Tracer Applications

1
Typical Steam Tracing Piping
Steam
distribution Spares
manifold

Steam supply

Condensate return

Outlet
Condensate riser
collecting
manifold
Traced
pipe
Tracer
Spares
 Convection Tracers
Designed for use with medium-low to medium heat
transfer requirements, the metallic tracer tube is either
bare or covered with a thin, high temperature coating
that provides a measure of personnel burn protection
without sacrificing thermal performance.

Process Temperatures: 101°F to 200°F

 Conduction Tracers
Designed for use when the heat requirements exceed the
capabilities of isolated and convection tracers. Conduction
tracers are aided by heat transfer compounds that provide
excellent heat transfer at a fraction of the cost of a jacketed
pipe system while eliminating the possibility of product
contamination. A single tracer utilizing heat transfer compound
will perform as well as 3 to 5 bare (convection) tracers.

Process Temperatures: 151°F to 400°F

 Tracer Materials
The tracer is selected to fulfill the thermal and installation
requirements. The tracer metal should be close to the
material of the process pipe to minimize galvanic corrosion.
Copper tubing can be used if the saturated steam pressure
or the item being traced does not exceed 400°F and there is
no corrosion or other deterrent (copper oxide) for using copper.
Stainless steel tubing can be used if the saturated steam
pressure or the item being traced exceeds 400°F and there is
no corrosion or other deterrent (chlorides) for using stainless
steel.
Carbon steel pipe should NEVER be used. During shutdown
periods, air and moisture causes rapid rust and pitting.
 AVTR
AVTR is the accumulated vertical tracer rise i.e. the sum of
all the elevation rises (see Figure 5.1). The AVTR should be
limited to 15% of the inlet steam pressure for any steam
tracing circuit.
For example, with an inlet steam pressure of 50 psig, the
AVTR should not exceed 7.5 feet.
The AVTR is further reduced by losses due to bends, valves,
and fittings in the tracer circuits (see Table 5.2). The resultant
losses must be deducted to determine the actual AVTR.
AVTR Example
AVTR Reduction Losses
Insulation Guidelines
Tracer Tubing Installation
 Small Diameter Tube Tracing
Steam
1/2” or 3/8” tubing
1/2” or 3/8” tubing

Steam 1/2” or 3/8”

tubing

Trap
Steam
Trap
Trap Trap

Valves Pumps Instruments

• Very light condensate loads; small diameter tubing ok
• Condensate must flow downward by gravity to trap
• Small diameter tube bends around objects easily
• Each tracer circuit has separate trap
 Process Pipe Tracing Methods
• Hot product flowing in steel pipe loses
heat through insulation
• Products may solidify as they cool:
– Plastics solidify at low temperatures
– Asphalt solidifies at ambient temps
– Increased viscosity when cooled; won’t flow
– Sulfur solidifies above 350°F and below
250°F
Internal Tracing
• Tracer internal with direct contact with
product, potential product
contamination
• Tracer external to and in contact with
product pipe under insulation External Tracing
 Process Pipe Tracing
Horizontal
No!
Vertical
Yes!

Notes:
• Low steam velocity to
move condensate; must
Metal
flow by gravity; don’t use Strap

wound tracer on horizontal

runs
• Vertical wound tracer on
short runs only
• Metal straps hold tracer
• Insulating spacers used if Insulating
spacer
product may char, burn or
crystallize with intense heat
 Number of ½” Diameter Tracers

Freeze Product Product

Product line Protection or Solidification solidification
size Product
solidification at 75°F – 150°F
32°F - 150°F - 300° F
75°F
25 mm, 1" 1 1 1
40 mm, 1-1/2" 1 1 2
50 mm, 2" 1 1 2
80 mm, 3" 1 1 3
100 mm, 4" 1 2 3
150 mm, 6" 2 2 3
200 mm, 8" 2 2 3
250 - 300 mm, 10" - 12" 2 3 3
350 - 300 mm, 14" - 16" 2 3 6
350 - 400 mm, 18" - 20" 2 3 8
450 - 500 mm, 2 3 10
 Multiple Tracer Spacing

Vertical Horizontal

Space evenly at
Evenly spaced around
bottom of pipe
pipe
 Tracer Lines! How Long?

Condensing steam in small diameter tubing causes

pressure drop. To insure enough pressure at the
trap to remove condensate, tracer length should be
limited.
3/8”, 8 mm 75 ft, 23 m
1/2”, 15 mm125 ft, 38.5 m
3/4”, 20 mm150 ft, 46.2 m
 Multiple Tracing Traps

No!
• Multiple circuits - 1 trap
Do not gang trap!

Yes!
• Multiple circuits -
multiple traps
 Line Tracing Installation

Expansion Loops Flange Loops

Yes! No!

Yes! Yes!

No! No!
 Steam Jacketed Pipe
T1 Steam
Jacket
Insulation Pipe

Why?
Rate of heat transfer = f((T1 -
T2), Cf)
Product
• Steam temperature close T2
to product temperature
• Product has low
coefficient of heat transfer
Steam Product
Jacket Pipe
 Steam Jacketed Installation

Steam in Pitch

• Steam flow counter to

product flow
Trap Trap
• Pitch in direction of steam Ideal !
flow Steam in Pitch
• Section <= 20 ft. 6 m
• Moderate climates OK !
Trap
– Trap every 80 to 100 ft, 24 to
30 m
• Severe climates
– Trap every 40 ft, 12 m No !
 Jacketed Line Sizing

Product Line Jacket Diameter Steam Connection

in mm in mm in mm

2 50 3 80 1/2 15
2-1/2 65 4 100 1/2 15
3 80 6 150 3/4 20
4 100 6 150 3/4 20
6 150 8 200 3/4 20
8 200 10 250 1 25
10 250 12 300 1 25
 Steam Tracing Condensate
Q = L x A x U x (t1 – t2) x E/(H x N)
• Q = Condensate load, lb/hr, kg/hr
• L = Length of tracer, ft, m
• U = Heat transfer coefficient pipe to air, btu/hr/deg f/sq ft,
• t1 = Product temperature, °F,
• t2 = Minimum air temperature °F,
• E = 1 – insulation efficiency/100
• A = Area of pipe per ft length, sq ft/ft,
• H = Latent heat of steam btu/lb,
• N = Number of tracers
Example:
20” pipe, 200 °F product, -20 °F air, 100 psig steam
Q = 125 x 1.93 x 12 x (200-(-20)) x .25/(880 x 4) = 45 lb/hr per tracer