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Dinghua Electronics | Four key measures for insulation and anti-freezing of instruments!

2019-11-29View Original

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After a snowfall, the temperature gradually drops, making it imperative to use instruments with anti-freezing and insulation features. At present, the main method for preventing freezing in instruments is still relying on regular inspections by instrument technicians; when freezing or condensation occurs in the circuits, steam is used to blow and the pipes are tapped to resolve the issue. This is a very primitive approach, and it is laborious and exhausting. To reduce the workload associated with instrument maintenance, ensure smooth production, and keep the instrumentation safe through the winter, the following measures can be taken to prevent the instrumentation from suffering from \"frost damage\". I. Instrument selection measures: Based on the category and purpose of the instruments, as well as the location where they are to be installed, the requirements for insulation and frost protection are determined, after which these requirements are submitted to the manufacturer for instrument selection. Remote transmitters and display meters need to meet the requirements regarding environmental temperatures; those equipped with isolation fluids must also satisfy the requirements related to the environmental temperature tolerance of such fluids. In some areas in the north, the temperature difference between day and night is extremely large; temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees at night. If this issue is not addressed through proper product selection, it will result in a poor cost-performance ratio. Options include thermal insulation and heating, as well as maintenance solutions such as routine inspections and sewage discharge. II. Insulation measures for instruments: Use insulating materials to provide insulation, that is, wrap the parts of the instrument that are prone to freezing or sensitive to cold with such materials. When winter arrives, inspections should be carried out and waste should be removed regularly to prevent damage to the insulation material of the packaging. III. Instrument heating measures: The most important issue in winter is the insulation of instrument equipment. Due to large temperature differences between seasons, operational conditions, and dirty media, many drain valves, including those with heating, often become sources of leaks. In the past, when instruments were in use during winter, reliance was mainly on instrument technicians to conduct inspections; for circuits affected by freezing or condensation, methods such as using external steam to warm the pipes and knocking on them were employed – these were primitive and labor-intensive approaches with no really effective solutions. Now, in order to reduce the workload associated with instrument maintenance and ensure smooth production, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the insulation and heating systems for all instrument equipment well in advance of the winter season. The first thing to consider is ensuring an adequate insulation layer and installing proper heat tracing. As for whether to use electric heat tracing, steam heat tracing, or low-temperature water heat tracing, the choice depends on the specific circumstances. 1. Insulation for steam heating systems: Before supplying steam, it is necessary to thoroughly check whether the insulation pipes are unobstructed. Additionally, during winter, regular inspections and frequent drainage are necessary to prevent the insulation pipes from getting clogged. Sometimes, it is also necessary to adjust the steam supply based on temperature changes, in order to prevent the condensate in the transmitter’s pressure tube from vaporizing due to high temperatures, which could affect the transmitter’s operation, or to prevent the condensate from freezing due to low temperatures, which could hinder proper functioning of the transmitter. 2. Insulation protection box measures: (1) The electric heating tube type insulation box has a structure similar to that of a regular protection box; the difference is that it is equipped with an electrical heating device. This heating device consists of electric heating tubes and a temperature controller. There are sockets on the sides of the box, and once power is supplied, the temperature inside the box rises to the desired level. Once that temperature is reached, the temperature controller continues to supply power to keep the temperature high. Repetitive operation is used to keep the temperature inside the box within a certain range. The main parameters of its constant temperature heater are as follows: rated voltage of 200V/50Hz, rated power of 300–500W. The control temperature can be set by the user. The constant temperature heater can also be designed as an explosion-proof version. There are three types of heating element materials available: copper tubes, carbon steel tubes, and stainless steel tubes. (2) Steam pipe heating insulation box: The heating tube is made of metal in an S-shaped structure, and the upper and lower parts of the box are welded to the heating tube using welded plate joints; the heating tube is installed inside the box with steam entering from the top and exiting from the bottom, and heating is achieved through the circulation of steam within the tube cavity. (3) Adding another layer of insulation foam to the key instrument cabinet, and sealing the door of the insulated cabinet as well as the inlet and outlet pipelines with glue, can achieve a better insulation and anti-freezing effect for the instrument system. 3. Electric heating strip measures: Electric heat tracing insulation technology is a new type of heating technology that converts electrical energy directly into thermal energy. Install insulated cables, wrapping the heat tracing tape around the instruments or sticking it inside the instrument cabinet. However, as a clean energy source, electricity is relatively expensive, and it is difficult to ensure explosion safety for electric heat tracing. If the enterprise has its own heat exchange station, the waste heat can be used for heating and heat tracing. A single-phase constant-power electric heating tape suitable for heating, anti-freezing, and insulation of pipes, valves, and pump bodies, or for maintaining the process temperature of instrument pipelines. It features a constant heat generation per unit length; its output power does not change with variations in ambient temperature. The length required for use is proportional to the power level. It can be cut as needed during installation, but at least one heating section (i.e., 2.5 meters) must be retained. The outer woven layer serves to transfer and dissipate heat, and it also functions as a safe grounding element to prevent static electricity. It is mainly used for anti-freezing and insulation of various pipes and instruments, with a maximum maintainable temperature of 150°C. Note: Temperature controllers must be used for the heating and insulation of liquid pipelines where strict temperature control is required. It should also be noted that, aside from the temperature range required by the instruments themselves (note: electronic components are classified into military, industrial, and civilian types, with the vast majority of industrial-grade components only functioning at around minus 20 degrees), the most common form of heating/insulation used is that for sampling pipelines. Measuring pressure or differential pressure is dominated by diaphragm box types; the shorter the sampling tube, the better. There should be a check valve, and it must be easy to maintain – it needs to be led from the pipeline rack to the ground level, at which point pipe heating is essential. Those with extensive experience in instrument maintenance know that the main piping for instrument heating branches off from the process main piping; monitoring instruments should be installed on this supply and return water/steam line in order to **reduce the risk of catastrophic damage to the instruments due to freezing. IV. Instrument Maintenance Measures 1. Installation Measures: Select an appropriate installation location; instruments should be installed in a dry place free from rain, snow, and dripping water. 2. Inspection measures: When conditions permit, a dedicated person shall conduct daily technical checks and take appropriate actions to determine whether the insulation materials are damaged or whether the steam pipelines are blocked. 3. Alarm measures: Where possible, install small audio-visual alarm devices that detect steam leaks or power outages, to facilitate the identification of potential issues related to insulation and anti-freezing measures and their prompt correction. 4. Inspection measures: The person responsible for instrument maintenance in the area conducts regular inspections along the predetermined routes. During inspections, it is necessary to check whether the valves of the insulated pipelines are functioning properly, whether the insulation boxes are in good condition, whether the drain devices are working correctly, whether the insulation material is properly packaged, and whether the components responsible for electric heating are functioning properly. Conduct thorough inspections of the instruments in the freeze-proofing equipment and keep records of these inspections; maintain the instruments as well as the insulation and freeze-protection measures in a dry, intact, and clean condition, and address any issues related to insulation and heating that arise on site promptly.

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