Steam system engineering company Spirax Sarco has launched a range of instantaneous jet heaters for process liquid heating.

Instantaneous jet heaters are a form of in-line steam injection technology that uses high-pressure steam as an efficient and instant way of heating, mixing and pumping semi-viscous liquids.

They are suited to a range of processes, including mixing steam and semi-viscous liquids, heating or cooling, moving slurries or granular solids, condensing steam or water, reactor jacket heating or vegetable blanching.

"Improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, minimising labour engagement and decreasing production outage are everyones goals," says Mike Griffin, emerging and innovative technologies manager at Spirax Sarco.

"But sometimes, opportunities to make improvements and gain an advantage over competitors are missed by using conventional technologies. Reassessing plant operations that involve heating process liquids could pay back the time with big savings and technical benefits."

Instantaneous jet heaters work by discharging pressurised steam into a liquid at high velocity, dissipating both sensible and latent heat within the liquid. As the name suggests, they are designed to combine two streams instantaneously, with a low risk of fouling and the associated costs of cleaning, maintenance and effluent removal.

Designed for multi-function purpose, the jet heaters system has many capabilities, including agitation, circulation, mixing and pumping, and eliminates the need for other equipment. This makes the system versatile, as well as energy and cost-efficient.

Griffin adds that the heaters require little maintenance due in part to its corrosive-resistant material, and the lack of rotating parts also reduces the need for the replacement, lubrication or adjustment of bearings.