Prevent Freezing and Protect Your Equipment With Polar Fluid Warmers

With winter just around the corner, the cold weather brings unique challenges for heavy equipment operators. Freezing temperatures can cause fluids in machinery – like hydraulic oil, coolant, and fuel – to thicken and even freeze. This can lead to a host of issues, including more time to warm the equipment before operating and potential equipment damage.

That’s where Polar Fluid Warmers and other hydraulic tank immersion heater options come in. These systems help keep your equipment running smoothly by maintaining the right fluid temperatures, preventing freezing, and ensuring everything from engine blocks to hydraulic systems stays in top condition.

How an Immersion Heater Works

Immersion heaters, also known as hydraulic tank immersion heaters, hydraulic oil heaters, and bayonet heaters, provide one of the most efficient and effective ways to heat liquids. They can be mounted on the side of a container or placed into tanks, vats, and any equipment that carries water, oil, or other material.

There are two types of immersion heaters – direct and indirect:

• Direct Immersion Heater – The heating element is placed directly in the liquid and, once the heater is turned on, electricity runs through the element and quickly heats the liquid.
• Indirect Immersion Heater – This type of unit uses either radiation or convection to heat the liquid. The heating element does not have direct contact with the liquid, preventing contamination and corrosion.

The Most Common Types of Immersion Heaters

Since the introduction of the first immersion heater, ongoing innovations have shaped new designs to meet diverse industry needs. There is an extensive range of immersion heaters available today. Here are some of the most common types:

• Screw Plug – A hairpin-shaped electric element is inserted directly into the tank wall or pipe for heating. Screw plug immersion heaters are ideal for small tanks or applications needing precise heat control. This type of heater is commonly used in industrial tanks, barrels, and pipes for temperature regulation and protection.
• Over-the-Side – This hydraulic tank immersion heater can be mounted directly to the tank or vessel, making it perfect for water storage, preventing thickening of fluid, freeze protection, and more. Over-the-side immersion heaters are widely used across industries as an effective solution for larger applications.
• Flange – This type of immersion heater is mounted to the outer wall of a tank by bolting or welding and can reach temperatures up to 650°C. They are ideal for industrial process heating, boilers, oil, and other high-pressure applications.

Circulation – A circulation immersion heater is ideal for freeze protection as well as water, steam, air, and gas heating. It uses an inline or side piping configuration with a built-in heating element.

The Benefits of Using Polar Fluid Warmers

Industries such as nuclear power, oil and gas, wastewater management, transportation, food processing, agriculture, construction, and mining, to name a few, rely on immersion heaters for their clean source of energy, ability to heat the material quickly, and maintain safe conditions without the use of flame.

If your operation depends on hydraulic fluids, fuel oils, or water-based fluids in cold climates, frozen fluids can cause costly repairs, equipment malfunctions, and delays. Polar Fluid Warmers provide an efficient solution to keep critical fluids warm and flowing smoothly, ensuring reliable equipment performance even in harsh conditions.

Key Features of Polar Fluid Warmers

• Prevents Freezing – Keeps hydraulic oil, fuels, and other essential fluids from freezing, avoiding costly downtime.
• Design
  • 2” Male NPT Thread or Single Thread O-Ring
  • ¾” and single Female NPT Glycol Ports
  • 304 Stainless Steel Construction, suitable for horizontal or vertical installation
• Compatibility
  • Works with water, hydraulic fluids, and fuel oils
  • Pairs well with Fuel-Fired Engine Coolant Heaters due to low internal resistance to Glycol flow
• Durability – Tested up to 300 psi, recommended working pressure of 150 psi, and available with tank weld flanges in Aluminum, Stainless, and Mild Steel.
• Flexibility
  • Can be used in multiple units for larger tanks or faster heat-up
  • Suitable for various tank and reservoir sizes
• Warranty – Comes with a five-year limited warranty

Polar Fluid Warmers are built to protect your fluids and keep your equipment operating smoothly, no matter the temperature. Perfect for hydraulic oil, fuel, and water-based fluids, Polar Mobility offers the reliable solution you need to ensure year-round equipment performance.
Contact us today to learn more about how Polar Fluid Warmers and other immersion heaters can protect your equipment.