stability in harsh environments. The control panel was a NEMA 7 explosion proof with SCR and digital temperature monitors as well as alarm indicators as per the customer’s request. With 525 KW of power, this powerhouse was build with added 2-year warranty to ensure long life.
Benefits
- Heavy duty industrial heater system with a safety control panel in a hazardous environment
- Dual system ensuring redundancy
- Extended warranty
- Immersion heaters that has low maintenance requirements
Get a quote on a circulation heater today. View WATTCO’s other industrial heating products such as immersion heaters, pipe heaters, and other electric heating elements on the Our Products page.