Screw Plug Immersion Heaters
Bucan’s screw plug immersion heaters are medium-capacity heating units designed to provide heat inside tanks and pipes. They consist of a single or a set of tubular elements that are formed into hairpins and welded or brazed to a screw plug immersion heater.
The sheath material of the immersion heater element with thermostat could be steel, copper, stainless steel, or Incoloy. The standard screw plug sizes utilized are 1”, 1 1/4”, 2”, and 2 1/2” and are either made of steel, brass, or stainless steel. Various types of electrical protective enclosures, built-in thermostats, thermocouples, and high-limit switches can be incorporated.
Screw Plug NPT size | Plug material | Standard element diameters | Maximum voltage | Phase | Heating elements material | Maximum number of elements |
1" | BRASS STEEL SS 304 SS 316 |
0.315" / 0.375" | 300 V / 600 V | 1 | COPPER STEEL INCOLOY 800® INCONEL 600® SS 304 SS316 |
2 / 1 |
1 1/4" | 0.315" / 0.375" | 300 V / 600 V | 1 / 3 | 3 | ||
2" | 0.430" | 600 V | 3 | 3 | ||
2 1/2" | 0.430" | 600 V | 3 |
3 |
Typical Heating Applications Screw Plug Immersion Heater
- PROCESS WATER HEATING
- HEATING OILS, WAX, TAR, ASPHALT, PARAFFIN
- MILD ALKALINE & ACID SOLUTIONS
- FREEZE PROTECTION
- EQUIPMENT WARM-UP
- HEATING GASES
- FOOD PROCESSING
Selection tips for screw plug Immersion heater Canada
Screw plug immersion heaters have a wide range of applications. It is essential to take several factors into consideration in order to select an Immersion heater that has features that match the requirements of a specific application and are suitable to the environment where the Immersion heater with temperature control will operate. The following are a number of criteria that should be taken into consideration:
- Besides the heating capacity required, an Immersion heater should operate at a temperature and a watt density that is adequate for the fluid heated. Tables 2 and 3 provide maximum sheath temperatures and watt densities that are recommended for heating elements of various fluids.
- In order to select proper materials for screw plug immersion heater, general selection guides that are based on common experience in industrial immersion water heater usage could be used. However, this selection should always be based on a user’s experience and knowledge of a specific application. Table 3 provides recommended sheath and screw plug immersion heater materials for different mediums.
- It is important to note that at all times the immersion heater with temperature control of the sheath material should not exceed the following temperatures:
Sheath Material | Maximum Temperature |
Copper | 360°F (180°C) |
Stainless Steel | 1200°F (650°C) |
Steel | 750°F (400°C) |
Incoloy | 1500°F (815°C) |
- Taking the environment within which the heater will operate into account, safety issues should be taken into consideration.
- Adequate temperature-controlling devices, temperature, and pressure high limit switches, low liquid level, and flow controllers, and other control/safety devices should be used. These instruments will control the heating process and protect the immersion heater from excessive heat.
- The classification of the electrical terminal box should match the application (NEMA 1, NEMA 4, NEMA 7, NEMA 12 etc.).
- The amount of contamination that the immersion heater will be exposed to should be taken into account.
- Electrical safety codes should be considered.
For more information, please contact our technical specialists.
