ARMSTRONG - Tank heaters

Armstrong tank heaters are built to withstand the rigorous demands encountered in industrial installations. The heavy-duty features of our units were developed in response to a need for tank heaters that could provide efficient heat transfer without sacrificing structural integrity.

These features include heavy-walled pipes and headers, thick L-footed fins, and all-welded construction. In addition, the mono-metallic construction of our units precludes galvanic corrosion, and the finned surface is rigid enough to withstand high-pressure cleaning without damage or distortion.

Efficient heat transfer

Finned-pipe tank heaters are easier than bare pipe units to install, remove and repair. They are also more compact and provide superior efficiency in product heating. Finned-pipe tank heaters provide up to 10 times as much heat transfer as an equivalent length of bare pipe, resulting in lower film or “skin” temperatures.

This lower temperature reduces coking of the product on the heat transfer surface and discoloration of heat-sensitive products. Buildup of deposits on the heater requires more frequent cleanings to maintain maximum efficiency and original heat transfer design conditions.

Helically wound finned pipes are best suited for horizontal units, with the fins being in the vertical plane. This increases the natural convection currents, which increases heat transfer and continuously wipes the coil surface to maintain cleanliness.

Armstrong tank heaters are available in four standard configurations:

• Flange-Mounted Hairpin—Types FHC and FHS
• Flange-Mounted Bayonet—Types FBC and FBS
• Flange-Mounted Bayonet—Types BHC and BHS
• Base-Mounted Direct—Type BD

These four configurations offer a range of choices to suit most area-coverage and thermal-performance requirements. Each type includes a number of options for length, width and fin pitch. All units are available in seamless carbon-steel pipe construction. The hairpin and bayonet types are available in stainless steel. Liquid-heated units and custom designs are also available.

Critical to the heating and maintenance of temperatures for a broad variety of products, Armstrong tank heaters are widely used in breweries, chemical and food processing plants, oil refineries, paper mills, and tank storage farms, and in shipping and other industries.