Pipe steam tracing
Pipe steam tracing
(OP)
Does anyone know how to design a spiraled steam tracing for a pipe (number of spirals, spacing between spirals, tracing diameter)?
I can't find any good reference on the subject...
I can't find any good reference on the subject...





RE: Pipe steam tracing
RE: Pipe steam tracing
TBP is exactly correct. The erroneous idea that you can/should employ horizontal, spiral-wound tubing on a pipe in order to steam-trace it is false information.
Go to:
http://www.thermon.com/catalogs/us/thermon.html
and you will obtain all the information and help you need on this subject. Note that in order to be an effective application, you should employ a cement that physically binds the straight, steam tubing to the metal pipe. This cement serves the purpose of supplying the solid medium through which the heat conduction is transferred.
RE: Pipe steam tracing
RE: Pipe steam tracing
Spiraled BT or BTS tracers on horizontal runs are not recommended because circumferential expansion reduces
the heat transfer coefficient (by increasing the air gap between the tracer and the pipe) and the increased number
of pockets requires more frequent trapping.
From my corporate design guide:
For extreme heat-up requirements, bend tubing into a series of U's with a tube bender covering the entire contour of components.
Form tracer closely around body using tie-downs where necessary to keep in place.
RE: Pipe steam tracing
We have 4.4 bar (155 ºC) steam available for the tracing and I thought in this case the spiral tracing would be more appropriate.
RE: Pipe steam tracing
RE: Pipe steam tracing
RE: Pipe steam tracing
The above comments are correct, however they are also incomplete, you should also know that:
1) Steam tracing must always follow the bottom of piping, not spiral like electric tracing. The tracing is typically encapsulated in a "half moon" cover with a heat conducting adhesive
2) Where large valves or similar in-line components must be traced, you must loop the tube to allow drainage
3) There are length maxima. drainage slope, trap capacities and other factors that affect your steam trap "circuit" length
Finally, the people who have "written the book" on steam tracing are the kind and helpful people at Spirax Sarco...
www.spiraxsarco.com
They have many on-line learning resources and are very helpful.....
My opinions only
-MJC