Electric heat tracing for long lines
As part of a modernization and reconstruction project, a large oil refinery in Azerbaijan needed to upgrade its heating solutions to ensure critical fluids were constantly at optimum temperatures. The primary challenge was the refinery’s long pipelines—each over 0.6 miles and more than 30 miles in total—making it difficult to manage temperatures effectively with conventional heating solutions.
The company was looking for a solution that could offer complete temperature control for 24/7 refinery operations. The solution needed to guarantee critical fluids would never become frozen, as this would interrupt production. Importantly, it also had to guarantee fluid temperatures would never rise above safety thresholds and that all materials were suitable for hazardous areas with a high risk of explosion.
To meet these challenges, the company turned to Chromalox to deliver electric heat tracing cables and control systems precisely tailored to the site’s specific requirements . Our deep understanding of Oil and Gas processes and needs meant we were also able to streamline commissioning and maintenance, saving time and costs..
The solution: A long line electric heat tracing system—and industry expertise.
Chromalox designed a new heat trace system to ensure the smooth flow of fluids throughout the refinery’s extensive pipeline network. We provided:
- Electric heat tracing cables to guarantee constant temperatures for all critical fluids, eliminate any cold points, and minimize the number of electric circuits required
- Modular power and control panels suitable for use in hazardous areas, enabling constant on-site monitoring and control of the entire heat tracing system
- Site services, using our Oil and Gas expertise to ensure the smooth and successful commissioning of the new system
The benefits: Temperature control guaranteed—and lower costs
With its new electric heat tracing system, the company now has peace of mind on this critical issue, with comprehensive temperature control along all pipelines, and confidence that fluids will keep flowing, enabling round-the-clock refinery operations.
Drawing on our heat tracing and Oil and Gas expertise enabled the company to significantly reduce construction costs compared to alternative solutions. With fewer electric circuits and increased monitoring and control, the system also optimizes electricity consumption, further reducing costs and lowering the refinery’s carbon emissions.
