Do electromagnetic flowmeters in cold regions require a steam-heated insulation box?
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I would like to ask for experience in the design of steam tracing for outdoor instruments in cold regions (Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang). In similar designs as well as in standard catalogues, insulation boxes with steam tracing are required for ‘orifice plates and pressure transmitters with pressure guiding tubes’. Is it necessary to provide insulation boxes with steam tracing for the displays of tubular flow meters (such as electromagnetic flow meters) or capillary pressure transmitters? Or is it more reasonable to use thermal insulation directly? I’m very confused about this feeling; I earnestly ask those with experience to help clarify it
If the pipeline is not insulated, a pipe-type flow meter does not require insulation; however, if a secondary display is present on site, an insulation box is needed.
Personally, I think that when the ambient temperature is below minus 20 degrees Celsius, smart meters need to be insulated. As for the form of insulation, I believe electric heating is a more time- and effort-saving option
I worked on a project in Yitai, Xinjiang, where the temperatures dropped to minus 40 degrees. In such conditions, the gauges stopped showing readings during winter, but this did not affect normal operation. Unless it’s a split-type electromagnetic device, I do not recommend using steam heating; it’s sufficient to provide heating/insulation along with the pipeline itself. It is recommended to protect the separate transmitter unit with an insulated box.
For split-type units, should a regular insulated box be used or one with steam heating?
Do I need to add steam tracing to the insulated box?
The insulation box must be equipped with heating elements, while the protective box can do without them
Actually, it’s not really necessary; secondary meters aren’t required, but orifice plates with pressure guiding tubes do need them
Take a closer look at the parameters of the table; it’s not possible to generalize. For example, if the historical extreme temperature is -42 degrees, and considering that such extreme temperatures cannot persist for long, then a device that can operate stably at -40 degrees does not require heating if normal display of the LCD screen is not necessary. In that case, the incubator does not need to be equipped with a heating system. But if a gauge can only operate stably at -20 degrees, then heating is essential. When using steam tracing, attention should be paid to the valve opening.