Marine Applications
Barges have their own set of challenges in maintaining the temperature of viscous liquid cargo. Proper arrangement of heating coils can maximize the delivery of heat from the hot oil system into the product.
Barges are typically set up with bare pipe serpentine coils arranged in upper and lower sets. This traditional design allows for more linear feet of heat transfer pipe than could be set up on the floor alone, and also provides a hedge against the lower coils becoming immersed in product that has "set up", thus limiting the ability of that surface to deliver heat. However, that arrangement sets up two distinct failure modes in the heating system. The cardinal rule of heating coil operation is that the coil must stay immersed in the product whenever the heating system is on. No heating pipe - finned or bare - can operate successfully after being exposed to air, allowing the product material to bake on the coil. While it may be true that bare pipe can be steamed clean easier than finned pipe following improper operation, "high coils" are much more susceptible to heating up after the product level has been drawn down below the coil level, and the heating system will not operate well until overhauled. Secondly, the consideration that the lower coils will become "stuck in the muck" should lead to the conclusion that they are not properly located right from the start.Most liquid cargo is suited to finned coils. We prefer "low coils", but depending on the arrangement of the heating system we are open to considering "high coils" as well. Upon analysis we may well find that the barge has enough properly configured heating surface in the "low" coils that "high" coils may not be needed.
Our standard scope includes the "jumpers" to attach the coils directly to the supply and return piping. These "jumpers" can be seen in several of the photos in the gallery.
Because barges generally use hot oil heaters our tank coils for marine applications are typically serpentine, because a hot oil coil should be arranged in series flow. However, care must be taken to introduce multiple streams of hot oil rather than allow the temperature of the heating medium to deteriorate as it moves through the tank. On the other hand, proper velocity must be maintained in each coil in order to maximize the heat transfer, allowing the design temperature difference in the hot oil to be achieved. Our team will work with you to find the right coil layout for your application.
Our standard scope includes the "jumpers" to attach the coils directly to the supply and return piping. These "jumpers" can be seen in several of the photos in the gallery.
Because barges generally use hot oil heaters our tank coils for marine applications are typically serpentine, because a hot oil coil should be arranged in series flow. However, care must be taken to introduce multiple streams of hot oil rather than allow the temperature of the heating medium to deteriorate as it moves through the tank. On the other hand, proper velocity must be maintained in each coil in order to maximize the heat transfer, allowing the design temperature difference in the hot oil to be achieved. Our team will work with you to find the right coil layout for your application.