SOL ALPHA
Heat supply · Thermal-oil system

Design a thermal-oil loop with heater

Determine oil flow, heater area, film temperature, piping, pump and protection for a thermal-oil system.

5 solution steps6 suggested modulesStatus: solution concept

The engineering task

A high-temperature consumer is supplied by a closed thermal-oil circuit. Mean oil temperature alone is insufficient: local film temperature at the heating surface must remain below the fluid stability limit.

Piping, consumer and control valve determine pump head. Minimum circulation, heat-up, thermal expansion, pump failure and blocked-in sections are separate safety cases.

Required design data

  • Consumer duty and supply/return temperatures
  • Thermal-oil grade and allowable film temperature
  • Piping network, elevations and fittings
  • Minimum circulation, controls and shutdown concept

Technical solution approach

Balance oil flow

Required mass flow follows from duty, heat capacity and allowable temperature rise.

Determine heater area

Evaluate overall heat transfer, surface loading and local film temperature together.

Size piping and pump

Pressure losses for all operating paths define the system curve used to select pump and control valve.

Check temperature and pressure cases

Calculate cold start, normal operation, shutdown, pump failure and trapped-liquid cases separately.

Define protective functions

Derive minimum-flow bypass, temperature trips, expansion volume and pressure relief from the upset cases.

Expected deliverables

Thermal-oil flow and temperature profile
Heating area and maximum film temperature
System curve and pump power
Control and safety concept

Suitable SOL ALPHA modules

The modules form a technically plausible toolchain. Their final selection and sequence will be confirmed during the later calculation against the applicable code and project conditions.