Heat Trace

To compensate for heat losses and to maintain a minimum temperature (i.e. to prevent freezing), an electric heat tracing system can be used. In most cases, a THERMOCABLE® heat tracing cable is pulled into trace channels in long circuit lengths, after the pipes have been field assembled. These trace channels are factory applied to the pipes prior to insulating and are tested to ensure that no foam has entered into the channels during the foaming process.

THERMOCABLE® heat tracing cables are easily installed and controlled. The choice of cable and controls is dependent on the type of pipe being used. Heat tracing cables may be installed continuously on water and sewer lines, or only at specific locations which are susceptible to freezing such as road crossings, fire hydrants, shallow bury locations, etc.

Because of the relatively high cost of electrical energy, these systems are usually installed for freeze protection in the event of a prolonged no flow condition. Systems may also be designed for thawing frozen pipes. Such systems require substantially more capacity to thaw out pipes within a reasonable time limit. Each system must be specifically designed to suit the parameters at hand.

One of the most effective methods to prevent freezing of services is to trace the service pipe and fittings with a THERMOCABLE® low watt density electric tracer. THERMOCABLE® fluoropolymer insulated “constant watt” heating cable is designed specifically for the freeze protection of GF Urecon U.I.P.® pre-insulated pipe systems.

THERMOCABLE® fluoropolymer constant watt cut-to-length heat tracing cable is a parallel resistance type heating strip which uses a thermally stable nichrome heating wire, with a series of heating zones. These heating zones produce constant, predictable wattage per meter (Foot) output. THERMOCABLE® is ideally suited for pulling into trace channels on GF Urecon pre-insulated pipe systems.

The electric heat tracing must maintain the pipe temperature above 0°C (32°F) when exposed to the lowest design ambient temperature while at no flow conditions. The installed power capacity must compensate for heat loss through the pipe insulation and include a safety factor.

Normally, services require a low wattage tracer, are relatively short in length and a 120 volt THERMOCABLE® can be used. Power consumption is reasonable as the tracer is thermostatically controlled and operates intermittently only in the cold season.

An 18 m (60 ft) long house service only consumes 144 watts of power when operating (if a C8-120-COJ cable is installed), which is less than the intermittent operation of two 100 watt light bulbs.