For heating and insulation of saltpeter tanks, water tanks, oil tanks, and acid/alkali tanks, common solutions include immersion electric heating tubes and jacketed heat exchange. Immersion electric heating tubes are simple in structure, but have high local heat flux density, are prone to scaling when the tank liquid has high viscosity or contains deposits, and replacement requires draining the tank. The heat pipe heat exchanger isolates the heat source from the tank liquid; the heat pipe itself has good isothermal performance, a single heat pipe failure does not affect overall operation, and maintenance allows replacement pipe by pipe, making it suitable for continuous production. Model HGR-72 supports side insertion or top insertion installation, offering greater layout flexibility than fixed jacket solutions.
The heat pipe operating temperature must be below the critical temperature of the charged working fluid and above its freezing point; otherwise, heat transfer capability decreases or the heat pipe may fail to start. During selection, first confirm the normal temperature of the tank liquid and possible extreme low temperatures, then select the tube material and working fluid combination based on medium compatibility test data to avoid generating non-condensable gases during long-term operation. Design pressure and connection specifications should be confirmed according to on-site piping conditions; conventional parameters must not be substituted for actual working conditions.
When the tank is deep and top space is limited, side insertion facilitates piping and maintenance; when the tank is shallow and the liquid surface is open, top insertion can shorten the heat pipe cantilever length. Model HGR-72 provides flange connections for both methods, selected on site according to tank structure. After installation, check whether the insertion depth covers the effective heat exchange section to avoid dry firing or heat transfer failure caused by liquid level fluctuations.
Record the tank liquid temperature and the temperature difference on the outer wall of the heat pipe during routine inspections; a continuously increasing temperature difference indicates scaling or degradation of working fluid performance. In acid/alkali tank environments, regularly check pipe material corrosion and set inspection intervals based on compatibility data. When replacing a single heat pipe, verify the working fluid model; different working fluids must not be mixed.
