Sunday, June 24, 2018

The Heat Trace Installation Process

By Sandra Ross


Industries have been growing in the recent past with heat tracing incorporation taking place in most of them. This process is done on pipes, tanks and other parts that require heat tracing. Many industries have enjoyed various benefits from this innovation as well as the safety and efficiency of this system has depended mainly on this process and its maintenance. The heat trace installation process has a guideline which is followed to ensure maximum benefits of a system.

Over the years, the scheme has developed from the capillary filled-bulb thermostat to computerized tracking systems. The system has vital function of temperature rising and maintenance in pumps, tanks, pipes, and valves. The system comes in a cable format which has changed since the past from mineral insulating cable to self-regulating cable then series resistant cables and recently to constant voltage cables.

Before any heating wire installation, it is important for installers to ensure that all piping together with equipment to be traced are entirely installed. Besides, they should check whether the pressure has been tested. The surfacing area where the tracing is to be installed must be reasonably clean without rust or any dirty substance. The equipment must also be thermally insulated.

Individuals who install these products have a responsibility of complying with all applicable safety and health guidelines since these components can be used in both hazardous and non-hazardous locations. Furthermore, personal protective tools should be used during this process thus ensuring a successful procedure. The expert is always provided with a manual guide which will assist him throughout this process. Moreover, it should be read thoroughly before the process begins.

Before the installation commences, the expert has to check all the material required to make the process a success, they include the tools required for the job and the pipes which are to be traced. Material checking includes, reviewing the wiring system design, drawing and also comparing the received materials to their catalog numbers of heating wires as well as constituents. This crucial part ensures all the needed materials are readily available on site, this then leads to mechanical testing.

The first step involves paying out the wires loosely and tying them along the pipes or the material to be traced. Areas with obstacles will require the specialized individuals to put the cables next to them. The cables are then kept strung loosely using a reel holder and positioned on lower sections of the pipe attaching using a fiberglass or aluminum tapes, extra loops of the cable are allowed on heat sinks such valves, flanges and pipe supports.

Immediately after cable attachment, the installer is supposed to install the heating cable components such as thermometers and sensors. If the step is not done immediately, then it is advised that the installer to protect the ends of the cable from moisture. Multiple cabling and spiraling are done if a backup system is required and when considerable heat loss is counterbalanced. Cable cutting is later done after the attachment step is over.

Therefore, the system installation process is accomplished by following the guideline efficaciously. Moreover, the monitoring system is therefore installed to help in observation of the tracing system. It is clear that this system is a requirement for most industries like the power plants and food and beverage processing industries. The process of installation has brought many benefits, and therefore it is essential to take it with a lot of seriousness.




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