---
title: A Heater With A Thousand Names - Part One
description: Hydroflux heaters (also known as “bath heaters”) have been used in gas plants, pipelines, power plants and other applications.
image: https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/hubfs/hydroflux-indirect-fired-heaters.jpg
---

[![Tulsaheatersmidstream](https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/hs-fs/hubfs/THM-Dec2015/Images/logo.png?width=307&name=logo.png "Tulsaheatersmidstream")](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/)

- [Home](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/)
- [About](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/about-us)
- [Products](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/about-us#) 
    - [SHO Heaters](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/products/sho-heaters)
    - [Auxiliary Equipment](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/products/auxiliary-equipment)
- [Aftermarket](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/aftermarket)
- [Resources](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/about-us#) 
    - [Brochures/Literature](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/resources/brochures-literature)
    - [THM Academy](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/resources/thm-academy)
- [Blog](https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com)
- [Contact](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/contact-us)

# Midstream & More

## built on reputation created to serve

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

<https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/hydroflux-whats-in-a-name>

## [A Heater With A Thousand Names - Part One](https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/hydroflux-whats-in-a-name)

A HEATER WITH A THOUSAND NAMES

If you’ve been in this industry for more than a week, chances are you’ve heard one of these items:

- Bath Heater
- Water Bath Heater
- Line Heater
- Indirect Heater
- Indirect Line Heater
- Indirect Fired Heater
- Firetube Heater
- Process Bath Heater
- Industrial Bath Heater 
- Water Bath Heater
- Natural Gas & Crude Heating
- Dew Point Heater
- Fuel Gas Heater (Pre-Heater)
- Glycol Heater
- Vaporizer
- Superheater

Whatever name you use or have heard for this item of equipment, turn to Tulsa Heaters Midstream.

THM INTRODUCES HYDROFLUX HEATERS

The THM HydroFlux heater line is the high quality solution for customers that desire more than an “off the shelf” product. Before we continue, let’s start with the definition of indirect heater.

> **INDIRECT HEATER:** Equipment commonly used in the oil and gas, power generation, and other industries to elevate the temperature of an isolated, closed-loop process stream (gas or liquid) by heating a bath fluid in a tank by means of firing a burner in a submerged firetube. 

Combining some of the most popular descriptions of indirect heaters over the years one ends up with: *Indirect Fired Water Bath Firetube Process Heater*. The description nor the acronym IFWBFPH rolls off the tongue. 

THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME

Being too specific is a mouthful and proves difficult to remember, thus our conclusion why the name has gone various directions throughout the years. Some names are more popular in different regions and industries and become common lingo.

THE MOST POPULAR NAMES

| Indirect Heater | Bath Heater | Dew Point Heater | Firetube Heater |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Indirect Fired Heater | Industrial Bath Heater | Fuel Gas Heater | Glycol Heater |
| Indirect Firetube Heater | Liquid Bath Heater | Fuel Gas Pre-Heater | Superheater |
| Indirect Line Heater | Process Bath Heater | Immersion Firetube Heater | Vaporizer |
| Indirect Oilfield Heater | Water Bath Heater | Line Heater | [**HydroFlux**](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/products/hydroflux-heaters) |

Each of the names above generally refer to the same type of indirect heater equipment. The API 12K specification was created for oilfield atmospheric heaters filled with water solutions with a removable firetube and process coil. This specification also provides recommended fabrication and design guidelines including heat transfer and structural information.

Other bath fluids are used including TEG, Amine, hot oil, molten salt, but are not covered by API 12K.

 

[![hydroflux-indirect-fired-heaters](https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hydroflux-indirect-fired-heaters.jpg?width=621&name=hydroflux-indirect-fired-heaters.jpg)Photo: HydroFlux Indirect Fired Heater](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/products/hydroflux-heaters)

APPLICATIONS FOR INDIRECT HEATERS

- Natural gas hydrate control (Joule-Thompson)
- Crude oil viscosity and paraffin control
- Crude oil tank heating for RVP control
- Crude oil preheat
- Dew Point Control / Fuel gas heating 
- Heating liquid LPG/LNG for vaporization

To add to the confusion, the heaters are also often used for direct heating. 

APPLICATIONS FOR DIRECT HEATERS

- TEG reboiler for a gas dehydration system
- Amine reboiler for a gas sweetening system

**THE HEATER THAT COVERS IT ALL**

[**HydroFlux**](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/products/hydroflux-heaters) is THM’s product line that covers both indirect and direct systems.

Whatever you call them, give us a [call](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/contact-us)today to discuss your unique application.

[Return](https://blog.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/)

## Keep Up To Date

### Subscribe to Email Updates

### About Tulsa Heaters Midstream

We are a reliable, flexible heater company that specializes in the midstream Gas Processing industry. We work with clients to fulfill all of their heater needs. Whether you need a heater designed from scratch, or you are looking for a more pre-engineered design, we are confident you will be pleased with the results.

### Follow Us

- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulsa-Heaters-Midstream-LLC/1514402435461877)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tulsa-heaters-midstream)

### Contact Us

- info@tulsaheatersmidstream.com
- 918-392-8000
- 1215 South Boulder, Suite 1040  
  Tulsa, OK 74119

Site by [CS](http://www.tulsaheatersmidstream.com/aftermarket)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "VideoObject",
  "contentUrl" : "https://1862999.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/1862999/HydroFlux%20Heater%20Line.mp4",
  "dateModified" : "2022-06-01T15:56:09.739Z",
  "description" : "Brad Irwin with Tulsa Heaters Midstream discussing the innovation of the HydroFlux Heater Line designed in-house.",
  "duration" : "PT58S",
  "height" : 1080,
  "name" : "HydroFlux Heater Line",
  "thumbnailUrl" : "https://api-na2.hubspot.com/filemanager/api/v3/files/thumbnail-redirect/56889303581?portalId=1862999&size=medium",
  "uploadDate" : "2021-10-06T16:36:04.856Z",
  "width" : 1920
}
```