Electric Blanketing a Vessel - Heat Transfer

[ChePAT]

Why: Storage vessel has solids build up along wall that causes operational issues in tank over time

How: Jacket the vessel, keeping the inner wall temperature at 10 deg above liquid temperature, to prevent solids build up. In this case with a electric blanket. Again the purpose is not for heat exchange but to elevate temperature just enough to prevent any solids build up.

Problem: Guidance on setting up a balance to determine amount of power required to maintain this desired wall temperature (w/ & w/o insulation). There is concern that since the liquid is agitated (via re-circulation) that the wall temperature will not be able to be maintained with a blanket. Ambient temperature is cooler than liquid temperature by 40 degC.

See the attached PDF for an overview, I'd appreciate any guidance you can lend me. I haven't been successful scouring online for electric blanket examples.

 

[Compositepro]

You cannot insure 10 over liquid temperature, but you do not have to. The jacket power just needs to be greater than the heat loss from the tank so that net heat flow is into rather than out from the tank. This could, however lead to drying of crystals above the liquid level.

 

[georgeverghese]

Temp profile show looks okay - presume you mean electric heat tracing -self regulating type cables would be safer than others.

Read chapters on heat losses through insulation from DQ Kern or other heat transfer texts. Total heat loss would be the sum of loss through natural convection and that due to radiation from outer skin of insulation.