Winter means not only white, phenomenal landscapes, but also slippery, icy roads and sidewalks, freezing pipes and sensitive home installations. Therefore, it is worth installing heating systems that will ensure the full safety of residents and the comfort of maintaining buildings and properties.
nVent RAYCHEM heating cables
Modern, intelligent control systems can reduce energy consumption so that the systems operate only when needed. Maintaining positive temperatures along pipes exposed to freezing, which turn on several times during the winter months when the temperature drops below zero, is virtually unnoticeable on electricity bills. This is when the system prevents costly failures and saves us a lot of trouble.
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Protection of pipes against freezing and damage in winter conditions
A long winter can take its toll not only on all of us, but also leaves its mark on buildings and installations. Frozen pipes are a costly problem - when they are exposed to negative temperatures, they burst, leading to significant damage and disruptions in the functioning of facilities.
The task of electric heating systems is to protect water and sewage pipes against freezing, to protect installations supplying fuel oil or other liquids that change their physicochemical properties under the influence of low temperatures, and to maintain the appropriate pipeline temperature. Using only thermal insulation or increasing its thickness is often insufficient or unfavorable for economic reasons. Especially when there is no continuous flow of the medium in the installation, the use of electric heating is necessary.
Electric self-regulating heating cables are suitable for many applications:
- protection against freezing of water pipes, cables laid on pipes: nVent RAYCHEM 10XL2-ZH (10 W/m at 5°C), nVent RAYCHEM FroStop Black (18 W/m at 5°C),
- protection against freezing of water pipes, cables laid inside the pipes: nVent RAYCHEM ETL-10 (10 W/m at 5°C in air, 20 W/m at 5°C in water),
- maintaining the temperature of sewage pipes containing fatty substances: nVent RAYCHEM 31XL- 2-ZH (31 W/m at 5°C).
The cables can be used for both metal and plastic pipes. They are placed along the pipeline under a layer of insulation. The heating power that should be supplied to compensate for heat losses, i.e. what cable should be used and what thermal insulation - we calculate or select based on ready-made heat loss tables. A complete set of components and drivers can be selected for each system. Thermostats are used to control the operation of such circuits. Basic control involves measuring the surface temperature of the pipeline at its coldest point and switching on the heating circuits when the temperature reaches the set value. For larger installations, it is justified to use thermostats with an energy-saving function, e.g. nVent RAYCHEM RAYSTAT-V5.
nVent RAYCHEM heating cables
Anti-icing system - convenient access in winter
Electric heating systems are also an effective method of maintaining the surface of sidewalks, driveways and passages in a condition that ensures trouble-free and safe movement. A properly designed and constructed anti-icing system guarantees the safety of road and pedestrian traffic, reduces the costs of repairing surface damage caused by freezing water, saves energy and time on removing ice, and protects the environment against the use of defrosting substances.
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Benefits of such a solution:
- permanent, 24/7 access to the building,
- the roads clear themselves of snow - the system eliminates the need for snow removal
manual, - limiting snow removal time - the system prevents snowdrifts from forming as they arise,
- low system costs – the system only works when it snows. Thanks to the use of controllers, the heating system turns on when the temperature drops below the programmed value and there is precipitation at the same time.
How to choose the right heating system?
The heating system should be selected depending on the type of surface and its purpose. Descriptions of individual systems are provided below. To sum up, electric heating of external surfaces is a convenience that we can afford, and in the rich offer available on the market - everyone will find a system suitable for their requirements and needs. Therefore, this solution, so popular in countries with harsh winters, is also quickly adopted here.
Asphalt driveways
High-temperature heating cables in mineral insulation EM2-MI are the best solution for heating systems laid in hot asphalt. No other heating cable is so resistant to high temperatures and damage during installation. The EM2-MI system, available in sets from 1270 W to 4290 W, can be easily adapted to irregularly shaped surfaces. Factory terminated heating cables do not require terminations or cold leads during installation and can be attached to existing reinforcement or spacer strips.
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Driveways, sidewalks and stairs are concrete and covered with paving stones
In this case, it will be optimal to use constant resistance cables and mats. This is the most economical solution, characterized by simplicity and short installation time. Raychem EM2-CM heating mats with a power of 300 W/m² and a width of 60 cm are perfect for clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways. They can be rolled out immediately before pouring the concrete.
Factory terminated Raychem EM4-CW constant resistance heating cables with a power of 25 W/m are laid on stairs, complex and irregularly shaped surfaces. The 2-wire cable design means only one cold wire that needs to be connected to the power supply and controller.
Constant resistance solutions are most often used in single-family construction due to low purchase costs and economical operation.
Concrete, reinforced loading ramps
In places with particular traffic intensity - in parking lots, loading ramps, entrances to underground parking lots and even on helipads and airports - nVent RAYCHEM EM2-XR self-regulating cables (300 W/m², 90 W/ m at 0°C). Thanks to self-regulation technology, these cables maintain the required temperature along the entire length of the heating circuit. They are very safe - they do not overheat even at the point of crossing.
Self-regulating ducts are the most frequently chosen system for large projects and investments where installation takes place in concrete. By using the nVent RAYCHEM VIA-DU20 controller, the entire system can save up to 80% of energy.
A factory-built controller for the nVent RAYCHEM SBS-xx-VV-20 power supply and control switchgear is also available, enabling powering up to 12 heating circuits.
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