Thermal Fluid Heater Operation

Thermal fluid heaters, also known as hot oil heaters, are used to heat fluids in a closed loop system. They work by using a heat transfer fluid, typically a mineral oil or synthetic oil, that is heated by a gas-fired burner. The heated fluid then circulates through a closed loop system, transferring heat to the target material or process.

Serpentine Coil Thermal Fluid Heater
Enerquip 12MM Btu/hr. Hot Oil Heater with a cut-away of our serpentine coil

Thermal fluid heaters are essential to the day-to-day operations of facilities in the asphalt industry, refinery industry, tank terminal industry, wastewater treatment industry, food and beverage, and beyond. Organizations in these, and other, industries rely heavily on thermal fluid heating systems to get the job done.

Unfortunately, many facilities are operating heating equipment that’s not as efficient or functional as it could be. As a result, they struggle with heating equipment breakdown and inefficiency, experiencing problems like process fluid degradation, tube failures, high stack temperatures (800° F or higher), high fuel costs, high maintenance costs, and limited operation at fluid temperatures over 400° F. Without systems operating at peak efficiency, they’re also experiencing significant decreases in profitability.

If any of the problems mentioned above are currently impacting your organization, it’s time to consider a high efficiency thermal fluid heating system from Enerquip.

Reliable, Efficient Industrial Thermal Fluid Heaters Made in the USA

Specializing in the design of high-quality thermal fluid heating systems, Enerquip has the products to meet your industrial heating needs. With decades of experience, our finely engineered heating systems utilizing our proprietary, state-of-the-art thermal design software, can eliminate problems and deliver the highest fuel efficiency attainable today.

Enerquip’s Thermal Fluid Heating Systems come standard with: 

  • High-efficiency serpentine coil radiant section
  • High-efficiency gas-fired burner with burner management system (BMS)
  • Finned convection (economizer) section – adds 10% efficiency!
  • 1,000-gallon expansion tank, with an optional nitrogen blanketing system
  • Recirculation pump
  • NEMA 4 control panel with integrated safety features and alarms, plus optional app connectivity for remote diagnostics
  • Pre-piped and pre-wired fuel train for natural gas and/or alternate fuels
  • Sizes ranging from 1.3 MM BTU/Hr. to 40 MM BTU/Hr. Need something larger? Let’s talk.

 

Serpentine Coil Technology

Enerquip’s serpentine coil heaters are synonymous with fuel efficiency. With a standard finned tube economizer section, efficiencies of up to 90% L.H.V. can be achieved without the use of air preheat.

Our customer-preferred serpentine coil thermal fluid heaters provide many enhancements over the more traditional helical coil heater, including:

  • Even heat distribution
  • Less oil degradation
  • Longer tube life
  • Higher operating oil temperature
  • Easy maintenance

With today’s uncertain and often skyrocketing fuel costs, one of our units can pay for itself in a little more than one year when replacing an older, inefficient unit. Many of our customers have Enerquip thermal fluid heaters working hard for nearly 30 years! Learn more about the benefits of our innovative serpentine coil technology here.

 

Thermal Fluid Heater Applications

Industrial thermal fluid heaters from Enerquip can be utilized in a wide variety of applications and industries, some of which include:

Some organizations in these industries still rely on steam boilers to meet their industrial heating needs. If you are one of these organizations and you’re thinking of switching to thermal fluid heat, we highly recommend you make the switch. Find out why hot oil is better than steam for industrial heating.

 

Low NOx Heater Design

Whether it’s due to regulatory requirements, permitting restrictions, or green initiatives, Enerquip can help you meet your low NOx goals.

Our heaters can achieve less than 30 PPM with an upgraded burner and flue gas recirculation, or less than 9 PPM with an ultra-low NOx mesh head burner.

Learn more about our efficient Low NOx heaters and heating systems.

 

Start-up Support

When it’s time to install your new industrial heater, rest assured you’re not in it alone. At Enerquip, we provide startup support for our thermal fluid heaters and asphalt heaters. This includes a review of installed work and lines, supervision of the filling system, circulation of the oil, burner tuning, testing of circuits and safeties, bringing lines online, troubleshooting, and training on monitoring and operation of the system.

 

For the Best in Industrial Heaters, Choose Enerquip

If you’re considering replacing or upgrading some of your industrial heating equipment, Enerquip can help! Our team of skilled engineers can work with you to assess your industrial heating needs and design a customized thermal fluid heater that will increase your plant’s efficiency. We would be pleased to have one of our engineers review the operation of your existing heater and calculate your potential fuel savings when replacing the heater with a high-efficiency Enerquip unit.

American Heating Company LogoAmerican Heating Company is now Enerquip Thermal Solutions.

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