1. Tracer Applications

2. Typical Steam Tracing Piping
distribution
Spares
manifold
Steam supply
Condensate return
Outlet
Condensate
riser
collecting
manifold
Traced
pipe
Tracer
Spares

3. Process Temperatures: 101°F to 200°F
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

4. Process Temperatures: 151°F to 400°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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. AVTR Example

8. AVTR Reduction Losses

9. Insulation Guidelines

10. Tracer Tubing Installation

11. 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

12. 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
Tracer internal with direct contact with product, potential product contamination
Tracer external to and in contact with product pipe under insulation
Internal Tracing
External Tracing

13. Process Pipe Tracing Notes:
Horizontal
No!
Metal Strap
Vertical
Yes!
Insulating spacer
Notes:
Low steam velocity to move condensate; must flow by gravity; don’t use wound tracer on horizontal runs
Vertical wound tracer on short runs only
Metal straps hold tracer
Insulating spacers used if product may char, burn or crystallize with intense heat

14. Number of ½” Diameter Tracers
Product line size
Freeze Protection or Product solidification at °F - 75°F
Product Solidification
75°F – 150°F
Product solidification °F - 300° F
25 mm, 1" 1
40 mm, 1-1/2" 2
50 mm, 2"
80 mm, 3" 3
100 mm, 4"
150 mm, 6"
200 mm, 8"
mm, 10" - 12"
mm, 14" - 16" 6
mm, 18" - 20" 8
mm, 10

15. Multiple Tracer Spacing
Vertical
Horizontal
Space evenly at bottom of pipe
Evenly spaced around pipe

16. 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 mm 125 ft, 38.5 m
3/4”, 20 mm 150 ft, 46.2 m

17. Multiple Tracing Traps
No!
Multiple circuits - 1 trap
Do not gang trap!
Multiple circuits - multiple traps
Yes!

18. Line Tracing Installation
Yes!
No!
Expansion Loops
Flange Loops

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

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

21. Jacketed Line Sizing

22. 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