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Type/Location

Use

Advantages

Disadvantages

Heaters That Heat Entire Tank Contents


(a)Bare pipe coils: General

Tank must be cleaned for coil repairs


and if sediment reaches coil level

(1)Internal
(2)External

Replacement is time-consuming
because of in-place welding
Small tanks

Easy tank cleaning, coil repair

Poor heat transfer


Requires insulation on coils

(b)Plate coils:

Small tanks

Easily cleaned

Internal/external Lube and grease Integral type constitutes tank


/ integral
compounding
wall
(c)Finned tube
General
pipes and bundles:

Internal,
arranged either
horizontally or
vertically
(d)Immersion
heaters:
Internal

(e)Recirculation
system:

General

Multiple units may be required


Integral/external require insulation on
coils

Compact: bundle may be sized Multiple units may be required


to fit through man-way for
quick installation and
replacement
Vertical units have thermosiphon effect, which increases
tank circulation, reduces
sedimentation

Tank must be cleaned for heater


repairs

Frequently cheaper than bare


pipe coils for the same duty

Vertical units may limit liquid


drawdown and useful tank working
capacity

May be designed for


withdrawal from empty but
uncleaned tank for repairs

Separate tank nozzle for each heater

Electric heating
may be used
where steam is
not available
General
Circulation agitates tank
applicability, but contents
rarely used

Added pumping costs for circulation

Internal or
external
Bare Pipe Coils: Bare pipes that are normally placed in horizontal banks inside the tank or wrapped
around the outside. Coils may be located near the floor or around the perimeter of an internal tank
duct leading to the tank suction to act as suction heating.

Plate Coils: Formed double wall plates that are either a portion of the tank wall, bolted to the
external wall of the tank or used as internal heaters.
Finned Tube Heater: Consists of prefabricated sections of extended surface tubes that can be
internally mounted either vertically or horizontally. The effective surface of these sections is about
five to 12 times that of bare pipe.
Immersion Heater: A finned surface U-tube or bayonet tube projecting horizontally through the
tank wall or vertically through the roof via a nozzle. Multiple units may be spaced around the
suction nozzle for use as suction heaters for high withdrawal rates. Steam is the common heating
medium. Alternate designs using electrical heaters are also available.
Recirculation System: A system that heats liquid pumped out of the tank and returns it to the tank.
Heating may be performed in the suction or line heater or in a separate heat exchanger in the
recirculating circuit.

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