Catalytic heaters are used to heat buildings or outbuilding to protect oil pipe lines from freezing.

Catalytic Heater Operates when the catalyst is preheated with an electrical heating element for a minimum of 15 minutes. The catalyst needs to reach approximately 300°F in order to allow the thermocouple BASO K14 to electrically hold the thermal electric part of the H19, H17, BGX583 series safety valves open allowing gas flow in from the backside of the heater. The newest Model BE58 series valve can be operated in Explosion proof applications where gases could be present in the room. When the gas mixes in with the hot platinum catalyst and oxygen is present from the surrounding air which causes an oxidation reduction reaction. This raises the catalyst temperature to approximately 900°F at the same time releasing water vapor and carbon dioxide.

The ignition of the natural gas is around 1300°F the reaction is flameless and the pre-heat process is turned off. So long as the catalyst is operating and the thermocouple is receiving heat the safety valves will stay open. If the catalyst is lost the pre-heat process needs to start over. On most conventional catalytic heaters re-ignition needs to be done manually on the valve, now with the BASO remote operator BGX583 or the explosion proof BE58 series you can now operated the valve either by a computer system (PLC) or by a switch that is closer to reach instead of going to the valve making it easier to operate and safer if the valves are in higher locations.