Electrical Heat Tracing System Applications

Freeze Protection

One of the most common applications for electric heat trace products is to ensure the prevention of freezing of pipes. The main purpose of a freeze-protection system is to prevent fluids such as process water, drain water and fire water lines (sprinkler systems) from freezing in pipes. When temperatures drop below freezing, it’s too late to plan for emergencies. Businesses need to get ahead of temperature problems by preparing for cold weather. Electric heat tracing systems keep non-flowing water in pipes, pumps and associated equipment from freezing by replacing the heat lost through the thermal insulation. Dpstar pipe heat trace systems are energy efficient, reliable and performant.

Typical applications include:

• Water supply and drain lines
• Firefighting and sprinkler systems
• Safety showers and eye-washers
• Comprehensive Technology

Pipeline Temperature Maintenance

Electric heat tracing is commonly used to ensure that process, fluid, or material temperatures within pipes and piping systems are maintained above ambient temperatures during static flow conditions along with providing supplemental freeze protection in certain applications. Electric heat tracing systems replace heat loss in a pipe anywhere throughout an industrial process. Pipe tracing is critical for temperature maintenance in pipes that are expected to have stagnant fluids for extended periods of time. The ability to maintain liquids within a specified temperature for prolonged intervals helps keep operations at the greatest productivity level.

Typical applications include:

• Fuel oil, asphalt, sulphur, waxes, hydraulics
• Caustic soda, acids, polymers, sensitive chemicals
• Vegetable oils, biodiesel, fat, syrup, chocolate

Tank Heating System

Heat tracing is applied to tanks and vessels to ensure that products are stored at the correct temperature. Usually the system is designed to compensate for losses through the thermal insulation although there are some cases where there is a positive heat input to raise the temperature of the vessel under defined conditions. The thermal insulation is the first line of defense against unknown, and often unquantifiable, losses from a bare surface. Heat trace cables maintain temperature of non-flowing fluids by replacing the heat lost through thermal insulation on vessels or tanks. Dpstar industrial tank heating solutions store industrial liquids at the right temperature and minimize energy consumption, no matter the maintain temperature requirements, whether in small, medium or large-volume storage tanks and vessels.  Safety, reliability and energy efficiency guaranteed.

Typical tank heating applications include:

• Freeze protection of low/medium viscosity fluids (e.g. water, ammonia)
• Maintain temperature of medium/high viscosity fluids (e.g. oils, phenol, resins, molten salt)

Long Pipeline Heating

Long lines are usually transfer fluids between processing plants or to storage or transportation facilities. Tank farms, piers for ocean transport vessels, and pipes between petrochemical facilities are other examples of applications for which long line heat tracing may be used. When liquids inside a pipeline become too viscous and begin to solidify, operations could come to a stop. To maintain a consistent flow of temperature sensitive fluids by pipeline, it is important to consider a solution that combines the proper heating system to provide real-time performance updates on the pipelines’ operational performance. Long pipeline heating is necessary for pipe viscosity control and temperature maintenance of transfer lines between processing plants, storage tanks and transportation facilities. Longline heat tracing is complex, requiring long electrical circuit lengths 25km – usually with a single electrical power point – balanced temperature distribution profiles, high power and resistance to extreme environmental conditions and long operational life cycle requirements.

Typical applications include:

• Heavy / waxy fuel oils, VGO, bitumen, asphalt, Sulfur
• Crude Oil