Prevent freezing and blockage in grain and oil pipelines! Selection of heat tracing cable

Grain and oil pipelines are prone to blockage due to oil solidification and starch agglomeration in low temperature environments, which not only affects conveying efficiency but also may cause difficulties in pipeline cleaning and equipment wear and tear. Heat tracing bands are the key to solving this problem, but improper selection can lead to insulation failure. Focusing on three core indicators can accurately meet the needs of grain and oil pipelines and avoid pitfalls.

Core Indicator 1: Temperature control accuracy, with matching the characteristics of grain and oil being crucial. Different grains and oils exhibit significant differences in their freezing points and gelatinization temperatures. For instance, the freezing point of soybean oil is approximately 0℃, whereas palm oil has a high freezing point of 24℃, and starchy materials tend to gelatinize above 50℃. The heat tracing belt needs to precisely control the temperature within the range of "above the freezing point and below the gelatinization temperature". The self-regulating model comes with a PTC temperature control function, maintaining a temperature fluctuation of ±2℃, making it suitable for household use or small-scale grain and oil pipelines. For industrial large-diameter pipelines, it is recommended to choose the constant power model paired with an intelligent temperature controller to achieve precise temperature control of ±1℃ and avoid material blockage caused by temperature loss of control.

Core Indicator 2: Protection Level, suitable for grain and oil operation environment. Grain and oil processing scenarios often involve dust, oil stains, and slight moisture. The protection level of the heat tracing belt must reach IP65 or above to prevent dust from infiltrating and affecting insulation performance. If the pipeline is close to the cleaning area or located in a damp warehouse, an IP67 waterproof model should be selected. The sheath should preferably be made of oil-resistant high-density polyethylene material to avoid oil corrosion that can lead to sheath aging and damage, thereby extending the service life of the equipment.

Core Indicator 3: Power Matching, Balancing Heat Preservation Efficiency and Energy Consumption. Too low a power will result in slow temperature rise and insufficient heat preservation, making the oil prone to solidification; too high a power will lead to a surge in energy consumption and may also cause localized overheating. For small-diameter conveying pipes (diameter ≤ 50mm), medium and low-power models of 15-20W/m can be selected; for large-diameter pipelines (diameter > 100mm) or long-distance conveying scenarios, power models of 25-35W/m are required to ensure uniform heat coverage. At the same time, priority should be given to energy-saving products to reduce long-term operating costs.

In addition to core indicators, details of scene adaptation cannot be ignored. When transporting edible grain and oil, the heat tracing belt must meet food contact safety standards to avoid material contamination. For pipelines with many turns and dense valves, a heat tracing belt with strong flexibility should be selected, and the bending radius should be controlled within 5 times the diameter to ensure a tight fit. Outdoor pipelines need to be coated with a weather-resistant layer to resist ultraviolet rays, wind, and rain erosion, preventing performance degradation of the heat tracing belt.

When selecting models, it is also necessary to avoid common pitfalls: do not blindly pursue high power; instead, calculate the total power based on the diameter and length of the pipeline; avoid substituting industrial ordinary models for food-grade products to prevent safety risks; do not neglect the commissioning after installation; after power-on, check whether the temperature distribution is uniform to ensure there are no insulation dead zones, thereby eliminating material blockage issues from the source.

The core of selecting a grain and oil pipeline heat tracing belt revolves around three major indicators: temperature control accuracy, protection level, and power matching, combined with precise judgment based on the characteristics of grain and oil and the operating environment. Choosing the right product can not only effectively prevent material blockage and ensure smooth conveyance, but also control energy consumption and costs, making the insulation of grain and oil pipelines truly worry-free, efficient, and safe.