Steam Tracing of Pipe Lines

Engineering ToolBox > Steam Tracing of Pipe Lines

To maintain appropriate product temperature in process lines it may often be convenient to use a steam tracing system. This is a table that can be used to estimate the appropriate number of steam tracers

The numbers of tracers depends on the size of the pipe and the product temperature in the process line. The surrounding temperature and the insulation efficiency also have influence.

Since the heat goes up its important to strip the steam tracers on the lower part of the process pipes. 1/2 inch (15 mm) pipes is quite common used as tracers.

For normal insulated pipes in normal surrounding conditions the table below can be used to determine the appropriate numbers of tracers.

Number of 1/2" (15 mm) Steam Tracers	Frost protection, the temperature in the process lines are below 75^oF (25^oC)	Keeping process media fluid, temperatures below 150^oF (65^oC)	Keeping process media fluid, temperatures below 300^oF (150^oC)
Product Line Size (inch)
1	1	1	1
1 1/2	1	1	2
2	1	1	2
3	1	1	3
4	1	2	3
6	2	2	3
8	2	2	3
12	2	3	6
16	2	3	8
20	2	3	10

Example - Steam Tracing of Process Line

In a 4 inch transport system for vegetable oil with solidification temperature at 140^oF, two 1/2 inches steam tracing pipes should be appropriate.

To maintain appropriate product temperature in process lines it may often be convenient to use a steam tracing system. This is a table that can be used to estimate the appropriate number of steam tracers

Example - Steam Tracing of Process Line

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