How to Steam Trace Valves

Valves can be steam traced to keep material from freezing.

Steam tracing is a method to keep materials in a pipeline warm or hot. In chemical processing plants, it is often necessary to keep certain materials from freezing and plugging in a pipeline, especially during cold weather. Valves are piping components that can serve as a heat sink -- allowing heat to transfer to the environment -- and, therefore, should also be traced. Usually, heat tracing is accompanied by insulation.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4-inch ball valve
• 1/4-inch copper tubing
• Tubing bender
• Insulation

Instructions

1. Bend the copper tube so that one end begins pointing straight toward the ground, approximately 6 inches from the bottom of the valve. This will be the condensate drain.

2. Wrap the copper tubing around the end of the valve, loop it underneath the valve and to the valve stem -- or handle. Continue to wrap the tubing around the valve body and over the other end of the valve, until you complete three wraps of tubing around the valve.

3. Connect the 1/4-inch ball valve to the end of the tubing that's wrapped around the valve. This will connect to the low pressure steam supply. Ensure the 1/4-inch ball valve is closed, and connect the valve to the steam header. This can be done using copper tubing.

4. Wrap the valve with insulation. Ensure the steam tracing tubing is secure and completely covered by the insulation. Open the 1/4-inch ball valve, and allow steam to flow through the tubing and out the condensate line to the ground.

References

• Straightline Insulation: Steam Tracing