Thermowell Installation

Installation Guidelines for C&I
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Installation of Thermowell
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General Guidelines on Installation of Thermowell

Always install the thermowell where there is a fast movement of gas
or liquid. (The effect of film around the TW will reduce the speed
response of the system)
The thermowell shall be located as close as possible to the place
where the temperature is desired and when the steam and water are
mixed directly, thermowell must be far enough from the point of the
mixing to ensure that the temperature measurement is based on the
complete mixing.
If the pipe is wrapped with insulation, a thermowell with sufficient
extension length shall be used.
The following points shall be considered while installing the TW:
a)
Immersion length.
b)
Type of mounting (elbow, perpendicular or angle).
c)
Height from floor for maintenance.
d)
Clearance above the thermowell assembly for maintenance.
Typical installation of thermowell is shown in the figure.

TW assembly shall be mounted such that it is accessible without
ladder or scaffold.
If a Dial thermometer is to be installed, the
operator should be able to see it, should be easily accessible and
easily removable for maintenance and calibration purpose.
All thermowells are mounted in three methods:
a)
Perpendicular to the pipe.
b)
In a pipe elbow.
c)
At 45 deg. angle to the pipe.
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Of the above three methods, elbow mounting is the most popular

because it can accommodate almost total immersion length, if
necessary. In elbow mounting, the thermowell protrudes into the
exact center line of the pipe and the thermowell will be in the
direction flow area of the pipe.
The perpendicular mounting will be more restrictive for a given size
because the thermowell must not touch the far wall of the pipe.
If the pipe is not enough to accommodate perpendicular thermowell
an angle mounting can solve the problem. An angle mount usually
provides an additional space for the thermowell.
If the OD of the pipes are between 3 to 6, it is slightly more difficult
to install the thermowell.
To mount a thermowell, a small enlarged section can be fabricated as
shown in the figure. This enlarged section and thermowell mounting
will depend upon the immersion length required for the thermowell.
Table 1 shows the minimum and the maximum immersion length at
a given pipe size can accommodate for each type of thermowell. This
is as per the recommendation given by M/s. MINCO PRODUCT INC.
USA.
A thermowell can break as a result of high flow velocity, excessive
pipe vibration or corrosion that weakens the thermowell. In order to
overcome the above, tapered shank cantilever type thermowells are
used for most process applications because they provide more
strength and resistance to vibration than straight-shaft designs.
Its strength to weight ratio gives a TW a higher natural frequency,
enabling it to withstand high flow velocities and survive corrosion
wear.
Table 2 shows maximum steam flow velocity for thermowells as per
the recommendation of MINCO CWC PRODUCT INC. USA.
Normally, the thermowells are made out of stainless steel from bar
stock, of stainless 304 or 316 which is acceptable for most corrosive
and high temperature and high pressure medium.
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When the temperature of the gas or air is quite likely to be different

from that of the wall of the container, the sensing elements will be
influenced by the wall temperature.
Therefore, the unit will be
protected against false sensing by placing a shield between the
temperature sensing element and the wall.
To increase the responses and speed of the sensing element in a
thermowell, it should be ensured that the sensor ends is at the
bottom of thermowell.
Aluminium powder, mercury or oil may be used to speed up the heat
transfer. The liquid should not react with either the bulb or the well.
It should be ensured that the maximum temperature of the process is
below the boiling point of the liquid and the minimum temperature is
above the freezing point.
If high pressure gas, such as hydrogen is used in the process, it may
penetrate the well or the bulb or the sensor. To avoid penetration of
the bulb, drill a small hole on the well to led the hydrogen escaped
from the well.
A low pressure infusion rate into the bulb will be negligible.
In a larger sized diameter pipe, a temperature reading may be
erroneous because the liquid does not, all the time, cover the
thermowell to a proper depth when there is a variable level in a pipe,
located to thermowell so that it will all the time have a necessary
amount of surface in contact with moving liquid.
When installing a capillary
precautions to be observed:
type
thermometer,
the
following
a)
Handle the thermometer tubing and bulb with care. Do not

twist kink or stress tubing. Do not bend it unduly. Never cut
tubing, or disconnect it from the bulb or case. Do not use
the butting to support the instruments.
b)
Uncoil the tubing carefully to kinking it.
c)
Use atleast a 3 radius for all bends.
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d)
Protect the tubing from mechanical damage by crushing,