Application | Sheath Material | Screw Plug Material | Typical Watt Density w/in² |
Clean water | Copper | Brass | 55-80 |
Process water / Weak solution | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | 25-55 |
Oil light | Steel | Steel | 20-25 |
Oil medium | Steel | Steel | 12-15 |
Corrosive solutions (basic) | Incoloy | Stainless Steel | 20-25 |
Corrosive solutions (acidic) | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | 20-25 |
Vegetable oil | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | 30-40 |
Asphalt, tar, wax | Steel | Steel | 4-10 |
Air | Incoloy | Steel | 25-30 |
Features of screw plug Immersion heater
- NEMA 4 (MOISTURE PROOF) TERMINAL BOX
- BUILT-IN THERMOWELL
- BUILT-IN SINGLE OR DOUBLE POLE THERMOSTATS
- PASSIVATION FOR STAINLESS STEEL AND INCOLOY HEATER
- BUILT-IN PROCESS OR HIGH LIMIT THERMOCOUPLES
- SPECIAL PLUGS OR NON-STANDARD THREAD SIZES
- NEMA 7 (EXPLOSION PROOF) TERMINAL BOX
Thermostats and thermocouples
Thermostats that are utilized in screw plug immersion heaters are the bulb and capillary style. These thermostats operate by the principle of expansion and contraction of a heat-sensitive liquid found inside the bulb and capillary assembly, which controls the activation of an electrical switch inside the thermostat.
Thermostats in most cases open the electrical circuit when the desired temperature is attained (open on rise). The table below shows the available ranges of thermostats.
A pilot duty thermostat can always be used when the ampacity of an immersion heater is higher than the available thermostat amperages shown below.
Thermostat | Contact Operation | Temperature Range | Volts / Amps |
T0 | SPST | 10ºC to 120ºC | 125V - 30A / 250V - 30A / 277V - 25A |
T1 | SPST | -15,5ºC to 40ºC | 125V - 30A / 250V - 30A / 277V - 25A |
T2 | SPST | 70ºC to 280ºC | 125V - 30A / 250V - 30A / 277V - 25A |
T3 | SPST | 149ºC to 370ºC | 125V - 30A / 250V - 30A / 277V - 25A |
T4 | SPST | 0ºC to 120ºC | 125V - 30A / 250V - 30A / 277V - 25A |
T5 | DPST | 10ºC to 120ºC | max. 277V - max. 25A |
T6 | DPST | -15,5ºC to 40ºC | max. 277V - max. 25A |
T7 | DPST | 25,5ºC to 204,5ºC | max. 277V - max. 25A |
T8 | DPST | 10ºC to 120ºC | max. 600V - max. 15A |
It should be noted that thermostats are only temperature controllers and should not be used as fail-safe high-limit switches.
Built-in thermocouples could be utilized inside a screw plug immersion heater to give more accurate temperature indications. Thermocouples could also be attached to one of the immersion heating elements with thermostats and utilized as high-temperature limiting devices.
Terminal Boxes for Screw Plug Immersion Heater
Terminal Box Type | Fig.# | Dimension "A" | Dimension "B" | Dimension "C" | Hole Size "E" |
NEMA 1 Terminal box | fig. 1 | 3 3/4" Dia. | 2 3/4" | N/A | 7/8" knock-out |
NEMA 1 Terminal box with built-in thermostat | fig. 2 | 3 3/4" Dia. | 3 3/4" | N/A | 7/8" knock-out |
NEMA 4 / NEMA 7 Terminal box | fig. 3 | 3 1/2" Dia. | 3 1/8" | 4 1/2" | 1" NPT |
NEMA 4 / NEMA 7 Terminal box with built-in thermostat | fig. 4 | 4 1/4" Dia. | 5 3/16" | 5 1/4" | 1 1/4" NPT |
For specifications, please check product catalogue
Download PDFTypical wiring digram for single phase, two elements
Typical wiring diagram for single phase, three elements
Typical wiring diagram for three phases (y), three elements
Typical wiring digram for three phases (delta), three elements
Single-phase, single pole, single throw line duty thermostat max. 25A max. 277V
Single-phase, double pole, single throw line duty thermostat max. 15A and max. 600V
Three-phase (delta), double pole, single throw line duty thermostat either max. 15A or max. 600V
Three phases (star), double pole, single throw line duty thermostat either max. 15A or max. 600V
Single phase, single pole, single throw pilot duty thermostat (SPST)
Single phase, double pole, single throw pilot duty thermostat (DPST)
Three-phase, single pole, single throw pilot duty thermostat (SPST)
Three phase, double pole, single throw pilot duty thermostat (DPST)