If you work in process industries like oil and gas or chemical/petrochemical, you know that a thermowell is a critical component that can help ensure the safe operation of your systems. That's because it is the thermowell's job to protect the temperature monitoring instruments from system pressure, high-velocity flow and corrosive media. However, keep in mind that selecting the wrong thermowell to do the job can have negative consequences that will put the safety of your process and your people at serious risk. Ashcroft has been in the temperature measurement business for decades. As the firm's temperature product manager, I know that flanged thermowells are typically the preferred choice for these applications because of their design and cost. In reality, though, even when the cost feels prohibitive, there are certain situations where a Vortex Thermowell may be your only option. In this article, you will learn about the forces that can make a thermowell fail and the factors to consider when determining whether the Vortex Thermowell is worth the added expense. You will also get links to additional resources related to this topic that may be of interest to you.

A thermowell is a device designed to protect temperature monitoring instruments from the damaging effects of corrosive media, high pressure and velocity in industrial applications. Without the protection of a thermowell, temperature instruments can become inoperable, putting your whole operation at risk. Ashcroft is a global leader in temperature measurement instrumentation. We created this article as part of our Understanding the Basics series to provide a foundation of information about thermowells. If you are an industry novice or just want a refresher on how thermowells work, this is a great place to start. In this article, you will discover where thermowells are used, learn about the different types of thermowells, see how they connect to the process piping and more. When you are done reading, you will also find additional resources that may interest you.

Thermowells are used to protect your temperature measurement instruments from the elements, which means they are often exposed to extreme environments and temperatures. Protecting the thermowell can help keep your temperature instruments safe and your application running. But how do you protect an instrument that’s designed to protect other instruments?