TCS Series Heat Exchangers

TCS Series Steam Tank Heaters

Steam in the Tubes, Tank Contents Outside

The TCS carries steam through the tubes of a bundle mounted inside the tank. Steam condenses at constant temperature and releases latent heat, which gives a considerably higher heat flux than pumped hot water at a practical supply temperature.

Recovery rate is usually why a TCS is chosen. Where a tank has to come back up to temperature quickly, steam delivers the heat far faster than a water loop of comparable size. On a duty that is mostly standby with occasional heavy draw, that recovery capability is the whole point.

Watch the surface temperature. Steam at pressure produces a tube surface temperature well above the tank contents. On water that is unremarkable; on any product that scales, scorches or degrades it matters, and lower-pressure steam or a controlled supply is the answer rather than more surface.

Condensate has to leave. A steam-heated bundle that cannot drain floods from the bottom up and loses surface progressively. The symptom looks exactly like a tank that has stopped heating properly. Check the trap and the drain arrangement before pulling the bundle.

Mounting and removal. The bundle enters through a tank nozzle on a mounting flange and withdraws the same way, so clearance outside the tank equal to the bundle length is required. Cast iron or cast brass bonnets are available across the 4 to 14 inch range.