abrasion, strain or movement.
e)
Support the tubing every 2 feet if attached to a well or pipe.
f)
Tubing should never be attached to a heated pipe.
g)
Clause I & Clause II systems must be installed to avoid

extremes of temperature caused by hot or cold pipes, ovens,
chimneys, airducts, open windows or direct sunlight.
h)
Coil in excess tubing in an 8 to 10 coil near the instruments

and tape in place. Do not cut off the excess tubing.
In an oven or furnace, the temperature of air vary from point to point

and it is necessary to determine the desired location of this
temperature and the thermowell should be kept away from heating or
cooling coil, extreme top and bottom of oven, etc. Unless these are
desired points.
If the process temperature continue to rise slow and if the
instruments are in perfect condition, entrained air or gas might have
formed around the thermowell, the film, of air or gas act as an
insulation.
When the volume becomes bigger the temperature
difference may also increase. The formation of any scale or counting
may also increase the difference.
The TW should be located at a point of highest velocity in a liquid or
gas.
If the thermometer response is sluggish or showing slow deviation,
probably the sludge on the bulb, the remedy is to clean the bulb.
A thermometer, if used with TW always slow down the rate response,
Unless the situation absolutely requires, TW should not be installed as
indicated in general guideline on installation of temperature
instruments.
CONECTING STR
REMOVAL SPACE
CONECTING HEAD--,.
CONECTING WIRES
THERMOCOPLE
RTD SENSOR
PIPING EXTENSION
THERMOWELL
PIPE INSULATION
TYPICAL THERMOWELL INSTALLATION

PS-SR
TABLEliiAMERSION LENGTHS FOR THERMOWELL MOUNTING METHODS
y
'fl
:::>
,y-
)
PERPENDICULAR
MOUNT
PIPE
SIZE
(IN)
3
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
MIN
U-INT
MAX
U-IN
3++ 3.5++
3++
4++
4
6
4
8
4
8
5
9
5
10
5
10
6
10
6
10
6
12
6
12
ELBOW
MOUNT
:::>
ANGLE
MOUNT
MIN
U-INT
MAX
U-IN
5
5
5
5
6
6
8
12
12
12
12
12
10+
10+
12+
14+
14+
14+
16+
16+
16+
16+
18+
18+
MIN
U-IN
MAX
U-IN
4++
4++
5
6
6
6
8
8
8
8
B
5++
5++
6
18
10
12
12
12
14
14
16
16
TABLE:2 MAXIMUM STEAM FLOW VELOCITIES FOR THERMOWELLS.
U - IN
(INCHES)
PS-SR
2.5
3.0
4.5
6.0
7.5
TITLE:
MAX. FLOW U - IN
VELOCI1Y
(INCHES)
(FPS)
490
309
228
156
83
10.5
13.5
16.0
19.5
22.5
MAX. FLOW
VELOCI1Y
(FPS)
42
26
17
12
9
1" NPT
THREADS
(A)
PERPENDICULAR
MOUNT
{C)
ELBOW
MOUNT
(APSTRACT FROM MINCO PRODUCTS INC)

PS-SR
ANGLE
MOUNT
DIFFERENT TYPE OF THERMOWELL ADAPTOR

WELDING

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Installation Guidelines for C&I

General Guidelines on Installation of Thermowell

Type of mounting (elbow, perpendicular or angle).

Height from floor for maintenance.

Clearance above the thermowell assembly for maintenance.

Typical installation of thermowell is shown in the figure.

Perpendicular to the pipe.

At 45 deg. angle to the pipe.

Of the above three methods, elbow mounting is the most popular

When the temperature of the gas or air is quite likely to be different

Handle the thermometer tubing and bulb with care. Do not

Uncoil the tubing carefully to kinking it.

Use atleast a 3 radius for all bends.

Protect the tubing from mechanical damage by crushing,

Support the tubing every 2 feet if attached to a well or pipe.

Tubing should never be attached to a heated pipe.

Clause I & Clause II systems must be installed to avoid

Coil in excess tubing in an 8 to 10 coil near the instruments

In an oven or furnace, the temperature of air vary from point to point

TYPICAL THERMOWELL INSTALLATION

TABLEliiAMERSION LENGTHS FOR THERMOWELL MOUNTING METHODS

TABLE:2 MAXIMUM STEAM FLOW VELOCITIES FOR THERMOWELLS.

(APSTRACT FROM MINCO PRODUCTS INC)

DIFFERENT TYPE OF THERMOWELL ADAPTOR

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