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A pipeline heater comprising a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about a section of pipe in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration, the diameter of the pipe section being greater than the diameters of the heater inlet and outlet manifolds in order to increase the residenc

A pipeline heater comprising a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about a section of pipe in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration, the diameter of the pipe section being greater than the diameters of the heater inlet and outlet manifolds in order to increase the residence time of the fluid within the heater. The pipeline heater may comprise a single or multiple passes of the pipe section therethrough, each pass having a plurality of catalytic emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration.

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I claim: 1. A pipeline heater comprising: an inlet manifold presenting a diameter D1; a pipe section fluidly coupled with said inlet manifold and presenting a diameter D2; a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about said pipe section in a substantially diamond-shaped configurati

I claim: 1. A pipeline heater comprising: an inlet manifold presenting a diameter D1; a pipe section fluidly coupled with said inlet manifold and presenting a diameter D2; a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about said pipe section in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration; and an outlet manifold fluidly coupled with said pipe section and presenting a diameter D3, D2 being greater than each of D1 and D 3, said pipe section and said emitters being fixedly secured within a housing. 2. The heater of claim 1, D1 and D3 being approximately equal. 3. The heater of claim 2, D2 being at least about 50% greater than each of D1 and D3. 4. The heater of claim 1, said pipe section being located entirely within said housing. 5. The heater of claim 1, at least a portion of said inlet and outlet manifolds being located within said housing. 6. The heater of claim 1, said housing being constructed of a reflective material. 7. The heater of claim 6, at least a portion of said housing being formed of stainless steel. 8. The heater of claim 1, said housing comprising a venting hood for venting of exhaust gases produced by said catalytic emitters from said housing. 9. The heater of claim 1, said heater comprising a plurality of pipe sections, each of said pipe sections having a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration. 10. A pipeline heater comprising: an inlet manifold presenting a diameter D1; a pipe section fluidly coupled with said inlet manifold and presenting a diameter D2; a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about said pipe section; and an outlet manifold fluidly coupled with said pipe section and presenting a diameter D3, D2 being greater than each of D1 and D 3, said pipe section and said emitters being fixedly secured within a housing. 11. The heater of claim 10, D1 and D3 being approximately equal. 12. The heater of claim 11, D2 being at least about 50% greater than each of D1 and D3. 13. The heater of claim 10, said pipe section being located entirely within said housing. 14. The heater of claim 10, at least a portion of said inlet and outlet manifolds being located within said housing. 15. The heater of claim 10, said housing being constructed of a reflective material. 16. The heater of claim 15, at least a portion of said housing being formed of stainless steel. 17. The heater of claim 10, said housing comprising a venting hood for venting of exhaust gases produced by said catalytic emitters from said housing. 18. The heater of claim 10, said heater comprising a plurality of pipe sections, each of said pipe sections having a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration. 19. A method of heating a fluid stream comprising the steps of: providing a heater including--an inlet manifold presenting a diameter D1; a pipe section presenting a diameter D2; a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about said pipe section in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration; and an outlet manifold presenting a diameter D3; and passing said stream through said heater. 20. The method of claim 19, said heater comprising a plurality of pipe sections, each of said pipe sections having a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration. 21. The method of claim 19, D2 being greater than each of D1 and D3. 22. The method of claim 19, D1 and D3 being approximately equal. 23. The method of claim 22, D2 being at least about 50% greater than each of D1 and D3. 24. A method of heating a fluid stream comprising the steps of: providing a heater including--an inlet manifold presenting a diameter D1; a pipe section presenting a diameter D2; a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about said pipe section; and an outlet manifold presenting a diameter D3, D2 being greater than each of D1 and D 3; and passing said stream through said heater. 25. The method of claim 24, said heater comprising a plurality of pipe sections, each of said pipe sections having a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration. 26. The method of claim 24, D1 and D3 being approximately equal. 27. The method of claim 26, D2 being at least about 50% greater than each of D1 and D3.