IMPEDANCE HEATING KEEPS FUEL OIL LINE FLOWING

In designing a system for handling heavy fuel oil for a new generating plant of South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., Gilbert Associates determined that impedance heating would cost 20% less to operate annually than steam tracing and almost 10% less than electric resistance heating. Impedance heating applies high-amperage, low-voltage a-c directly to the pipeline to heat the pipe wall. The system was designed for thermostatic control at 140 F with ambient temperatures down to 20 F. Although the 50 mv maximum voltage is inherently safe, a ground-fault protection circuit automatically shuts down the system in the event that it becomes accidentally grounded, and simultaneously a warning light is turned on in the control room. The simplicity of impedance heating avoids many aspects of maintenance experienced with other types of heating systems.

• Corporate Authors:

  Petroleum Engineer Publishing Company

  Box 1589
  Dallas, TX  United States  75221
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • Pipeline and Gas Journal
  • Volume: 201
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Petroleum Engineer Publishing Company

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Heat conduction; Operations; Pipeline transportation; Safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Intrinsic safety (Electrical); Pipeline operating problems
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Marine Transportation; Pipelines; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00056385
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Petroleum Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM