Eliminate Costly Hopper Pluggage with Electric Hopper Heaters

Modular, metal-clad hopper heaters
installed on large hopper.

Fly ash is a by-product of coal fired and waste-to-energy fired electrical generating facilities. Fly ash is a combination of dust and fine particles produced during combustion. Environmental laws require fly ash to be collected and not released in to the atmosphere. Large collectors called electrostatic precipitators combined with a system of filters extract fly ash from the flue gas and dispense the fly ash in large steel hoppers prior to being dumped in to containers and transported.

Due to the temperature differential between the hot internal temperature of the hopper and the cooler exterior, condensation forms on the internal wall surfaces, The condensation, combined with the fly ash, creates a concrete-like material that bonds to the hopper walls. The accumulation of this material eventually clogs the hopper to the extent it cannot be emptied. At this point, the only way to free the clogged material is with sledge hammers and pneumatic tools and long periods of downtime and the related expense.

To prevent the fly ash and condensate mixture from forming,

electric heaters are bonded or clamped to the exterior walls and throat of the hopper. Because the environment is normally very dirty with high vibration, “hopper heaters” are designed to withstand to meet these mechanical and environmental stresses.

Hopper heaters come in a variety of physical sizes, voltages, and wattages. Most often, hopper heaters come in pre-engineered sets that have been specified and configured by an applications engineer.

For more information on any hopper heating application, contact Hotfoil-EHS for a free consultation. Visit http://www.hotfoilehs.com or call 609.588.0900.

The Hotfoil-EHS Fusion 45 Induction Heating Console

Induction heating can improve your bottom line by decreasing weld failures, and decreasing setup and tear down times. The technology allows for accurate temp control, without heavy electrical service or complicated controls. The portability and ease of use will allow you to heat more welds faster.

For more information call Hotfoil-EHS at 609.588.0900 or visit http://www.hotfoilehs.com.

Induction Heating Provides Welders Uniformity and Shortens Welding Time

Welder’s must pay strict attention when it comes to preheating, interpass temperature control and stress relieving. Torches takes too long and make it difficult to maintain heating uniformity. Plus there’s the issue with open flames and the expense of fuel.

Ovens are great for uniformity and control, but require transport and time. They're certainly not convenient.

A great alternative, one that provides excellent uniformity, control, and convenience, is induction heating.

Induction heating is unique because it uses molecular excitation as its source of heat, as opposed to open flames or external electric elements.

Induction heating works very quickly, and since there is no contact with the target piece, there are far less concerns about part contamination.  Many industrial processes use induction heating when very high temperatures and uniform control is desired.

Its important to note that the heat is created from inside the object itself, with no open flame or external electric heat source.

Induction heating is used to heat conductive materials. Developed in the early 20th century, it quickly became a popular choice for hardening military equipment parts during wartime. Because of induction heating’s controllability, speed and consistent output, its popularity continued to grow as new manufacturing and production methodologies were developed. Today, induction heating has become a popular technology for the welding industry to provide pre and post-weld stress relief.

Induction heaters provide temperatures and cycle times hard to achieve otherwise. By virtue of their high temperature capabilities, very fast heat up times, precise application of heat, excellent controllability, and ease of setup / breakdown, the use of induction heating has been know to cut 30% to 50% of total weld cycle time in real-life welding applications.

Induction heaters consist of a few primary components: An electromagnet and an electronic oscillator that passes a high-frequency alternating current (AC) through the electromagnet. RF (radio frequency) energy is transferred into the workpiece via electromagnetic waves. These alternating magnetic waves penetrate the object, creating electric eddy currents. These eddy currents (Foucault currents) flow through the target piece and produce heat.

Pre and post-weld heat treating (stress relieving) is a growing market for induction heating systems because it offers significant benefits such as excellent heat placement and distribution, lower cycle times, safety, ease of use, and efficiency.

For more information about induction heaters for pre and post-weld heat treating visit HotfoilEHS at http://www.hotfoilehs.com or call 609.588.0900.

