918.258.8551 sales@zeeco.com
CAREERS CONTACT
    refinery_stock image

    Indirect-Fired Heaters

    SOLUTIONS DESIGNED FOR SAFE OPERATION, CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE, & LONG‑TERM RELIABILITY.

    Direct-Fired Heater Electric Heaters Process Heater Equipment and Services Back to all Products

    What is an Indirect-Fired Heater?

    ZEECO indirect-fired heaters use an intermediate bath medium—such as water, eutectic salt, or hot oil—to immerse and separate the process coil from the firebox. This design ensures the process coil is totally isolated from direct flame and combustion products, preventing flame impingement while providing controlled, uniform heat transfer to the process stream.

    ZEECO indirect-fired heaters apply a proven design concept that has been utilized for nearly 100 years with modern combustion, insulation, and control technologies. 

     

    How it Works

    Inside the heater, the firebox transfers heat into the surrounding bath medium. The heated bath then transfers energy to the process coil, providing steady, uniform heating. Because the process coil is completely isolated from the firebox and combustion gases, the design:

    • Eliminates potential flame impingement
    • Prevents thermo‑degradation and scaling by maintaining a controlled intermediate bath temperature
    • Ensures consistent heat input without direct combustion contact

    This bath‑based heat transfer method delivers predictable performance and enhanced reliability while protecting the process fluid and coil integrity.

     

    Zeeco_DPH_Indirect-Fired Heater Rendering

    Key Features

      • Capable of achieving high Net Thermal Efficiency (NTE)
      • Low-emission burner packages and electric bundles are available to meet environmental requirements
      • 3:1 turndown ratio with natural draft burners, with optional forced draft burner systems to enhance turndown capability
      • Performance range from 0.1 to 15 MMBtu/hr
      • Supports gaseous fuel, liquid fuel (distillate to #6 oil), combination gas and oil, and low BTU fuel supplemented with fuel blending
      • Design eliminates potential flame impingement
      • Standard PLC-based Burner Management System (BMS) and fuel train included, with customizable BMS options available
      • External lightweight ceramic fiber or fiberglass insulation allows for high resistance to mechanical and thermal shock
    Zeeco_DPH_Indirect-Fired-Heater

    Why Choose Zeeco?

    Zeeco combines industry‑leading combustion expertise with the proven Devco Process Heaters design to deliver safe, uniform, and reliable indirect heating without direct flame contact. With nearly a century of established performance enhanced by modern low‑emission burner options, efficient thermal designs, and integrated burner management systems, Zeeco provides an optimized solution tailored to your process and environmental requirements. Our global engineering presence and in‑house manufacturing ensure consistent quality, smooth project execution, and long‑term operational reliability.

    Services we offer

    MARKETS WE SERVE

    Zeeco can provide combustion and emissions control solutions wherever hydrocarbon processing takes place. Customers can find our equipment and services in upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and energy processes.

    We also offer products and support for other industries and applications such as tank/terminal loading and storage, pharmaceutical, carbon black, pulp & paper, steel, food processing, and more.

    Power & Steam LNG Marine & Offshore Other Industries

    Resources