Steam Tracing Leak

alex18, I take it you're having blockages due to process freezeup due to the loss of heat trace energy. What normally happens in any tracer system that has major leakes is that downstream users of the tracer steam can be starved for steam. This lowers the process temprature in the pipe until the process freeze point is reached resulting in blockage. This may also be due to pluggages in the tracer lines themselves. Or operations has increased throughput requiring greater energy input to maintain process temp. In other words, the tracer system is too small.

In addition to the down time required to clear process freezeups, steams leaks are a tremendous energy waster and are probably costing the plant plenty. Take the time to setup a proper trap and leak maintenance program. It will pay dividends.

saxon

Alex18,

I have not experience of your products but I must agree with saxon that care should be taken when setting up a steam tracing system.

I have seen several tracing systems that develop leaks and because of poor set up they are very difficult to rectify. Consider how the tracing will be maintained.

I have seen product block in lines because of leaks on steam tracing and I have even seen steam tracing rupture due to the process freezing the tracing. It was common practice to blow the lines through with sream to ensure they were hot and blow them clear after the pumping was complete.

Try; , they have a good technical guide, TR-GCM-02, for designing steam tracing systems.

On very critical systems we would use jacket pipe but this is much more expensive.

PeteRJ

Hi

I have not handled these products. But I have used steam tracings . In my opinion steam tracings leak because

1. Have steam traps on the tracings irrespective of the fact whether the tracing is for continuous / intermediate use. This removes the major irritant the condensate.

2. Let the tracings be not exposed to outside environment. Normally during some maintenance ,this problem happens. The tracings are not put back to their original position. Exposure to outside environment damages the tracings.

3. In case the product is critical , consider jacketing. Electrical tracings are another good option. But capital ?

Gkandy