Heat Tracing
Heat tracing is a system of electrical cables or steam lines run along pipes and vessels to add heat, keeping the contents above a target temperature - preventing freezing, maintaining viscosity, or holding a process temperature. It is almost always paired with insulation, which retains the added heat so the tracing uses far less energy.
Heat tracing (electric trace heating or steam tracing) compensates for heat that a pipe loses to its surroundings. Electric systems use self-regulating or constant-wattage cables; steam systems run a small steam line clipped to the pipe. Applications include freeze protection of water lines, viscosity control of oils and bitumen, and temperature maintenance of process fluids.
Tracing and insulation work together: the insulation sets how much heat the pipe loses, and the tracing replaces exactly that loss. Better insulation directly reduces the tracing power required and its running cost, which is why trace-heated lines are always insulated and why insulation quality is an energy lever, not just a comfort or safety measure.
Related reading
Related terms
Thermal Insulation · Heat Loss · Surface Temperature · Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) · Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)