Print this page Heat Tracing Systems
A. Bhatia, B.E.
Course Outline
The purpose of heat tracing is to compensate or balance loss of heat to the surrounding atmosphere. Some applications for heat tracing include; keeping water from freezing in low ambient temperature climates, maintaining process fluids at pumpable viscosities, preventing formation of hydrates and waxes in hydrocarbon liquids (oil, etc) and to make up for heat lost due to insulation limitations on a piece of process equipment such as a holding tank. Also, heat trace sometimes is used to preheat part of a fluid system prior to initial startup or after a primary heating system shutdown.
This 4 hours online course presents an overview of heat tracing systems and describes the criteria for selection.This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Understand what is heat tracing;
- Understand the applications where heat tracing is required;
- Understand the different types of heat tracing systems – electric, steam, hot water;
- Understand the advantages and limitations of – constant watt, parallel circuit, self regulating and skin type heating;
- Learn the control techniques – ambient air sensing or line control for optimum energy efficiency;
- Understand the power supply, protection and safety devices;
- Learn about the various codes and standards governing the design and installation of electric heat tracing;
- Understand three types of steam heat tracing systems – external tube tracers, cemented tracers and fully jacketed pipe;
- Understand do’s and don’ts of steam tracing;
- Learn step-by-step approach for estimating the heat loss and selection of an electric heat tracing system;
- Learn the key factors affecting the selection of heat tracing systems; and
- Learn the factors favoring and against the application of electric and steam heat tracing systems.
Intended Audience
This course is applicable to mechanical, electrical and process engineers, operations & maintenance personnel, as well as consultants and contractors who construct, build and manage facilities.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendees of this course will help you understand the applications where the heat tracing is mandatory and learn two important techniques for freeze protection.
Course Introduction
The purpose of heat tracing is to compensate or balance loss of heat to the surrounding atmosphere. The heat tracing is generally accomplished by employing electric tracing, or steam tracing and insulating both the process fluid pipe and the tracer together, using appropriate insulation materials and metal lagging.
There are many technical issues and considerations which must be addressed in the design of any specific system. It is important to know that there is no one single heat tracing method that is best for every situation. In fact there can be situations where both electric and steam tracing methods may be used to economic advantage in an industrial plant. Heat trace design shall be better left to a qualified heat trace contractor.
This course outlines the pros and cons of both the methods.
Course Content
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Course Summary
The general intent of heat tracing is either tracing for winterization and/or tracing for process maintenance. Winterization tracing is designed to protect the product from freezing and is typically designed to operate when the ambient temperature falls below a certain level — commonly 40°F to 50°F. Heat tracing for process maintenance is commonly used where higher temperatures must be maintained for the purpose of reducing product viscosity and/or preventing wax or hydrates from forming in the product. The design is more complex compared to freeze protection in a way that additional heater circuits and more specialized controls may be needed.
Although heat trace may appear relatively simple, there is a good deal of complexity to both the electric as well the steam tracing application. If the system is undersized, costs due to frozen pipes or high fluid viscosity can be overwhelming. If the system is oversized, money is wasted in the first cost and recurring energy costs every day. Some of the same problems can occur if the heat trace system is not properly controlled.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
