Explosion-Proof
Electromagnetic Heater
≥98% thermal efficiency. No open flame. No heating element in the fluid. 10× the service life of resistance heaters -- certified for the most demanding explosive atmospheres.
Heating Where Open Flame Cannot Go --
and Where Resistance Heaters Keep Failing
Electromagnetic induction heating occupies a specific and important niche in field heating: locations where fuel gas is unavailable (eliminating combustion heaters), where open flame is prohibited by area classification or regulation (eliminating all fired equipment), and where resistance heater elements keep burning out due to over-temperature, scale, or oxidation. If your heating application has any of these constraints, electromagnetic induction is the engineering answer.
Crude Oil Pipeline Viscosity Reduction & Wax Control
High pour-point and high-wax crude oils lose flowability as temperature drops. Electromagnetic heaters clamped to the pipeline at intervals maintain the oil temperature above the wax appearance temperature without requiring fuel gas at each heating point and without the fire risk of open-flame heaters. The heating is generated in the pipe wall itself -- intrinsically efficient and eliminating external element failure.
Crude Oil Storage Tank Heating
Electromagnetic immersion heaters for tank service generate heat in the tank shell or in a dedicated metallic immersion element using induction. There is no exposed resistance wire element to fail, no element-to-fluid contact oxidation, and no open flame in a potentially flammable vapor space above the tank. Far superior service life in crude oil and produced water environments.
Zone 1 / Zone 2 Hazardous Area Heating
Offshore platforms and process areas classified as Zone 1 or Zone 2 present strict constraints. LINSON OIL's electromagnetic heaters are certified to ExdbIICT3/T4/T5/T6Gb -- IIC group covers the most severe explosive gas atmospheres, allowing selection of the appropriate surface temperature limit for the specific gas group on site.
Wellsites Without Fuel Gas
New well developments or pilot production tests may have electrical supply before gas infrastructure is built. Electromagnetic heaters require only an electrical power supply to provide wellhead and flowline heating from day one. As the field develops, they scale with power availability and can be easily redeployed.
Product Reference
Explosion-proof electromagnetic heaters are supplied by LINSON OIL as standalone units and as integrated components of electromagnetic heater skids -- fully factory pre-fabricated plug-and-play heating modules.
Electromagnetic Induction Heating --
The Induction Principle: Heat Generated in the Metal Itself
Conventional electric resistance heaters work by passing current through a high-resistance wire element; the element heats up and transfers heat to the surrounding fluid or metal by conduction and convection. The element is a wear part -- it oxidizes, scales, and eventually fails. Its surface temperature must be high enough to drive heat into the process, which creates hotspot risk on the element surface.
Electromagnetic induction heating is fundamentally different. An inductor coil -- wound around or clamped onto the pipe or vessel -- is energized with alternating current at a controlled frequency. The alternating current in the coil creates a rapidly alternating magnetic field that penetrates the metallic pipe wall or vessel shell. This alternating magnetic field induces eddy currents that circulate within the metal of the pipe wall itself. The electrical resistance of the metal to these eddy currents converts the electromagnetic energy directly into heat -- inside the metal, not in a separate element.
Why Service Life is 10× Resistance Heaters
A resistance heater element degrades through three primary mechanisms: oxidation of the element wire at elevated temperatures, electrochemical corrosion if the element contacts fluid, and thermal fatigue from cycling. All three mechanisms accelerate with operating temperature. Because the electromagnetic inductor coil is external to the pipe -- not in contact with the fluid -- it operates at a much lower temperature than a resistance element delivering equivalent heat flux. The coil insulation and winding are the primary wear components, and they operate in a controlled, fluid-free environment.
No Open Flame -- Why This Matters Beyond Safety
The absence of combustion in electromagnetic heating eliminates the need for a fuel gas supply, a combustion air system, a flue gas stack, and all the associated permits, inspections, and fire safety infrastructure required for fired equipment. In locations where environmental regulations restrict atmospheric emissions, electromagnetic heating produces none.
Pipeline Type
The inductor assembly clamps onto or integrates with the pipeline section. The pipe wall itself becomes the heat-generating element. Suitable for viscosity reduction, wax control, anti-freeze, and pour-point heating.
Tank Immersion Type
A metallic immersion body is inserted through the tank wall. The external inductor coil energizes the immersion body. No resistance element contacts the stored fluid -- eliminating element scale-up and burnout.
Explosion Protection: ExdbIICT3/T4/T5/T6Gb
| Code | Meaning | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Ex | Explosive atmosphere equipment | Certified per IECEx / ATEX standards |
| d | Flameproof enclosure | Control enclosure contains any internal ignition without propagating to atmosphere |
| b | Control of ignition source | Secondary protection method on electrical terminations |
| IIC | Gas group IIC | Covers hydrogen & acetylene; covers all lower groups (IIA, IIB) |
| T3-T6 | Surface temperature class | T6 (85°C max) to T3 (200°C max); select per gas group ignition temp |
| Gb | Equipment protection level b | Suitable for Zone 1 and Zone 2 installations |
Engineering Specifications
Standard parameters for pipeline and tank immersion configurations. Custom sizing available upon request.
