tell Bre aac TOL a) {n indirect heating systems, heat from the combustion ‘of fuel or from electric heating elements is transferred 1 a id which caries the heat to where It s needed. Hoattranster systems make it possible to control term peratures precisely, and to supply heat to @ ruber of ‘areas from one primary heating unt in the most con ‘veniant location. The most common examole of in ‘ect heating isthe home or offoo contral heating ‘system where water, steam, oF air is the heat-ranster ‘medium, Heatranster fluids must meet certain basle requirements: ‘Resist deterioration atthe temperatures for which they are recommended, to assure tong fuld life and clean systems ‘Possess good heat-ranster characteristics ‘Have low vapor preasures at operating temperatures, te pert operation at atmospheric pressures ‘Have low viscosity, to decrease pumping losses (due 1 pipe fiction) and the power required for circulation ‘Protect metals agalnst corrosion ‘*Be available at moderato cost ‘Water and steam are excellent heatranéter media Water has a high specific heat; and steam, a high latent heat. They do not deteriorate with use and are low in cost. Both, however, wil ust piping and other forous parts. Hightomperature operations require ex- pensive, high-pressure equipment, as shown in Fig. 1 Using steam requires condensate retum systems, the treatment of bollor water to protect against scale, and In some cases, a icensed operator. None ofthese is necessary when using a petroleum ol Heating with Mobiltherm’ Heat-Transfer Oils Mobiltherm Light, 600, 603, 605 Fig 1 Staam pressure incrensce very rally a8 operating Petroleum (Mineral) Oils ‘Stabity When typical petroleum fluids are exposed to high tem- Peratures, some ofthe carbor-hydrogen bonds break fand form new materials, This thermal cracking occurs ‘UH@NNG }OOJUYSe] GOW SIO 49jsuD1)-;DeH WUOYLIGOW YIM BUNDOHin the absence of oxygen. Unsuitable heat transfor ‘lls can crack at such high rates that extended service at temperatures even as low as 204°C (400°F) is Impossible. Thermal cracking forms both light, rela- tively volatile products and heavier, more viscous prod: ucts which increase the resistance of fid flow through the system end lead to the formation of coke-ike posits. Most petroleum os will crack atthe tem Peratures encountered in indirect hosting systems, whereas specially selected petroleum ol — euch as the Mobithorm ols — resist cracking. Ito at high temperature is exposed to ait, oxidation ‘occurs at relatively rapid rate. The resulting oxy- ‘products thicken the oll and eventually form insoluble ‘material that is deposited on heater and other surfaces Of the system. These cokeike deposits interfere with heat transfer. In order to maintain needed bulk oil temperatures, higher heater temperatures are neces- ‘sary to overcome the insulating ettect of these depos- Its. The higher surface temperatures, howaver, are lkely {0 cause heater tube falures. Consequently, ‘oxygen must be excludod from the hot oll in any in rect heating system using petroleum ol, ‘Mobitherm heattranster cis were developed spec cally for this type of service. “They have proved their value at temperatures up to 316°C (600°F) for ‘extended periods, and under low-temperature condi tions, such as in snowmelting installations. Systems ‘can operate at atmospheric pressure at temperatures Up to 818°C (00°F) with Mobitherm 600, or 288°C (650°F) with Mobilthorm 603 and 605 heat- transfer ols, Mobithorm 605 is available only trom ‘Mobi Intemational Division in areas winere Mobltnerm 609 is not availabe, ‘Thermal Expansion Uke all fhids, minoral ots expand when heated. The ‘extent of expansion varios withthe temperature rise and the particular thi involved. Expansion can be Considerable and the system must have the means to take care of For example, 100 gallons (378.6 liters) of mineral oll at 10°C (50°F) will become 114 gallons (431.5 liters) when heated to 232°C (450° F)._ The actual expansion of Mobiltherm ol can be celeulted from the equation: Percent Increase in Volume = 0,035 X Rise in Tem- perature (°F); oF Parcent increase in Volume = 0.083 X Rise in Tem- perature (°C) Heat-Transter System ‘A correctly designed system is essential forthe suc- cessful use of Mobitherm ols. Fig. 218 a schematic 2 diagram of a typical cold-ll sealed, or closed, system recommended where these products are used. It ‘includes a colo-ol expansion tank, pump, heater, pip- ing, valves, contol, instruments, and