Heat Tracing for an Optimized Process Flow

Every process industry is a complex network of pipelines, tanks and valves. A piping system includes heat sinks like valves, supports for the pipes and instruments. Now these heat sinks are always subjected to heat losses, either by residual loss or due to a sufficient difference in the ambient temperature and the temperature of the pipe. There are large variations in temperature from the freezing nights of a winter night to the scorching summer days which leads to a large extent of heat loss. In some cases there can be heat gain too. In either of the cases, whether its heat gain or heat loss, the performance of the system suffers a setback thus affecting the overall result of a process. Insulation alone is not sufficient to control the aforesaid states of a process system or a pipeline. Heat tracing, in this case can maintain the temperature variation in the pipe and the ambient within acceptable limits so that heat loss does not affect the process in turn. In other words, heat tracing is generally applied for the purpose of heat maintenance, frost protection and heat recovery.

Heat tracing engineering when combined with effective insulation designs create an artificial wall which surrounds a process pipeline, container or instrument which can avoid any undesirable effect which can result if they are not maintained or pumped at the correct temperature. An extensive range of heat trace cables are available in the market today which are used for a variety of applications like pipe freeze protection, hot water temperature maintenance and roof and gutter de-icing.

An optimized heat tracing design employed in the system gets the process done cost effectively along with the achievement of the desired results. The heat tracing equipment are so designed as to exhibit the proper "heat up" principle to engage the right amount of power to achieve the desired temperature over a particular distance. An ideal temperature maintenance employed in the design of the electrical heat trace system maintains the desired temperature of the products inside a pipeline, tanks or any type of vessels.

Mineral Insulated Cable or MI cables are among the most advanced heat tracing designs available in the market. The MI cables can be used for high temperature application, at a temperature as high as 800°C. These cables are designed as such they can also tolerate brief period of overheating. The MI cables have good impact resistance and are relatively low in cost per feet. The Zoned Series Resistance Wire cables are an advancement and improvement over the MI cables. They are instrumented so as to overcome some of the pitfalls of the MI cables like non-flexibility and series circuit design. The greatest advantages of these cables are they are parallel in circuit design and also operate on standard voltage.

About Author:

Rolando Teodoro is a regular freelance writer who had his reputation in the heat tracing industry. He had successfully written several articles on heat tracing engineering, heat tracing drawing and heat tracing design. For more information visit at : www.marubeniheattracing.com

Rolando Teodoro is a regular freelance writer who had his reputation in the heat tracing industry.