Heat tracing in power generation
Whether we’re switching on the light, having a hot shower or using our appliances – energy is an integral part of our everyday lives. At the same time, the sector is undergoing significant change: alongside fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are steadily gaining in importance.
In energy generation – from conventional power stations and gas-fired power stations to solar and wind power plants – electric trace heating plays a central role. It ensures that sensitive processes run reliably and that critical plant components are protected from frost or unwanted temperature losses.
In gas-fired power stations, for example, trace heating ensures that temperature losses in the inlet pipes upstream of gas pressure regulation systems are compensated for – as even a pressure change of 25 bar can cause a temperature drop of over 11°C, which can lead to unwanted condensation. In conventional power stations, on the other hand, electric trace heating is used wherever media such as oil, chemicals or steam condensate need to be maintained at a specific temperature – for example, to ensure that oil remains fluid without reaching its flash point.
Trace heating is also indispensable in solar energy: in solar towers, molten nitrate salt is used as a heat storage medium, which must be kept at a constant temperature above 220°C to prevent it from solidifying. At the same time, trace heating protects steam and cooling water pipes from freezing. Electric trace heating is therefore an indispensable component of modern power generation plants – whether conventional or renewable.