equipment that Uses the hot oll. The “user” isthe equipment to which heat is transfered. Recommendations the folowing pages relate to the design of customized fed intalla- tions, rather than lo mobile or transportable package unks. Expansion Tank ‘A correcty designed expansion tank is important for troublesree operation. It pormits the oil to expand in the system without exposing hot oi 0 at. It functions 6 @ coldol seal which is essential to the ol's long service ie. The temperature of olin the tank should ot be more than 84°C (130°F), ii fe vented to the ‘atmosphere. Expansion Tank Size — Tank capecity should be twice the calculated expansion volume. That is, the tank wil be 25% full when the oll in the system is cold and approximately 75% ful when the ol is hot. This eaves halt of the tank volume for ol expansion. For the example given earl, the tank size should be 14 X 2 = 26 gal (53 x 2= 106 liters). A vertical tank of relatively large heightto-diaeter ratio wil ‘expose as fie ofthe al surface to air as possible, ‘Tank Location and Piping — A secondary, but Important, function of the expansion tank isto provide {or the change in air volume as the oil level inthe tank tiges and falls with the change in oll volume in the ays tem. Therefore, the tank must be vented to permit the air to escape, and must be placed higher than all out- lets. tis connected to the pump suction, or retum, line To maintain cold oil in the expansion tank, tho tank and connecting piping should not be insulated. In ‘some instances, a cooling water jacket may be desir- fable, Lines should be just large enough fo take care of surges caused by rapid temperature changes, to minimize convection curents which wl heat the ot in the tank. Restricting flow with an orice wil also mini mize convection heating, In some systems, several ines comect the expansion tank to various points in the system to facitate fling oF to eliminate airlock. Thesa extra lines rust include valves 20 that they can be closed during normal opera- tion to avoid overheating the expansion tank through thermo-siphon heatingvent une EATER OVER TEMPERATURE cureur vent veg aRESSURE SROUATING OT cow CONNECTION TRANCR ‘STRAINER Fig. 2. Senamate ggram of a closed hestranate Fittings — The tank should have an ol level gauge, @ thermometer, a vent line from the top ofthe tank. dain, an overtiow line, and @ filing connection. The tank should be covered to prevent contamination [As the oll in the system contracts, the ol level in the expansion tank falls and molt air entrs the warm fexpansion tank. As the tank cools, water may con ‘dense and settle tothe bottom of the tank. ‘To prevent this water from entering the system, the ol line (Fig. 2) should enter the tank above the maximum ‘water level, but wal below the lowest oil level. The ‘exoancion tank should have @ cone-shaped or dished bottom, with a draln from the lowes! pont. Inert Blanket — in many applications, ol tempera: {ures in the expansion tank cannot be kept below 54°C (120°F). To reduce the possibilty of oxida- tion, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, may be used to ‘maintain a slight postive pressure in the expansion tank. This method wil require a pressure-elie vent valve, a demand regulator, and a source of oxygen- {ree nitrogen. sete designed for Mebterm heat vanster oft, Either cantitugal or postive displacement pumps can circulate oi trough heat-transfer systems. With & Ccntritugal pump, the pumping head required to crcu- late the oll atthe dosired rate is important. Figs. 3, 4, and 6 ae charts for determining the pressure drop in pipe and tain, {A pump should have the capacity to circulate the ol at 4 rate that will provide the hest required by the users. lus heat losses, with a reasonable temperature drop Of 11 10 20°C (20 10 50°F) across the users. (Otten, both the pump and a backup duplicate Wi ‘operate during the heating up period in snow-metting installaions. When the snow-meting area is up to Aemperature, one pump usually is sutfclent to elt snow as it falls. Pumps designed apecifealy for handing hot oll must have face or deep-giand shatt seals and packing mate- Tal suitable for high-temperature petroleum fuid ser- ice. Leakage from the pump seals should not be ‘etumned to the system for rouse. Bearings and seals may bo water-cooled. The bearings must be lubrica- ted separately, because the heat transfer ol fs not @ sultabla hbricget.