Trace Heating Applications

Frost ProtectionWhen is frost protection trace heating required?

Every pipe and vessel will experience heat loss when its temperature is greater than the surrounding ambient temperature.

When subjected to low ambient or freezing temperatures this heat loss can cause the contents to crystallise and freeze. 

For example, most water pipes are located either outside or in unheated internal area, where in winter months the ambient temperature may drop below its freezing point. When water freezes, it expands and this expansion can cause a lot of problems to the pipework.

Typical applications for trace heating frost protection include:

♦ Freeze protection heating cable to water pipework - both external and unheated internal areas♦ Trace heating of building services pipework♦ Fire sprinkler pipe frost protection♦ Surface heating to vessels and tanks

Why install trace heating frost protection cable?

If the contents of a pipe is allowed to crystallise and freeze this can cause the pipework to burst, leading to considerable damage, disruption and expense.

Thermal insulation reduces the rate of heat loss but does not eliminate it. In order to minimise the effects of heat loss, frost protection trace heating is used to supply a heat source to replace this heat loss and therefore maintain the pipe temperature.

Typically in pipe frost protection, an air sensing trace heating thermostat is used to sense the ambient air temperature. This energises the freeze protection heating cable when the temperature gets below a set point - usually around +3°C to +5°C.

Process Temperature Maintenance

When is process temperature maintenance trace heating required?

Many products need to maintain a specified temperature in order to remain in a liquid state for processing. This temperature is usually far above the temperature of the surrounding air.

When pipework is subjected to low ambient temperatures or under no flow conditions, heat loss can cause the contents viscosity to increase. This may lead to the material solidifying or setting within the pipework, either slowing down the process or causing problems to pumping equipment.

Industrial applications for trace heating include:

Food processing factories Chemical industries Oil refineries Power stations

Why install trace heating for process temperature maintenance?

Electric trace heating tapes are vital in ensuring that process temperatures of pipes and vessels are maintained to allow for smooth and efficient running of process plant equipment.

To minimise the effects of heat loss, trace heating is used in conjunction with thermal insulation to supply a heat source to replace this heat loss and therefore maintain the pipe temperature. Typically a pipe sensing trace heating thermostat is used to sense the pipe temperature and energise the heating system when required.

By utilising the correct type of temperature maintenance heating cable, thermal insulation and temperature control, process pipework will operate efficiently for many years.

Hot Water Temperature MaintenanceWhen is hot water temperature maintenance trace heating required?

Hot water temperature maintenance trace heating ensures hot water at the point of use, whilst reducing power consumption and water wastage, as well as offering the option to disinfect periodically against Legionella.

The temperature of hot water cools rapidly when subjected to lower ambient temperatures and under no-flow conditions.  By installing hot water temperature maintenance trace heating, under thermal insulation, the hot water in the pipework can be maintained above its minimum required temperature (usually +55°C or +65°C) in a predetermined minimum ambient temperature (usually +18°C).

Why install hot water maintenance trace heating?

Today's market is calling out for more cost efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. This has never been more true than in hot water supply and distribution where energy consumption is a significant proportion of a building energy usage.

The combination of hot water maintenance trace heating and the correct thermal insulation will:

Reduce the amount of pipework required to supply the hot water by removing the need for the 'return' part of a flow and return system

Remove the need to 'heat' and then 're-heat' the water as required by a flow and return system. Reducing the power needed to heat raise the water

Reduce the amount of water wasted whilst waiting for the hot water to reach the outlet

Allow for periodic purging of the hot water pipework system to protect against Legionella

Hazardous Area Trace Heating

Hazardous Area location is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or dusts occur. Electrical equipment that must be installed in such locations is specifically designed and tested to ensure it does not initiate an explosion, due to arcing contacts or high surface temperature of equipment.

ESH Trace Heating Ltd manufacture and supply electric trace heating solutions for use in:

♦ Zone I Hazardous Areas - an area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation.

♦ Zone II Hazardous Areas - an area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation and, if it occurs, will only exist for a short time.

Ideally all heat trace systems should be designed to be stabilised systems. A stabilised system is where the power loading of the trace heating tape is such that under conditions of no temperature control i.e. thermostat failure, the sheath temperature of the heating tape cannot exceed the 'T' classification.

Where stabilised designs cannot be achieved it is necessary to employ an over-ride thermostat with lockout and alarm facility to prevent the 'T' classification being exceeded.

NOTE: Non-stabilised designs may lead to operational problems as the over-ride thermostat may prevent the electric trace heating system delivering the required heat output (kWhr) under low ambient temperature conditions. It is therefore essential that the thermal design characteristics of the system are carefully evaluated.

If you have a specific design requirement or would like any advice on your present or future electric trace heating and surface heating requirements, please don't hesitate to contact ESH Trace Heating Ltd.

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