What is Trace Heating and its Uses

What is Trace Heating and its Uses

Also known as trace heating tape or surface heating, electric trace heating is a mechanism that is used to raise and maintain the heating temperatures of vessels as well as pipes. It forms an electrical heating element as it runs along the length of the pipe. Then this entire system is covered with an intricate network of thermal insulation that helps to prevent any and all sorts of heat losses. This enables the heat generated by the element to single handedly maintain the temperature of the entire system.

Following are some of the uses of a heating trace.

·         Maintenance of Temperatures: With the help of a trace heating cable, you can maintain the temperatures of hot water servicing pipes. This is a great help since this would mean you do not need a separate circulating system to provide hot water in different ports. The combining system of thermal insulation and heat tracing helps to maintain a steady thermal balance where heat loss is almost equal to the trace heating of the pipe.

·         Protection against Freezing: When the temperature of any pipe is greater than its surrounding temperatures, it is bound to face heat loss. And though thermal insulation reduces the net heat loss rate to a great extend, it does not remove it entirely. Trace heating is responsible to keep the heating temperature above freezing as it toggles the heat loss with the heat supplied.

·         De- icing of Roofs and Gutters: In very cold temperatures, heat tracing cables are placed in gutters and on the roofs in order to melt the ice formation in the winter months. This is one of the most important uses of the cables as it not only helps maintain a steady temperature of the pipes, but also maintains a clear path for water to flow.