Safe & Hazardous Areas
With over 35 years experience of designing and supplying trace heating cables & systems Thorne & Derrick have earned the title of ‘The Trace Heating Specialists’– we hold the largest UK stocks of leading heat tracing cable brands.
Experts in trace heating solutions, including ATEX trace heating for use in industrial & explosive atmospheres, Thorne & Derrick have the knowledge & expertise to help clients prevent unnecessary down time this winter. We also hold large UK stocks of frost protection and winterisation equipment helping to keep your plant and personnel operational even when temperatures begin to plummet.
The following blog will aim to answer the following questions:
What is Trace Heating?
How do Trace Heating Cables work?
Best way to install a Heat Trace System?
How to test your Trace Heating is working?
Do I need a Thermostat with my Trace Heating?
What are the different types of Trace Heating Cables?
Typical Trace Heating Applications
If you can’t find the answer to your question please don’t hesitate to contact us and one of our friendly team will be more than happy to help.
What is Trace Heating?
Trace heating is a vital process used to heat up or maintain the temperature of pipes and vessels by using specially engineered cables. During winter months it can become extremely cold and temperatures often dip below freezing.
The most widely needed benefit of the system is the prevention of freezing within pipes. With temperatures dropping daily during the winter months freezing pipes are a major concern for homeowners, businesses and industry alike. By maintaining the ambient temperature inside the pipe, frost cannot build up and pipes will not freeze. This will stop pipes from due to ice expansion.
T&D’s Top Tip – Heat rises, always install heat tracing cable directly to the underside of the pipework for optimum heat dissipation.
➡ Thorne & Derrick’s heating cables and systems can be used for commercial, industrial and hazardous are heating of pipework, tanks, drums and vessels in both safe, non-hazardous and hazardous area locations.
How do Trace Heating Cables work?
Trace heating cables are a simple solution to a common problem – stopping pipes from freezing. An electrical element or trace heating cable is fitted along the length of a pipe – this uses electricity and insulation to maintain or increase the temperature of pipes or other vessels, replacing any heat lost to outside temperatures.
Best way to install a Heat trace system?
To successfully install a heat trace system please refer to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The following are some basic tips and instructions but please always refer to the manufacturer for detailed guidance.
Firstly identify the correct trace heating system by calculating heat loss, maximum operating and ambient temperatures, class and length. Next ensure the pipes are in fully working order – including a pressure test.
Identify the route of the cable by walking the length of the piping and make sure all surfaces where the cables will attach to are free of dirt, rust and any other obstructing objects. if necessary remove any old tape and any other combustible material.
Determining the maximum cable circuit length for your system is very important. If you need any help please contact our friendly team who would be happy to help. Wire cutters will help to cut the cable to the desired length.
Combine the cables with termination and splice kits, tee kits, end seals, and other accessories to complete the trace heating system.
How to test your Trace Heating is working?
Testing all cables on a regular basis is key to maintaining systems and ensuring that they are work properly. Following the below steps as well as manufacturer’s instructions will help to test and troubleshoot effectively.
Do I need a thermostat with my Trace Heating System?
Thermostat control is recommended for use with all trace heating systems. Temperature control can reduce system operating costs by as much as 90%.
For simple frost protection applications Thorne & Derrick would recommend the Heatfast HF9101-V1. This model is factory set to switch at 5°C meaning it is tamperproof. It offers mains failure and sensor failure alarms and has VFC relays to communicate with any BMS. The thermostat can switch 25A and can directly accommodate up to three heat tracing cables and a mains power cable.
What are the different types of Cables?
Parallel Heat Tracing Cables
Parallel heating cables are typically available in two distinct variants; constant wattage and self regulating (also known as self limiting).
Parallel heat tracing cables use two ‘normal’ copper conductor wires. These run in parallel along the length of the wire and form the basis of live and neutral. The heat load is then created by two different methods. In the case of constant wattage cables, a fixed resistance filament is then spiralled along the length of the cable. Then it is soldered alternately to the live and neutral wire in fixed distances creating what are referred to as heating zones.
Essentially, every zone is a fixed resistance circuit supplied by a fixed voltage, providing a constant wattage along its length. Since each zone of heating is essentially in parallel with the zone before it, the supply voltage will remain constant along the length of the heating cable. Other than from a small voltage drop brought about by the summation of the tiny resistances of the live and neutral wires as the cable gets longer and longer.
