Thermosafe Drum & Process Induction Heater
Designed to heat 205 litre drums or smaller steel vessels. Thermosafe is a
single induction coil, wholly encapsulated in a cylinder made from a glass
reinforced resin specifically developed for chemical plant. The cylinder is
simply placed over the drum. Physical contact is not required.
The coil is connected to a single phase AC mains supply and generates heat
directly and uniformly in the drum wall. Energy transfer is by alternating
magnetic field and thus there is no heat transfer by the conventional and
inefficient means of radiation or convection. As there are no hot elements, the
heater remains substantially cooler than the drum being heated.
Safety
The complete absence of hot elements and the encapsulation of all electrical
components enables unattended use, overnight if required. Thermosafe can even be
used in hazardous areas Zones 1 and 2, as the heater is unique in possessing
full BASEEFA/ATEX certification. Uniform heating without hot spots reduces the risk
of product degradation. Accidental spillage does not present a fire hazard and
personnel can work comfortably in close proximity. Together, these features
allow material to be heated at point of use, thus eliminating the transport of
hot drums.
Efficiency
The low system temperature and lack of unwanted heat transfer contribute to
the high efficiency of the induction heater. Power usage is extremely low at
only 2.25kW. The heaters have won several awards for efficiency and
productivity. Independent figures indicate energy savings of over 50% when
compared with conventional radiant drum heaters, and more than 90% in comparison
with drum ovens.
Speed
By using the entire drum wall to input energy, the fastest practical
heating rate can be achieved without product degradation. Heating times
will depend on the contents of the drum, but to give a rough idea, the
rate of temperature rise of a typical viscous organic liquid will be about
15 ºC per hour. The speed is further improved by the instant initial
response of induction heating. Typically, Thermosafe has proved to be 2 to
4 times faster than ovens.
Cleanliness
With ingress protection to IP66, wimple smooth surfaces and no moving parts,
the induction heaters are ideal for use in clean environments. They can even be
hosed down during use.
Flexibility
Single or Multi-drum "Oven" Applications
In addition to being operated at point of use and integrated into the
process, the hetares are used extensively as replacements for, and alternatives
to, drum ovens. A key point to note is that far fewer individual heaters are
required than the drum capacity of an oven. For example, one particular award
winning installation of 3 Thermosafe units heats 20 drums per day. The ease at
which capacity can be adjusted, to meet varying heating requirements of
different materials, is in stark contrast to the fixed facility of an oven.
Multi-Purpose
The induction heater's unique features enable the same piece of equipment to
be used in a wide range of applications to heat drums and a variety of other
metal items, including gas bottles, small-scale reactors and process
vessels.
Complete access to the drum while heating enables pumps and stirrers to be
employed. The drum and heater can be integrated into the system, often
eliminating the first process vessel, and continuous feeding of material, at
regulated temperatures and flow rates, can easily be achieved.
Re-working and sampling of solidified or suspect material, even if heat
sensitive, is a common task for Thermosafe. The lack of contact with the drum
surface makes this possible even when the material is in its final packing.
Uniform heating and instant response makes the heater ideal for removing
residues from drums, significantly reducing wastage. With full drums, these same
features enable very rapid removal of solid drum contents by melting the outer
layer of material.
Maintenance
With no heating elements and no moving parts, the units have virtually
unlimited life, and no maintenance is required.
