2019 marks 100 years of Wood Group's Foster Wheeler fired heater technology in the refining industry.

The roots of Wood's fired equipment technology dates back to 1903, when Ernest Foster, co-founder of the Power Specialty Company (now part of Wood) invented and patented cast iron 'gill rings' which increased the heat transfer surface area of steam super-heaters.

The company's first refinery application to use this technology was an all-convective heater supplied in 1919, and the technology was quickly adapted for the emerging refining industry. Since then, fired heaters have been critical components of all refineries and petrochemical facilities, and the company continues to design, build, revamp and support them a century later.


Brian McCarthy, vice president of process technology and consulting said: "Wood has unmatched capability in supporting customers with upgrading capacity, improving efficiency and extending the useful life of their existing fired heaters.

"The rich heritage of our fired heaters team is a source of great pride as their development over the last century has helped build today's global refining and petrochemicals industries from their earliest foundations.

"In the changing energy landscape, Wood is pioneering new applications to meet our customers' requirements, including providing aftermarket support and evaluating new technologies aligned with energy transition, as we first did 100 years ago."

Today, Wood's experienced, global fired heater team consists of over 150 specialists, providing technology, innovation and value through full life cycle support, superior designs and efficient equipment. Wood has supplied over 3000 fired heaters in over 70 countries and continues to be a leader in the design and supply of reliable fired heaters.

(MH/JG)