The Importance of Trace Heating and its Uses

The regulation of temperature is a challenge for most industrial processes. Both hot and cold weather can be a hindrance to keeping the contents of vessels, tanks, and pipes at optimum levels for operations. This is where trace heating and industrial coatings can help.

What is trace heating?

Trace heating is a system of using electric cables to keep pipes and tanks at optimum temperatures. It can help prevent freezing during extreme winter conditions. It is used to preserve temperatures or make up for any loss of heat in storage vessels or pipes. Even in conditions where freezing is not a concern, trace heating is one of the best ways to maintain proper processing or operating temperatures in piping systems and vessels.

What is trace heating used for?

Trace heating is a cost-efficient solution for temperature control and freeze protection. It can be found in applications across industries, from industrial facilities to offices, hospitals, schools, and more.

· Freeze protection: Pipes and vessels that are situated in external conditions or external façades are susceptible to freezing, leading to ruptures, among many other issues. Trace heating helps warm the piping system, preventing the fluid from freezing over, and so prevents structural damage.

· Conserves water temperature: It helps conserve the temperature of circulating warm water, therefore, preventing heat loss and preserving energy.

· Prevent bacteria from forming in hot water pipes: Legionella bacteria can be found in water and can increase in temperatures between 20–45 degrees if nutrients are available. It is inactive in temperatures below 20 degrees and above 60 degrees. By maintaining the temperatures in pipes to 55 degrees and above, trace heating can prevent Legionella bacteria from surviving and thriving.

· Prevents firefighting sprinklers from getting frozen: Firefighting sprinklers literally save lives and properties. If the sprinkler system fails due to getting frozen over, it can be disastrous and fatal. Here too, trace heating is critical in preventing this from happening.

· Flexible in applications: Trace heating is highly flexible in its range of applications and can be found in many industries such as gas, transport, food, oil, beverage, pharmaceutical, and water treatment centres. At commercial and residential levels too, trace heating can be found and plays an important role. The role of trace heating in all its applications revolves around temperature maintenance and freeze protection. When it comes to industrial applications, in particular, trace heating is used in tandem with industrial coatings for protection, such as temperature protection for water storage units at residential, commercial, or industrial levels.

What are the applications of trace heating?

There is a wide range of applications for trace heating, which includes both industrial as well as residential or commercial applications, such as applications in

· Pipelines

· Storage vessels and tanks

· Silos

· Valves

· Food processing

· Petrochemical plants

· Refineries

· Water and waste treatment plants

· Power generation

· Oil and gas production facilities

· Underfloor heating

· Roof and gutter heating

· Maintenance of temperature for hot water distribution pipes

· Freeze protection for residential or commercial tanks and pipes

· Firefighting sprinkler systems