Liquid and gas-fired thermal oil heater

The thermal oil heater is a forced-circulation heat transfer fluid heater in which a pump drives thermal oil through a series of coils. Special mineral or synthetic thermal oil flows through the coil tubes continuously at 1.5–2 m/s, turbulent and without dead spots, and is brought to the required temperature by the flame and flue gas in the combustion chamber. The pump is sized for the flow rate and pressure drop of each application, and combustion air and fuel are adjusted by PID control according to the oil outlet temperature. Thanks to the small volume and high flow velocity, the heater responds quickly to changes in load.

TSB Energy offers outputs up to 10 000 000 kcal/h (up to 12 000 kW) and pressures up to 25 bar; the oil temperature can be set up to 420 °C, with special equipment used above 300 °C. Fuels include natural gas, LPG, LNG, biogas, diesel and heavy fuel oil, plus up to 100 % hydrogen with a suitable burner. The heater is built in a horizontal or vertical layout, and its design follows DIN 4754, EN 13445, PED 2014/68/EU, TRD and ASME VIII Div. 1. Shell and covers are made of P355GH (EN 10028-2), boiler tubes of P235GH or P265GH (EN 10216-2).

Unlike steam, the fluid does not change phase: there are no steam traps, no flash steam or blowdown losses, no make-up water and no wastewater; water treatment and chemical conditioning are unnecessary, and under normal climatic conditions the installation does not freeze in winter. According to TSB, 20–40 % less energy is needed than with steam to transfer the same heat. A three-layer insulation on the front door and the reversal chamber cover — alumina-enriched refractory concrete, ceramic fibre blanket and ceramic paper — keeps the cover cool enough to touch.