Catalytic Heaters vs Insulation: Which Actually Works #shorts #oilandgas

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]To prevent freezing on your control valves, instrumentation, and sensing lines, should you use an insulated cover or a catalytic heater? It depends on what your main cause of freezing is, ambient freezing temperatures, or the Joule-Thomson effect. If ambient freezing temperatures are the main cause of freezing, insulation can often provide enough heat retention to prevent freezing.

[00:00:20]Fiber glass insulation is common, but limited by moisture absorption, corrosion, compression, safety concerns, and short service life.

[00:00:29]Insulated covers are easy to install, stay lightweight, resist damage, and perform season after season.

[00:00:37]However, if the JT effect from large pressure drops is the cause of the freezing, heat generation is likely your answer rather than insulation.

[00:00:45]Insulation alone will typically not solve this problem, but actually make it worse by insulating the cold inside of the equipment. Like a drink koozie, it'll keep the cold contents cold. You need a catalytic heater to warm up the contents.

[00:01:00]The most effective way to prevent freezing in control equipment caused by the JT effect is the catalytic heater enclosures. These packages direct flameless infrared heat directly at the valve body and surrounding. They don't require a permanent electric supply, but must be manually started with a voltage jump. If the gas in your area is wet or sour, you can use propane instead just by replacing the heater orifice on the enclosure. With no moving parts, the heater will operate indefinitely as long as it has a clean fuel supply.