Experiencing Problems with your Finned Tank Coils?
Not all finned pipes are equal! A cardinal rule in finned pipe tank coil design is that the fins MUST be in the direction of the flow. The flow in a natural circulation tank is VERTICAL, due to the natural pattern established as heated product becomes less dense and rises, while the material near the tank wall cools, sinks, and works its way back along the tank floor, only to be heated and rise up vertically over the finned tank coil heating surface.
For this reason, longitudinally finned coils (even if the fins are perforated) are never appropriate for horizontal tank coils in natural convection applications. Unfortunately that has not stopped manufacturers of these longitudinally finned pipes from installing them in horizontal applications. Then, when it doesn't work, the natural conclusion is "fins don't work".
However, when properly designed, FINS DO WORK - and they work better than bare pipe in viscous product because they poor heat transfer capability of the asphalt drives the heat up the fin, making the surface very effective, and provide many additional benefits such as reducing the number of field welds. Call us with your application and we will be glad to show how your asphalt tank heating can be improved.
For this reason, longitudinally finned coils (even if the fins are perforated) are never appropriate for horizontal tank coils in natural convection applications. Unfortunately that has not stopped manufacturers of these longitudinally finned pipes from installing them in horizontal applications. Then, when it doesn't work, the natural conclusion is "fins don't work".
However, when properly designed, FINS DO WORK - and they work better than bare pipe in viscous product because they poor heat transfer capability of the asphalt drives the heat up the fin, making the surface very effective, and provide many additional benefits such as reducing the number of field welds. Call us with your application and we will be glad to show how your asphalt tank heating can be improved.