Application guide
Compare gas, diesel and electric thermal oil heater cost, ROI assumptions and local utility conditions before selecting a heating system.
Published 2026-07-21 · Updated 2026-09-26
Industrial thermal oil heaters and mold temperature control systems can use different heat sources: electricity, natural gas, LNG or diesel. The lower-cost option depends on the required heat load, local tariff, operating hours, heating efficiency assumption, heat loss, exhaust arrangement and maintenance condition.
This page keeps the energy discussion conditional. It does not claim a universal 30%, 50% or 60% saving. Use the formulas below to make the comparison transparent, then send the result with process data for engineering review.
Default heat values should be replaced with local fuel data when available. Efficiency assumptions should be confirmed by the selected configuration and site condition.
Swipe horizontally to view all specifications.
| Heating option | Hourly energy use formula | Annual cost formula | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas thermal oil heater | Gas m³/h = heat load ÷ gas heat value ÷ gas system efficiency | Gas m³/h × gas price × hours/day × days/year | Gas pressure, burner setup, exhaust temperature and heat recovery affect actual use. |
| Diesel thermal oil heater | Diesel unit/h = heat load ÷ diesel heat value ÷ diesel system efficiency | Diesel unit/h × diesel price × hours/day × days/year | Use the local diesel heat value and unit price; storage and maintenance cost should be included. |
| Electric thermal oil heater | kWh/h = heat load ÷ 860 ÷ electric system efficiency | kWh/h × electricity price × hours/day × days/year | Voltage capacity, demand charge and control strategy can change the real operating cost. |
The calculator compares variable energy use. A procurement decision should also record costs and risks that sit outside the hourly fuel or electricity formula.
For a 200,000 kcal/h class thermal oil heating duty, the website calculator can compare annual cost after you enter local tariffs and operating hours. The output should be treated as an estimate for discussion, not a guaranteed saving.
Swipe horizontally to view all specifications.
| Input | Example value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Heat load | 200,000 kcal/h | Defines the useful heat duty before fuel or electricity is compared. |
| Natural gas heat value | 8,500 kcal/m³ default | Replace with the local gas supplier value where available. |
| System efficiency | Editable assumption | Use the value agreed for the selected configuration and site condition. |
| Operating schedule | Hours/day × days/year | Annual cost difference grows only when the equipment runs enough hours. |
| ROI check | Additional investment ÷ annual operating cost difference | Payback is meaningful only when the cost difference is positive and repeatable. |
Use the result as an early comparison until the heat duty, tariff and operating schedule are supported by project documentation. For a retrofit, prepare recent utility bills, measured production hours, batch or line output, start-up and holding periods, supply and return temperatures, maintenance history and the reason for replacement. For a new line, keep uncertain values visible as assumptions and compare more than one duty or tariff scenario.
Do not calculate payback by comparing different heat duties, by using heater nameplate power as useful heat output, or by applying a headline tariff that excludes demand and fixed charges. A payback period should state the additional investment, annual cost difference, included cost items and sensitivity to the main assumptions.
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Direct inquiry
Submit process data through the website form or contact the sales and engineering team by WhatsApp or phone.
Project-fit review
You do not need a finished equipment specification. Send the known duty, present operating issue or available drawing, and Yigao can identify which inputs are still needed before a model and quotation are confirmed.
A useful first brief can include
