Pump Suction Heaters

[PuffJr]

I have been asked to investigate the use of pump suction heaters for viscosity control of lube oils. Initial web searches have turned up a couple possible sources for these heaters, but I have not located good general application information for them. Are there particular temperature and/or flow rate ranges for which suction heaters are appropriate? Is it helpful to insulate a tank in which a suction heater is used?

Any experience or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BigInch]

Are you referring to controlling the viscosity of a fluid that is to be pumped into an engine, a fluid power unit, a process, or a pipeline, preheating for pump lube system, etc.? I'm, just trying to define your application a bit better, to give everyone an idea of approximate size, flowrates and pressures, since I don't know if you're talking about something as small as an imersion heater all the way to a full sized heat exchanger.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[PuffJr]

We are pumping to an automated packaging line at about 100 gpm and 125 psi through a 3" pipeline. Typical storage tank capacity is 40000 gal. Ambient temperature in the tank farm could be as low as -20 F. The oil probably never dips much below 20 F though, because it is hot going in and the tanks are kept relatively full.

 

[BigInch]

Will you make alternative provisions for start-up after a long shutdown during cold weather, or should this equipment have the capacity to do a cold start from -20? If so, startup heating capacity required to reach operating temperature over some reasonable time period would most likely represent the worst case.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[PuffJr]

Startup from -20 would be such an extraordinary circumstance that I don't think it warrants consideration at all.

 

[BigInch]

That's fine, as long as you're prepared to wait for the tank to warm up to some minimum temperature. So, then what is the minimum tank temperature you want to start up at and what is the temperature of the oil that you want to have when it is entering the pipeline?

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[PuffJr]

Let's try 15 F for startup and 60 F for oil entering the pipeline.

 

[BigInch]

Looks like you need a heater with a capacity of around 1,000,000 Btu/h

http://www.thomasnet.com/products/fired-heaters-37590304-1.html

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com