Skin effect pipe heating system utilizing convective and conductive heat transfer

摘要

Faster and more efficient heat transmission between an electrical skin effect current heat generating unit and the surface of a pipe to be heated is achieved by utilizing convective as well as conductive transfer of heat therebetween. The unit includes an elongated ferromagnetic channel having an open face and secured along its longitudinal edges by staggered stitch welds to the surface of a ferromagnetic pipe to be heated. The inner surface of the channel and the confronting outer surface of the pipe define an air space at least partially surrounding a freely movable insulated conductor having one end connected to a pole of an AC source and its other end connected to the far end of the channel. The near end of the channel is connected to the other pole of the AC source. The stitch weld are arranged to provide staggered slits along the length of the channel between the edges thereof and the pipe surface enabling substantial transverse air flow freely therethrough across the conductor and confronting channel and pipe surfaces with resultant convective as well as conductive transfer of heat to the pipe. The channel and pipe can be surrounded by thermal insulation applied in such a manner as to form an open space for circulation of convective heat.