I received a call from my old employer today.
Years ago I replaced a oil heater in a screw compressor near here. The unit has two heaters installed in 3 or 4 inch block welded into the oil sump.
According to the operator that heater is still operating fine.
However the replacements seem to be overheating and burning out fairly quickly. I have not looked at the machine, but I am told that the replacements have a side clearance of about 1/8 of a inch when installed. (Being retired I will not be seeing the machine)
I do not remember using any heat transfer compound when I installed the heater, nor do I remember if there was excessive clearance. We would have bought the heater from the OEM.
My usual procedure was to use something like a Nickel based Anti-Seize compound.
Removing the functioning heater is not a good plan as it may well break if they try to remove it for identification.
The OEM (McCormack) is no longer in business.
Can someone suggest a heat transfer compound that can be installed in a vertical application?
I actually worked for the OEM at one time, but I do not recall what we used.
I have asked for an Amp reading from the functioning one so we can determine the electrical sizing.