[b]Jacketed pipe vs. ControTrace[/b]

[zpiderman]

I need to keep molten material in a pipe liquid (and sometimes melt it out of the pipe) using thermal oil at 500F. I'm considering a jacketed pipe for this application but I've also been looking at a ControTrace pipe tracing system (rectagular tubing cemented to the side of the process pipe). I've never used the ControTrace system and I'm not sure about it's long term maintenance and effectiveness.
Does anyone have any experience using a ControTrace pipe tracing system?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Z

 

[perdog]

Zpiderman,

ControTrace is very effective when you are trying to simply maintain the temperature, not so great when trying to heat up processes quickly. If you have a small Temperature delta between the process and the thermal oil (5F) then Jacketed Pipe is the best solution. If you have a bit more grace, then ControTrace work very well. As I learned, CSI (the maker of ControTrace) has been doing this for a long time and they have references for alot of different processes. What is the product you are using this with?

Perdog

 

[zpiderman]

Thanks Perdog,

There are many products that I will be using this with, but they're all of a wax nature (with melting points up to 400F). The traced (or jacketed) pipe will transfer the molten product (using gravity) from a heated reactor to a flaking machine, so the need to keep this product molten until the flaking machine is the goal.
Have you used a ControTrace system before?

Z