Pipeline Type Specification
| Parameter | Standard Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Duty | 5 kW - 500 kW per unit | Multiple units in series for higher total duty |
| Thermal Efficiency | ≥ 98% | Verified by electrical input vs. heat output |
| Energy Saving | 16-28% | Compared to resistance heaters |
| Pipeline Size | DN50 - DN600 | Larger diameters on request |
| Pipeline Material | Carbon steel / Alloy steel | Non-magnetic materials require design adaptation |
| Process Fluid | Crude oil / Gas / Water | Fluid does not contact the inductor |
| Max Fluid Temp. | Up to 200°C (T3) | T-class selection determines surface limit |
| Power Supply | 380V / 50Hz (standard) | Other voltages available |
| Explosion Protection | ExdbIICT3/T4/T5/T6Gb | Zone 1 and Zone 2 installation |
| Installation | Clamp-on or inline | No cutting required for clamp-on type |
Tank Immersion Type Specification
| Parameter | Standard Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Duty | 10 kW - 300 kW per unit | Multiple units per tank for larger vessels |
| Tank Contents | Crude oil / Water / Chemicals | No element contacts tank contents |
| Flange Connection | DN80 - DN300 | Per tank nozzle size |
| Max Fluid Temp. | Up to 150°C | Per application requirements |
| Control | RTD + PLC controller | Automatic temperature maintenance |
| Installation | Through existing tank nozzle | No tank cutting required for standard sizes |
Standard Supply & Customization Scope
From single heating units to fully integrated, plug-and-play skid modules.
Standard Factory Configuration
- Inductor assembly (coil + magnetic core)
- Explosion-proof housing (ExdbIIC)
- Ex power control panel (PID, solid-state regulator, ground fault protection)
- Surface-mounted thermocouple sensor
- Ex-rated interconnecting cable & conduit
- Clamp-on assembly or inline spool piece
- Factory function test & QA documentation
Standard Factory Configuration
- Immersion body assembly (metallic element + flange)
- External inductor coil assembly
- Ex power control panel with RTD feedback
- RTD temperature sensor with Ex head
- Ex-rated cable and conduit
- Flanged connection (gasket and bolting included)
- Pre-shipment factory function test
OEM / ODM Customization Options
| Multi-section pipeline system | Extended pipeline runs; multiple heating zones with independent control |
| SCADA / remote monitoring | 4G / satellite; temperature data, power consumption, alarm status |
| High-temp (T3) / Low-temp (T6) | Process up to 200°C / Atmospheres with low ignition temp gases |
| Non-magnetic pipeline adaptation | 316L stainless, duplex, or GRE-lined pipe -- special coil design required |
| Full electromagnetic heater skid | Heater units + power distribution + control panel + cable management on common skid frame; plug-and-play deployment |
| Third-party / ATEX Certification | DNV/BV/ABS for offshore; ATEX for European market |
IIC Group Explosion Protection. 98% Efficiency Measured. Factory-Tested Before Every Shipment.
Inductor Design Verification
Magnetic coupling efficiency calculated to verify ≥98% conversion before fabrication. Prototype testing for non-standard geometries.
Explosion-Proof Enclosure Inspection
Compliance with ExdbIIC: flamepath gaps, thread engagement length, surface temperature. Records per IEC 60079-17.
Electrical Safety Testing
Insulation resistance (megger), dielectric strength, ground continuity, and overtemperature shutdown function test.
Thermal Efficiency Measurement
Heater operated at rated power input. Heat output measured by calorimetry. Efficiency confirmed ≥98% before shipment.
Surface Temperature Verification
Max surface temperature measured under worst-case conditions to ensure compliance with certified T-class limit.
Export & Ex Compliance Documentation
Full package: Ex certificate copy, T-class report, electrical test cert, and area classification drawings.
Proven Performance in Explosive Atmospheres
Electromagnetic Heater Skid Supply -- Multiple Upstream Facilities
Fully factory pre-fabricated plug-and-play heating modules for wellsite deployment. Incorporates explosion-proof units, power distribution, and control panel in a single transportable module.
View Electromagnetic Heater Skids →Sinopec & CNPC -- HSE Certified Supplier
Supplied to upstream facilities subject to strict HSE supplier qualification requirements (zone classification compliance, Ex certificate verification, installation inspection). Sustained certification reflects compliance across multiple supply cycles.
LINSON OIL Patent Portfolio -- 87 Patents
Includes invention patents directly related to electromagnetic heater design: inductor geometry optimization, explosion-proof enclosure design for IIC environments, and multi-zone control logic.
Warranty & Support
Covers inductor assembly, explosion-proof enclosure, control panel, and all electrical components. No elements in fluid contact = inherent reliability. Long-term partners: up to 2.5 years.
After-Sales Support
- ✓ Ex equipment periodic inspection checklist (IEC 60079-17)
- ✓ Inductor performance monitoring guidance
- ✓ Replacement inductor assemblies field-replaceable
- ✓ Remote technical support for commissioning
No Flame. No Element Failures. 98% Efficiency.
Tell Us Your Heating Requirement.
Electromagnetic heater sizing requires your pipeline diameter (or tank nozzle size), required heating duty or fluid temperature rise, and the area classification. Send us these parameters and our engineers will specify the appropriate configuration within 1-2 business days.
Submit your heating requirement and receive:
- Heater configuration recommendation: pipeline or immersion type, rated power, T-class selection.
- Efficiency comparison vs. your current heating method -- with estimated energy saving at your duty.
- Ex certification guidance: which T-class and certification standard applies to your installation area.
* Reviewed by LINSON OIL electrical and process engineers. Response typically within 1-2 business days.
LINSON OIL -- ExdbIICT3/T4/T5/T6Gb Certified | ≥98% Thermal Efficiency | 10× Service Life vs. Resistance Heaters | CNAS Laboratory