Watlow Freeflex User manual

FREEFLEX
®
Assures Reliable,
Efficient Heating and
Transport of Liquids
and Gases
Watlow’s miniature heated polymeric tubing assemblies
provide a flexible heat-up and transport system for moving
fluids in tubing as small as 1⁄32 inch (0.792 mm) inside
diameter. FREEFLEX®heats fluids up to 100˚C (212˚F) and
maintains temperature during transfer from a reservoir to a
point of use. In some applications, the tubing can actually
serve as the reservoir for limited volumes of fluid, helping to
reduce start-up times. For higher temperatures consult the
factory.
Watlow’s innovative design places the heating element and
sensor directly in contact with the perimeter of the tubing to
produce efficient, responsive heating and temperature control
of the tube contents. The element is evenly wound to ensure
reliable, close contact for uniform heating along a portion or
the entire length of the line. A flexible, durable jacket covers
the wound element and lets the tubing flex and move in a
dynamic system. This allows for fluid delivery to multiple
locations from a single supply source. In stationary
applications, the FREEFLEX heated tubing is conveniently
routed through available space or around other system
components. This saves space and provides for an
uncomplicated retrofit in existing systems.
The superior construction employs an efficient heating
element design with the ability to incorporate optional
thermocouple, thermistor or RTD temperature sensors into
the thermal package. Users can select leads to exit one or
both ends of the assembly. Typical standard Teflon®tubing
comes in 1⁄32-, 1
⁄16-, 1 ⁄8-or 3 ⁄16-inch (0.792, 1.59, 3.18, 4.76 mm)
inside diameters,although other sizes and materials
are available.
Features and Benefits
Flexible heat-up and transport system
•Eliminates the need for heated reservoir systems in
many applications
Heating element directlycontacts tubing
•Provides fast, efficient more responsive heating
Three configurations available
•FREEFLEX design - allows tubing to flex, coil or bend
around system components
•Pre-formed design - allows longer tube length in
smaller volume
•Molded design - provides a compact heating assembly
for easy installation
Integral sensors
•Maintains close control of heater and fluid temperatures
Low voltage design
•Promotes safety
Miniature sizes as small as 1⁄32 inch(0.792 mm) inside
diameter
•Transports and heats fluids in even the smallest spaces
Convenient retrofit
•Allows for routing flexible tubing around system
components and using existing control system
UL®recognition
•Available on qualified designs by request
© 2007 Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
2101 Pennsylvania Drive
Columbia, Missouri 65202 USA
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Internet: www.watlow.com
e-mail: [e-mail]
COL-FFLX-0505
Applications
•Medical: automated clinical analyzers, tissue processing
equipment
•Analytical: sample preheating for LC and HPLC systems,
breathalyzers
•Semiconductor processing: wafer drying equipment,
DI water heating
•Printing: ink jet printers, rapid prototyping systems,
photolithography
•General Process: wax/paraffin processing and
non-combustible gas heating
•Water purification systems
•Precision cleaning equipment
•Aerospace
•Military
Teflon®is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company.
UL®is a registered trademark of Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc.

Quote and Ordering Information
For a quote, please request, fill out and return a FREEFLEX
application data sheet.
To order, please specify:
Fluid Type
Inlet Temperature
Outlet Temperature
Flow Rate
Voltage - Typically less than 36 volts
Watts/ft - See chart below for typical values
Maximum Allowable Outside Surface Temperature
Tube Size
•1⁄32 in. (0.792 mm) I.D. x 1⁄16 in. (1.59 mm) O.D.
•1⁄16 in. (1.59 mm) I.D. x 1⁄8in. (3.18 mm) O.D.
•1⁄8in. (3.18 mm) I.D. x 3⁄16 in. (4.76 mm) O.D.
•3⁄16 in. (4.76 mm) I.D. x 1⁄4in. (6.35 mm) O.D.
•Other (specify size)
Tube Material
•Teflon®(standard)
•Silicone rubber
•Others upon request
Tube Length - 12 to 120 in. (305 to 3048 mm) typical
•Total
•Heated
•Unheated (specify)
Tube Fittings
• No fittings (1 in. (25 mm) bare tubing at each end)
•Other (specify)
Tube Flexing
•Static (to route around components in system)
•Dynamic (subject to more continuous flexing)
•Occasional, frequent or continuous
Note: Minimum recommended flexing radius
•
1⁄32
in. (0.792 mm) I.D. x
1⁄16
in. (1.59 mm) O.D. Teflon®1in. (25 mm)
•
1⁄16
in. (1.59 mm) I.D. x
1⁄8
in. (3.18 mm) O.D. Teflon®1
1⁄2
in. (38 mm)
•
1⁄8
in. ( 3.18 mm )I.D. x
3⁄16
in. (4.76 mm) O.D. Teflon®2in. (51 mm)
•
3⁄16
in. ( 4.76 mm )I.D. x
1⁄4
in. (6.35 mm) O.D. Teflon®3in. (76 mm)
Heater Leads
•One at each end
•Both at one end
•Standard lead insulation (UL®Style 1180 white Teflon®)
•Other insulation (specify)
Heater Lead Length
•Standard 12 in. (305 mm) w/customer end stripped/tinned
1⁄2in. (13 mm)
•Other (specify)
Heater Lead Exit Direction
•Inboard/outboard
Temperature Sensor
•Standard thermocouple (#30 AWG Teflon®-Type J)
•Thermistor (specify) 10KΩat 25˚C (72˚F) standard
•Other temperature sensors size/types (specify)
•Sense heater element or tube temperature
Sensor Lead Exit Direction
•Inboard/outboard
Temperature Sensor Lead Length
•Standard 12 in. (305 mm)
•Other (specify)
W/ft W/m O.D. Temperature
°C (°F) (Ambient)
0 0 21 (70)
5 1.5 60 (140)
10 3.0 99 (210)
15 4.6 129 (265)
20 6.1 154 (310)
25 7.6 171 (340)
O.D. Temperature vs. Watts/Meter
O.D. Temperature (˚F)
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
00510 15 20 25 30
O.D. Temperature vs. Watts/Foot
177
149
121
93
66
38
10
1.5 3.0 4.6 6.1 7.6
O.D. Temperature (˚C)
O.D. Temperature vs. Watts/Unit Length
Dry Tube - No Flow
Water Temperature Rise/Foot vs. Flow Rate vs. Watt Density (
1
/
16
in. (1.59 mm) I.D. Tube)
Flow Rate of Water (mL/Minute)
Water Temperature Rise
(˚F/Foot)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
164
146
128
109
91
73
55
36
18
0
Water Temperature Rise
(˚C/Meter)
50.0
37.5
25.0
12.5
W/ft
164
123
82
41
W/m
Water Temperature Rise °F/Foot
FlowRate (mL/minute)
W/ft 10 30 50 100
50.0 82 29 19 10
37.5 64 22 14 7
25.0 41 16 10 5
12.5 22 8 5 3
Water Temperature Rise °C/Meter
Flow Rate (mL/minute)
W/m 10 30 50 100
164 149 52 35 18
123 116 40 26 13
82 75 29 18 9
41 40 15 9 5
Water Temperature Rise/Length Versus Flow Rate Versus Watt Density
FREEFLEX Outside Diameter Temperature Versus Watts/Length
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