Integrated heater and controller assembly

An assembly for monitoring and controlling the heating of a process in a reservoir, comprising:

• a heater attached to the reservoir;
• a coupling adapter, comprising:
• a first tubular portion attached to the heater,
• a second tubular portion attached to the first tubular portion such that at least a portion of the second tubular is retained inside the first tubular portion;
• at least one locking bolt attaching the second tubular portion to the first tubular portion, the locking bolt inserted through a hole in the first tubular portion;
• a control unit attached to the second tubular portion, the control unit having wires communicating through a pathway in the first and second tubular portions and connecting to the heater;
• and
• a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the process, the temperature sensor electrically connected to the control unit to provide the temperature of the process to the control unit.

An assembly for monitoring and controlling the heating of a process in a reservoir, comprising:

• a heater attached to the reservoir,
• a first conduit attached to the heater;
• a control unit having a housing, a control panel, and control circuitry;
• a second conduit attached to the housing of the control unit, the first conduit rotatably attached to the second conduit;
• and
• a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the process, the temperature sensor electrically connected to the control circuitry of the control unit to provide the temperature to the control circuitry;
• wherein the housing of the control unit has an opening to communicate a plurality of power wires through the first and second conduits, the power wires electrically connected between the heater and the control circuitry of the control unit.

An integrated unit for monitoring and controlling the heating of a process, comprising:

• a heater attached to the reservoir, the heater having heating elements and a thermowell that extend into the process;
• a control unit for controlling power to the heating elements of the heater;
• a temperature sensor mounted within the thermowell of the heater by a thermowell adapter, the temperature sensor capable of measuring a temperature of the process and capable of providing the temperature to the control unit;
• a means for coupling the control unit to the heater wherein the coupling means is capable of radially orienting the control unit with respect to the heater.

A method for monitoring and controlling the heating of a process in a reservoir, the method comprising:

• attaching a first conduit to a control unit so that a plurality of power wires from the control unit extend from an opening in the control unit and into the first conduit;
• attaching a second conduit to a heater so that a plurality of terminals on the heater extend within the second conduit;
• attaching the heater to the reservoir so that a heating element of the heater extends into the process;
• connecting the plurality of power wires from the control unit to the plurality of terminals from the heater;
• inserting one of the first or second conduits into the other conduit;
• orienting the control unit radially with respect to the heater to a selected radial orientation;
• and
• maintaining the selected radial orientation by fastening the first conduit to the second conduit.