Tank Heating Eductors
Also known as steam spargers — direct-contact steam injection for efficient, even heating of open tanks. Up to 95% heat transfer efficiency. No moving parts.
Tank Heating Eductors
Tank heating with RTM TLM521 tank heating eductors provide a direct contact of the steam into the liquid. This assures complete transfer of the energy in the steam into the liquid being heated. Other types of heating lose efficiency as the interior of the heat exchanger builds up a scale. With eductors, the velocity of the steam being injected into the vessel also causes the liquid contents of the vessel to be agitated while heating occurs, without the need for other types of mixers in the vessel.
They also permit the steam to be dispersed over more of the liquid volume, resulting in a more homogenous heating than with other methods of injecting steam.
These designs of the RTM TLM521 eductors allow steam to be used from 10 to 140 PSIG for heating. Because of the nature of direct steam injection, heating vessels at atmospheric pressure beyond 140°F should not be attempted. Exceeding this temperature could result in uncondensed steam evolving from the liquid.
Advantages of Tank Heating Eductors
Tank heating eductors transfer heat from the steam to the liquid very efficiently, with efficiencies of up to 95%. The steam is injected directly into the liquid, eliminating any heat loss that would occur with a heat exchanger.
The turbulent flow created by tank heating eductors mixes the liquid and heats it evenly. This is especially important for viscous liquids or liquids with solids in suspension, which can be difficult to heat evenly using other methods.
The turbulent flow also agitates the liquid, which can help to prevent the formation of scale and other deposits on the inside of the tank.
Tank heating eductors have no moving parts, so they are very low-maintenance and require little to no downtime.
Applications
- Heating water and other liquids in industrial and commercial processes
- Heating wastewater and other fluids in treatment plants
- Heating food and beverage products
- Heating pharmaceutical and chemical products
- Heating agricultural products, such as milk and syrup
TLM Performance Chart
Gallons Heated Per Minute (GHPM) at Operating Steam Pressure
| Size | Temp Rise °F | 20 PSIG | 40 PSIG | 60 PSIG | 80 PSIG | 100 PSIG | 120 PSIG | 140 PSIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8″ | 10 | 24 | 37 | 51 | 64 | 77 | 90 | 103 |
| 20 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 32 | 38 | 45 | 51 | |
| 40 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 26 | |
| 80 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | |
| 120 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | |
| 3/4″ | 10 | 51 | 78 | 106 | 133 | 160 | 187 | 214 |
| 20 | 25 | 39 | 53 | 67 | 80 | 94 | 107 | |
| 40 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 33 | 40 | 47 | 54 | |
| 80 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 27 | |
| 120 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 18 | |
| 1-1/2″ | 10 | 103 | 158 | 215 | 270 | 324 | 380 | 434 |
| 20 | 51 | 79 | 107 | 135 | 162 | 190 | 217 | |
| 40 | 26 | 40 | 54 | 67 | 81 | 95 | 108 | |
| 80 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 48 | 54 | |
| 120 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 32 | 36 | |
| 2″ | 10 | 203 | 314 | 425 | 534 | 642 | 752 | 859 |
| 20 | 102 | 157 | 212 | 267 | 321 | 376 | 429 | |
| 40 | 51 | 78 | 106 | 133 | 160 | 188 | 215 | |
| 80 | 25 | 39 | 53 | 67 | 80 | 94 | 107 | |
| 120 | 17 | 26 | 35 | 44 | 54 | 63 | 72 | |
| 3″ | 10 | 481 | 741 | 1004 | 1261 | 1517 | 1777 | 2029 |
| 20 | 240 | 371 | 502 | 631 | 758 | 888 | 1015 | |
| 40 | 120 | 185 | 251 | 315 | 379 | 444 | 507 | |
| 80 | 60 | 93 | 125 | 158 | 190 | 222 | 254 | |
| 120 | 40 | 62 | 84 | 105 | 126 | 148 | 169 |
Heating with Steam
Steam is supplied in a gaseous state. Heat transfer with saturated steam utilizes the latent heat of steam, releasing a large amount of energy as it condenses (changes to the liquid state). The amount of energy released per unit of steam is high (up to 539 kcal/kg, or 970 Btu/lb, and higher with vacuum steam).
Utilizing latent heat (steam heating) for heat transfer is far more effective than utilizing sensible heat (hot water or oil heating), as a much higher amount of energy is released in a shorter period of time.
| Property | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Rapid even heating through latent heat transfer | Improved product quality and productivity |
| Pressure can control temperature | Temperature can be quickly and precisely established |
| High heat transfer coefficient | Smaller required heat transfer surface area, enabling reduced initial equipment outlay |
In-Tank / Vessel Heating Eductor (TLA Model) — Sizing Example
Application: Heating + agitation inside an open tank or vessel.
- Tank volume: 550 gallons (water, Sg = 1.0, Sh = 1.0)
- Desired temperature rise (ΔT): 50°F
- Final tank temperature: 120°F
- Time available to heat: 20 minutes
- Steam pressure: 40 PSIG
- Number of eductors: 2
- Calculate total steam required: Wm = (550 × 8.33 × 1.0 × 1.0 × 50) / 1100 = 208 lb of steam
- Calculate steam flow rate per minute: Qm = 208 / 20 = 10.4 lb/min total
- Divide by number of units: 10.4 / 2 = 5.2 lb/min per eductor
- Use TLA Steam Flow table (at 40 PSIG): A 1-1/2″ unit provides 13.4 lb/min steam. Sizing Factor = 5.2 / 13.4 ≈ 0.39
- Select size from TLA S.F. table: ½″ → 0.25; ¾″ → 0.50 (meets or exceeds 0.39) → Choose TLA ¾″
- Steam per unit = 13.4 × 0.50 = 6.7 lb/min
- Total steam = 13.4 lb/min
- Actual heating time = 208 / 13.4 ≈ 15.5 minutes (faster than the 20-minute target)
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Tank Eductor Application FormRelated Pages
Large Inventory
- Tank Eductors stocked ⅜″–3″ in Carbon Steel & 316SS
- PPL & PVDF Tank Eductors stocked ¼″–1½″ MNPT
- Jet Pumps in stock ½″–3″ in Carbon Steel, 316SS & Bronze
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