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Strap heaters for tanks?

November 13, 2009

I have a customer who needs a heating device for a caustic soda [affil links] mix tank. I suggested a strap electrical heating unit, but all of what I see are geared to drum heating.

Are there any vendors that handle such equipment?

Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York

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There are lots of ways to heat caustic soda. How hot would you like to get it? Are the salts mixed with water? What volume would you like to heat? Can you use open flame or are you limited to electric heating? What type of caustic soda are you heating? What sort of container are the salts heated in? What are you doing with the soda?

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
November 17, 2009

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November 18, 2009

I have used strip heaters under tanks a couple of times. The darn things tend to burn out faster than you would expect, even with lower watt densities and they are a pain to change out.
the problem bothered me because the old ring type electric stove burners lasted a very long time. I have no clue as to why the difference.
google strip heater as well as strap heaters

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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November 19, 2009

Hi Dave,

I know we do not like to call out specific equipment systems, but I was researching some information this morning and ran across an answer to your question. In the Chemtainer catalog for polyethylene tanks, they carry strap heaters for their tanks.

Hope that helps.

Ira Donovan, M.S.F.
Kansas City, Missouri