For example, these fluids are heated in electrical inline heaters:
I. Water
- Drinking water, max. surface load depending on the water hardness 4 – 6 W/cm²
- Circulating and/or heating water, max. surface load approx. 10 W/cm²
- Softened water, observe the maximally admissible chloride content, max. surface load approx. 10 W/cm²
- Ultra-pure water, e.g. purified water (PW), highly purified water (HPW) or WFI
II. Gases
- Air, sterilized air as well
The fluid to be heated and the application temperature mainly define the materials and the surface qualities which can be used for the unheated and/or heated surfaces. Otherwise, corrosion may quickly result in a failure of the flow-type heater, for example.
Materials of the wetted components:
- Corrosion-resistant stainless steel
- Heat-resistant stainless steel
- Alloys on nickel basis , e.g. Incolloy, Hastelloy
- Titanium, special materials
Inline heaters are usually selected by an external switchgear cabinet. The electrical heating power can be divided into one or several heating stages. This division can individually be adjusted to match the control equipment.
I. Controllers
- Electronic ON-OFF control or PID control. (-> ON-OFF control switches off the heater if the temperature is exceeded, and switches it on again when the temperature falls below its lowest value. Thus, the temperature will always oscillate around the setpoint. The algorithm of the PID controller will optimally compensate the control fluctuations.)
- Load switching by contactors or wear-free semiconductors (thyristors). (-> contactors are wearing parts and must be replaced after approx. 100,000 make/break operations; thyristors switch quickly and without any wear but generate more heat losses than contactors.)
II. Sensors
- Thermal protectors and limiters (as a safety design as well).
- Temperature sensors for the fluid and heating element temperature.
- Overheating protection
Inline heaters are normally delivered with an insulation. The following insulation designs are available:
I. Insulation material
- Mineral wool with a stainless steel jacket
- Gas-tight insulation
We are prepared to agree with you on the type and position of the fluid connections. The following connections are available:
I. Fluid connections
- Standard flanges (DIN, ASME, SAE etc.)
- Female or male thread connections
- Clamp flanges (DIN32676)
- Sterile flanges (DIN11864)
- Dairy-type pipe connections
The following designs are available for the electrical equipment and control of the flow-type heater:
I. Design models
- Indoor or outdoor installation
- Hazardous area (zone 1 or 2, 21 or 22)
- Non-harzardous area
- Type of protection IP54 or better
- Switchgear cabinet for wall or floor mounting
- Steel sheet connection housing, powder-coated or stainless steel
- Electronic or electromechanical control
- Communication with higher-level control system by floating contacts, standardized signal or bus
