After the electric heating tape is connected to the power supply (note that the end core wires must not be connected), current flows from one core wire through the conductive PTC material to the other core wire, forming a circuit. Electrical energy heats the conductive material, and its resistance increases accordingly. When the core tape temperature rises to a certain value, the resistance becomes so high that it almost blocks the current, and the temperature no longer increases. At the same time, the heating tape transfers heat to the lower-temperature heated system. The power of the heating tape is mainly controlled by the heat transfer process, and the output power is automatically adjusted according to the temperature of the heated system, while traditional constant power heaters do not have this function.
Advantages of Electric Heat Tracing
Compared with steam (hot water) heat tracing, electric heat tracing has many advantages as follows:
(1) Electric heat tracing devices are simple, provide uniform heating, accurate temperature control, and can be remotely controlled and automated.
(2) Electric heat tracing is explosion-proof, all-weather, highly reliable, and has a long service life.
(3) Electric heat tracing has no leakage, which is beneficial to environmental protection.
(4) Saves steel: It does not require the two-way tracing pipelines needed for steam tracing.
(5) Saves insulation materials.
(6) Saves water resources, unlike boilers that require large amounts of water daily.
(7) Electric heat tracing can also solve problems that are difficult to address with steam and hot water tracing.
(8) Electric heat tracing requires less design work, is simple and convenient to install, and has low maintenance workload.
(9) High efficiency, can significantly reduce energy consumption.
Whether it is one-time investment or annual operating cost, electric heat tracing tape is more economical than steam tracing tape; in some projects, the one-time investment of electric heat tracing tape may be slightly higher than steam or hot water tracing, but in terms of annual operating cost, the savings from electric heat tracing usually recover the investment within 1-2 years.
Benefit Analysis of Using Heat Tracing Tape
Self-regulating electric heat tracing adjusts its heat output based on the temperature of the sensitive pipe wall (medium), making it an energy-saving measure. The most widely used self-regulating electric heat tracing tape consumes 15W per meter. For a pipeline with a total length of 1000m, the hourly power consumption is 1000×15/1000=15KW.h. When the pipeline temperature reaches the upper maintenance temperature, the heat output of the electric tracing gradually decreases, and the output power also decreases accordingly, so the power consumption of the electric tracing is generally 60% of the rated power; with the plant electricity price at 0.60 yuan/KW.h and an operating period of 100 days (2400 hours), the annual normal electricity cost is: (15×2400)×0.60×60%=12,960 yuan. When used with a temperature controller, self-regulating electric tracing tape can not only precisely maintain the medium temperature of the pipeline or heating body but also significantly reduce operating costs.
Constant power electric heating tape has a constant heat output per unit length, and the longer the tape used, the greater the total output power. The most widely used constant power electric tracing tape consumes 20W per meter. For a pipeline with a total length of 1000m, the hourly power consumption is 1000×20/1000=20KW.h. When the pipeline temperature reaches the upper maintenance temperature, the output power stabilizes, and the power consumption of the electric tracing remains constant; with the plant electricity price at 0.60 yuan/KW.h and an operating period of 100 days (2400 hours), the annual normal electricity cost is: (20×2400)×0.60=28,800 yuan. When used with a temperature controller, constant power electric tracing tape can also precisely maintain the medium temperature of the pipeline or heating body.
Service Life of Electric Heating Tape
Under proper maintenance, the service life of an electric heat tracing system is 8 years or more.
Application Scope of Electric Heat Tracing Products
Electric heat tracing products can be widely used for heat tracing, insulation, freeze protection, and anti-condensation of pipelines, pump bodies, valves, tanks, and vessel volumes in industries such as petroleum, chemical, electric power, medicine, machinery, food, and shipbuilding. They are the most advanced and effective method for maintaining process temperature in liquid pipelines and storage medium vessels. Electric heat tracing is not only suitable for all places where steam tracing is used but also solves problems that are difficult to address with steam tracing, such as: heat tracing of long-distance pipelines, heat tracing in narrow spaces; heat tracing of irregularly shaped equipment (such as pumps); heat tracing of pipelines and equipment in areas without steam sources or remote areas; heat tracing of plastic and non-metallic pipelines, etc.