Self Regulating Heat Tracing Cables
Self regulating or self limiting cables also provide a controlled wattage per metre of cable but with a difference in terms of construction and performance.
The live and neutral wires are co-extruded into a polymer based material containing particles of carbon, providing a resistance path and hence circuit along the length of the heating cable.
However, this resistance and therefore the output of the self regulating heating cable varies depending upon the temperature, due to microscopic expansion and contraction of the polymer.
This type of cable reduces its power output as temperature increases and conversely at lower temperatures, the power is increased.
Self regulating heat tracing cables have an improved level of inherent efficiency as well as increased safety, if its application is correctly considered. Starting with the former, at higher temperatures the heating cable backs off its output, saving power even if not connected via a controller or thermostat.
This is not to say it will hold a fixed target temperature without external control, but the reduction of output as the work-piece temperature increases is a desirable feature from an energy conservation perspective.
This also gives rise to another highly desirable characteristic of self regulating cables, which is the ability to assign a T class (temperature rating) for ATEX purposes and safe installation in hazardous area locations. With the decrease in power output as the cable temperature increases, it is not possible for the cable to affect an increase to a temperature beyond a certain level, regardless of the level of thermal insulation used.
Frost Protection Trace Heating Systems
Prevent pipes and vessels freezing by installing self regulating frost protection trace heating cables. Snow build-up causes serious structural problems to roofs and buildings. This occurs due to problems from the added weight and then the flood damage issues that arise as the snow begins to thaw.
Hot Water Temperature Maintenance
Preventing Legionnaires’ disease is possible in hot water systems by installing trace heating to maintain 60°C. This is in line with the ACOP L8 (4th edition) requirements. Significant space and cost savings occur by alleviating the need for a HWS return leg. Thorne & Derrick have experience in design and installations for a number of different applications including football stadiums, schools and hospitals.
Ramp Heating Solutions
Trace heating cables can be used to prevent snow & ice build up on ramps, paths and access routes. This helps to eliminate accidents caused by freezing conditions. We can provide solutions for direct burial in either concrete or asphalt. With our extensive design and installation experience we are confident providing solutions for both new and retrofit systems.
Roof and Gutter Heating Systems
Roof and Gutter heating systems can prevent ice and snow build up/damage to roof, roofgutters and downpipes. Stops water ingress/damage, burst down pipes, gutter cracking or deformation, and dangerous snow or ice falls from the roof. Site surveys available on request.
Fire Escape Heating
Trace heating cables stop the accumulation of snow and ice on external escape routes. This removes the risk of slip hazards. It is a cost effective solution to satisfy current building regulations without the requirement to fully enclose the escape route.
We recommend the use of self regulating trace heating cables attached to the underside of the stair tread. Robust, durable heating cables designed for this application provide enough heat output without having to install thermal insulation.
➡ T&D distribute the most extensive range of Hazardous Area Electrical Heating enabling flow, workplace heating and and process heating in all industries.
Since 1985, Thorne & Derrick the UK’s largest stockist and supplier of heat trace cables and systems providing engineered Trace Heating Solutions to prestigious project. Please contact us with your enquiry.
Trace Heating Services Provided
EXPERTS IN WINTERISATION SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL & HAZARDOUS AREA ENVIRONMENTS
Thorne & Derrick hold the largest UK stocks of frost protection & winterisation equipment to help keep your plant and personnel operational during the winter months.
Thorne & Derrick understand that prolonged periods of low ambient temperatures can bring operations to a standstill costing thousands of pounds in lost downtime.
Experts in heating solutions for use in industrial & explosive atmospheres, Thorne & Derrick have the knowledge & expertise to help clients prevent unnecessary down time this winter.
We can provide overnight delivery of Trace Heating Cables at the most competitive prices to guarantee frost protection of your pipelines and mechanical services.| Ask About Our Heat Trace Design Service.
💡 Contact us today and our skilled and friendly team can provide technical support. As well as this they can offer reliable, fit for purpose and compliant solutions to suit your exact requirements.
Trace Heating | Process Heating | Heating Jackets | Drum & IBC Heaters | Heated Hoses |Silicone Heating Mats
With high quality products and considerate service, we will work together with you to enhance your business and improve the efficiency. Please don't hesitate to contact us to get more details of Electrical Tracing on Pipe.