PURGED GROUNDED IMMERSION HEATER

摘要

An immersion heater for corrosive fluids includes an electrically resistive material strand (80) operative upon connection to a source of power to provide heat. A thermally conductive electrically insulating fill material (84) is disposed around the electrically resistive material strand (80). An electrically conductive sheath (90) encases the fill material (80). A tubular jacket (108) of a flexible chemically inert material encases the electrically conductive sheath (90). A fluid flow passage (106) is defined between the tubular jacket (108) and the sheath (90) for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid is a purge gas that flows between the sheath (90) and the jacket (108) in order to remove any corrosive fluid which may have penetrated the jacket (108). A method for manufacturing an immersion heater is also disclosed.