Industrial Tank Heaters and Pipe Insert Heaters
Specifying an industrial tank heater for a new storage tank, or replacing a pipe insert immersion heater already in service?
We handle both. We match the kW, watt density, voltage, and flange size to your tank and the fluid in it.
Our offices are in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, serving Texas and the Gulf Coast, and we ship nationwide.
Have questions? Need a quote?
Tank Heater Types and kW Ranges
We supply six Indeeco tank heating products, from a 1.5 kW pipe insert element to a 288 kW storage tank heater.
| Heater | How it mounts | kW range | Watt density | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe insert heater | Slides into a horizontal 3 in pipe in the tank wall, up to Schedule 80 | 1.5 to 24 kW | 3 to 12 W/in² | Tanks that already have an insert pipe |
| ANSI flange mounted heater | 6, 8, 10 or 12 in flange, 150 lb class or 300 lb option, 1 to 4 heater pipes | 1.5 to 96 kW | 3 to 12 W/in² | Tanks with one flanged nozzle |
| Adapter box mounted heater | Welded box on the tank wall, 4, 8 or 12 heater pipes | 18 to 288 kW | 3 to 12 W/in² | Large storage tanks |
| Rectangular flange mounted heater | Custom rectangular plate, 4, 8 or 12 heater pipes | 18 to 288 kW | 3 to 12 W/in² | Large tanks with a custom opening |
| Deep tank heater | Drops through the manway of an enclosed or double-wall tank, above or below grade, with a split riser and built-in controls | Sized to the tank | 5 to 50 W/in² | Buried and double-wall tanks with no side nozzle |
| Quick Ship control panel | Remote panel with a contactor or SCR, UL listed | Up to two 48 A circuits | Not applicable | Control for any heater above |
Use 3 W/in² for heavy oil and pitch, 9 W/in² for light oil, and 12 W/in² for water. Wetted parts come in carbon steel, 304 stainless, or 316 stainless.
Pipe insert elements run on 208 to 480 V, and complete tank heaters go up to 600 V. Ranges come from the Indeeco tank heating catalog, MKL-4042-00.
Common Questions
How many kW does an industrial storage tank heater need?
An industrial storage tank heater needs enough kW to replace the heat the tank loses to the air. Indeeco sizes a 42 ft by 40 ft crude oil tank with R-6 insulation this way. Holding it at 75°F with a 10°F low ambient takes 30.65 kW, including a 1.2 safety factor.
Can you replace a pipe insert heater element without draining the tank?
A pipe insert heater element slides out of its 3 in pipe while the tank stays full. The fluid never touches the element, so nothing has to drain. Indeeco elements run from 51 to 218 in long, and we match the length to the pipe already in your tank.
Does a tank heater need a disconnect and fusing?
A tank heater needs a disconnecting means within sight of the heater under the NEC. A control panel over 48 A also needs power fusing. The Indeeco Quick Ship panel carries up to two 48 A circuits, with a disconnect switch and fusing as factory options.
Which Tank Heater Mounting Fits Your Tank
The right tank heater mounting depends on the opening your tank already has. Match your tank to one of these five heaters.
- Already have a 3 in insert pipe in the tank? Use a pipe insert heater, from 1.5 to 24 kW.
- A tank with one flanged nozzle takes an ANSI flange heater, up to 96 kW.
- Large storage tanks take an adapter box or rectangular flange heater, up to 288 kW.
- Enclosed, double-wall, and buried tanks take a deep tank heater that drops in through the manway.
- Small tanks with a threaded opening take a screw plug immersion heater with a 1 to 2-1/2 in NPT fitting.
A pipe insert heater, also called a dry well heater, sits in a sealed pipe in the tank wall. The fluid never touches the element.
For large tank immersion heaters and every other style we carry, see our industrial immersion heaters page.
Looking for an Industrial Heater?
Contact us now for a quick quote and get the right product the first time!
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