Self-Regulating Heat-Tracing Cables

The biggest advantage of self-regulating heat tracing over other heat tracing products is that it eliminates the possibility of the heater burning out due to the inability to dissipate internally generated heat, which is the most common cause of heater failure.

Self-regulating heaters usually take the form of a heating strip, which acts as the heating element and consists of two parallel wires with a diameter of 2-3 mm embedded in a conductive polymeric jacket. This strip is covered with a metal braid to provide grounding and additional mechanical protection. Finally, it is covered with an insulating polymer jacket.

The heating core consists of carbon particles embedded in a polymer matrix. Heat is generated by resistance to current flowing through the conductive polymer heating element.

The higher the temperature of the conductor core, the higher its resistance. As a result, there is an inverse relationship between the increase in temperature and heat output.

Since the power output is a function of temperature at any point in the element, the core acts as a temperature-sensitive rheostat, protecting against both low- and high-temperature faults.

• It can be cut to the desired length and assembled¹⁾
• Good impact resistance.
• Low installation, maintenance and energy costs.
• Safer than other heat-tracing products as they are not destroyed by their own heat output.

The only serious drawback of self-regulating heaters is the upper limit on their operating temperature. They can fail as a result of exposure to excessive heat from pipe fluid or steam cleaning. Therefore, during engineering design, cable selection should be made in accordance with the process conditions.

Taken from UCH Wiki. ===== NOTLAR =====