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Steam Tracing Design Optimization Tips

Steam Tracing Tips

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17 views1 page

Steam Tracing Design Optimization Tips

Steam Tracing Tips

Uploaded by

Anonymous bHh1L1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Steam Tracing

Design Optimisation Tips . . .


To ensure a properly operating steam tracing system and 8. Use preinsulated steam supply and condensate return
avoid commonly made mistakes, the following steam tracing lines.
recommendations have been compiled: a. Reduce labour and energy costs over field-installed
1. Select the tracer type that most closely meets the process and insulated lines.
design temperature requirements. b. Extruded outer jacket ensures that the thermal insu-
a. Conserves energy. lation is always weather-protected.
b. Avoids the effects of overheating. 9. Use prefabricated steam supply and condensate collec-
2. Use only one tracer per process pipe where possible to tion manifolds for multiple tracing circuits.
reduce the number of trap stations, isolation valves and a. Provide centralised location for steam distribution
fittings required. (Certain critical process lines may re- and condensate collection.
quire a redundant heater.) b. Minimise design time and installation costs.
a. Reduces initial cost. c. Condensate collection manifolds with an internal
b. Eliminates maintenance of omitted materials. siphon pipe prevent freezing and water hammer
during start-up.
3. Select a tracer that will meet the above conditions with
existing steam pressure (up to 1825 kPa) where possible 10. Use prefabricated trap stations.
to decrease the use of pressure-reducing valves and a. Minimise installation and labour costs.
increase the distance between traps, thus reducing the b. Standardised design reduces maintenance and
number of trap stations required. Isolated tracers can pro- spare parts.
vide a low conductive heat path to reduce temperatures
and conserve energy. Design Tips on Tracers . . .
a. Reduces capital equipment cost.
b. Reduces installation costs. For nearly every application, the following comments on
c. Reduces system maintenance. steam tracer selection will apply:
• One BT or BTS bare convection tracer is the least expen-
4. Use conduction tracers rather than steam-jacketed pipe sive tracing system to install.
where possible.
a. Significantly reduce material and labour costs. • Multiple BT or BTS tracers cannot be economically justified
b. Provide flexibility for maintenance. when one tracer with heat transfer compound (HTC) will
c. Greatly reduce the number of trap stations required, suffice because of the additional steam supply connections
forestalling future maintenance costs. and trap assemblies required. BT or BTS tracers may be
d. Can significantly reduce energy consumption. doubled back where allowable pressure drops are not ex-
ceeded.
5. Use flash steam from condensate or steam from exother-
mic processes where available. • Spiraled BT or BTS tracers on horizontal runs are not rec-
a. Significantly reduces energy costs. ommended because circumferential expansion reduces the
b. Low pressure steam provides more usable enthalpy, heat transfer coefficient (by increasing the air gap between
further increasing efficiency. the tracer and the pipe) and the increased number of pock-
ets requires more frequent trapping.
6. Use tubing rather than pipe for the tracer.
a. Reduces initial labour cost due to ease of installation. • Horizontal tracer runs are less labour-intensive to install
b. Reduces number of fittings required, lowering the risk and reduce water hammer.
of steam leaks and future maintenance. • Isolated tracers (IT) provide energy savings in the range of
7. Use appropriate trapping distance determinations rather 25% to 50% over bare convection tracers where they meet
than rule-of-thumb distances, which may not provide the process temperature requirements.
cost-effective lengths where long piping runs exist. • In all cases, tracers that provide a measure of safety to aid
a. Reduce the number of trap stations and isolation compliance with applicable standards should be chosen.
valves and thus material and installation costs.
b. Eliminate maintenance of omitted materials.

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