Why do pipelines need tracer insulation?

　　Pipes freeze and crack frequently in winter, and many people's first reaction is to install an electric heat tracing system. But did you know? There are many alternatives on the market, and some even cost less! Today, from the engineer's point of view, we reveal 3 kinds of ‘cold’ anti-freezing methods, and analyse why most people still choose the electric heat tracing in the end.

　　Option 1: insulation cotton parcel method (low-cost but inefficient)

　　Principle: through the rock wool, rubber and other materials wrapped pipes, reduce heat loss.

　　Advantages: low initial cost (about 10-30 yuan / metre), construction is simple.

　　Fatal flaws:

　　extreme low temperature (<-10 ℃), the insulation layer will condense and absorb water, but to accelerate heat dissipation;

　　need to be replaced regularly, wet environment prone to mould.

　　Applicable scenario: short-term frost protection, temperature higher than -5 ℃ in the southern region.

　　Option 2: Steam Tracing (traditional solution for industrial scenarios)

　　Principle: lay steam pipes next to the pipeline and continuously heat it with hot steam.

　　Advantages: Suitable for large chemical plants, oil refineries and other high temperature demand scenarios.

　　Fatal flaws:

　　Very high energy consumption (annual steam cost of 1km of piping exceeds 500.000 RMB);

　　Risk of scalding and leakage.

　　Applicable scenarios: heavy industrial plants that have steam boilers, and are not sensitive to cost.

　　Programme three: electric heating belt (electric accompanied by the heat of the ‘low version’) principle: winding resistance wire plus tropical tape, heat insulation after power. Advantage: installation flexibility, unit price is low (about 15-20 yuan / metre). Fatal defects: temperature is not controllable, easy to overheat and damage the pipeline (see Figure 3: electric heating with burnt insulation); power consumption is self-control temperature electric accompanying heat 2-3 times. Applicable scene: short distance, intermittent use of non-important pipeline.

　　Why is electric trace heating still the ultimate solution?

　　Despite the existence of alternatives, the electric heat tracing system has become the mainstream with 3 advantages:

　　Intelligent temperature control: automatic adjustment of power through temperature sensors, energy saving of more than 30%;

　　Safe and maintenance-free: PTC material eliminates the risk of overheating, the service life of more than 10 years;

　　Full scene coverage: -50 ° C extreme cold, flammable and explosive places can be customised.

　　When choosing pipeline anti-freezing solutions, do not blindly pursue low prices! Inferior quality insulation or heating tape may trigger greater losses.