HOTCAT
Natural GAs Line Heater | Water Bath HEater Alternative | Pipeline HEater
HOTCAT Line HEaters – TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Bruest HOTCAT natural gas line heaters uses Bruest’s catalytic heater panels as the heat source. The catalytic heater panels convert the fuel gas to CO2, water vapor, and infrared heat with virtually no NOx in the process. The process begins by preheating of the catalyst with electric power. Electric power is required for 20 to 30 minutes per zone during the startup process. Once the catalyst has been preheated, the fuel gas can be introduced to complete the startup process. The HOTCATs are offered with either manual or automated control system to suit different application requirements.
MANUAL SYSTEMS
Manual HOTCATs are controlled with the included thermostatic control valve. The heater panels are manually started individually or in groups. Power is applied for 20 to 30 minutes before gas is introduced manually through the safety valve. The number of panels used would depend on the expected operating conditions. Addition or removal of heat panels would need to be done by the operator to match changing conditions. A high temperature shutoff option is available to prevent overheating of the gas during low to zero flow periods.
Automation Control Systems
The HOTCAT line heater automation control systems use Allen Bradley’s Micro850 (available for smaller HOTCATs) or CompactLogix (all sizes) PLC controllers. The control system adds or removes heat by comparing the temperature of the output RTD to the setpoint. For tighter control of the gas temperature, a second temperature sensor can be added downstream. All automated HOTCATs require a constant power source to start the heater panels and the supervisory control. Ethernet communication is standard for integration of the HOTCAT to the local control system as needed.
Applications
The HOTCAT natural gas line heaters continues Bruest’s tradition of offering safe, effective, and clean heating solutions for the natural gas industry. Multiple standard configurations, as well as customizable features, allow the HOTCATs to be matched to the application demands.- Town Border, Gate, Regulation Stations
- Compressor Stations
- Fuel Gas Systems
- CNG Let Down Systems
- Custom Heating Solutions
- Line Heater
