During low-temperature periods in winter, on-site operation and maintenance personnel often encounter scaling on the surface of heating rods in explosion-proof areas, tripping caused by moisture in junction boxes, or medium temperature failing to meet standards for extended periods. These problems are mostly related to insufficient consideration of the installation environment, protection rating, and medium characteristics during model selection.
The FBR-11 stainless steel explosion-proof heating rod is suitable for Zone 1 and Zone 2 explosive gas environments, with a protection rating of IP65. Before installation, please verify: heating tube diameter (mm), total unfolded length (mm), lead wire type and length (mm), rated voltage and power. If surface marking is required, specify the marking content. Since the internal structure of a tubular heater is difficult to fully understand from the outside, it is recommended to provide mechanical drawings or sketches when ordering.
A petrochemical intermediate tank farm uses the FBR-11 to provide heat tracing and insulation for heavy oil. The on-site medium temperature needs to be maintained at 60–80°C, and the heating rod is inserted directly into the side wall of the tank. Operation and maintenance personnel reported that the original equipment suffered from deteriorated heat transfer due to coking on the tube wall. After switching to the FBR-11, the reasonable surface load reduced the tendency for coking. In this case, the heater circulation system uses antifreeze suitable for the external ambient temperature as the circulating heating medium. When the medium temperature reaches the set value required by the process, the control system adjusts the output power of the electric heater based on the temperature sensor signal after PID calculation, thereby achieving temperature control of the resistive load of the heating element.
On-site operation and maintenance personnel should regularly check the surface of the heating rod for scaling, discoloration, or mechanical damage, and measure insulation resistance. When working in explosion-proof areas, the power supply must be cut off first, and disassembly should only be carried out after the surface temperature drops to a safe value. Aging sealing rings in the junction box should be replaced promptly to prevent moisture ingress. If a decrease in heating efficiency is found, first check whether the medium has coked or whether circulation is poor.