The Hotfoil-EHS Fusion45 Induction Heater from Hotfoil EHS, Inc.

Don't Let Frozen Aggregate Clog Your Process Equipment

FRP hopper heaters

FRP chute heater

Processing lines in coal mines, quarries, cement plants, mining facilities, and power plants have a special problem in very cold weather. The coal, sand, cement, ores, or other mined products they handle can freeze and cause equipment outages. The combination of trace moisture mixed with aggregate material, plus freezing temperatures, combine for major problems with conveyors, hoppers and chutes. When the aggregate hits the cold steel surface, it instantly freezes (flash freezing). The bond between the frozen aggregate and the steel wall is virtually unbreakable, and can cause long down-times with the equipment. Maintenance people have their own, time-tested curative solutions - torches and hammers - but installing preventative measures is clearly preferable.

FRP trough heater

The FRP heating panel, a waterproof, dust tight, and vibration resistant heater is an excellent preventative solution. FRP heaters are designed to be used in the high vibration, corrosive and dirty areas where they are installed. Available with FM approval for use in hazardous areas, they provide an easily customized panel that conforms to the shape and size needed to fit any chute or hopper. Additionally, they are lightweight, can be applied to flat or curved surfaces, and are very easy to install and maintain.

FRP trough heater

For more information on chute, conveyor, hopper or pipe heating, contact the experts at Hotfoil-EHS by visiting www.hotfoilehs.com or calling 609-588-0900.

Custom Control Panel Fabrication: Start to Finish

Hotfoil-EHS provides custom control panels for a variety of applications. Know for their quality, service, and availability, Hotfoil's experience in designing systems is broad.

Hotfoil-EHS has traditionally focussed on electric heating systems including heating tanks and vessels as well as electric heat tracing, but more recently has developed an expertise in combustion heating system controls. For more information visit http://www.hotfoilehs.com or call 609-588-0900.

Below is a time lapse video of a custom design control panel being fabricated from start to finish.

Applying Ceramic Mat Heaters for Pre and Post Weld Heat Treatment

Designed for pre and post weld heat treating, ceramic mat heaters function efficiently for both curved and flat applications. The flexibility of these heaters provides a convenient means to heat treat large metal surfaces in the field.

The application of ceramic mat heaters is straightforward - the heater is placed directly on the part to be welded, insulation is normally laid over the heater, and voltage is applied. A thermocouple is tack-welded near to monitor the part. The part is brought up to temperature and then the welding is done. After the weld, the part is cooled at a controlled rate.

Welding a large pipe with localized heating using
ceramic mat heaters.

Preparing the pipe for the weld and allowing
the heaters to raise the temperature of the pipe.

Wrapping ceramic mat heaters around
spool piece.

Close-up of ceramic mat heaters around
spool piece.

Ceramic Pad/Mat Heaters: The Tried and True Way to Heat Treat

Ceramic mat heater: Proven performance over time.

Heat treating large metal surfaces in the field before and after welding is usually a challenge. Over the years, products have been developed that perform well and withstood the test of time. One of these products is the ceramic pad heater.

Ceramic pad heaters (also known as mat heaters) are constructed of interlocking sintered alumina ceramic beads (usually pink or white in color) which insulate an 80/20 Nickel/Chrome multi-strand wire (the resistance element).

Ceramic pad heaters are designed for most pre-heat and post-heat treatment requirements on weld joined materials (stress relieving). Available in numerous sizes, shapes, configurations, voltages and wattages, they can be used up to 2150°F in various weld heat treating applications.

Various shapes and sizes.

They are designed for re-use in a wide variety of heating applications. Their flexible design allows for conformance and good heat transfer to the target part. Their rugged design is well suited for most industrial environments where shock and vibration is a reality. Ceramic pad heaters can be used with or without the application of insulation. The use of insulation will greatly speed up the heating
process as well as more efficiently retain the heat for soaking.

For more information on the use and installation of ceramic pad (mat) heaters, visit Hotfoil-EHS at www.hotfoilehs.com or call 609.588.0900.