Heating cable for water supply: installation. Where an electrical heating cable is used

Heating pipelines today - a common phenomenon, especially important in winter, when it's frosty weather. To avoid icing both inside and outside the pipes, the use of some thermal insulation materials is extremely inadequate. This problem can be solved finally using electric heating systems based on a self-regulating resistive cable.

Applications of heating cable

Heating systems protect pipeline networks from freezing, oil pipelines or pipes to transfer chemicals from clogging. Heating cable for water pipe is used for external and internal channels, which are laid both on the ground surface and under it. He solves the following problems:

• Protects pipes from freezing, prevents the appearance of damage by ice build-up.
• Regulates the temperature of the transported substances.
• It heats the pipeline to a certain temperature.

In addition, an electric heating cable can be used for warming floors in residential or industrial buildings. It is also needed for snow removal in open areas, for heating the land in greenhouses, etc.

Device and principle of operation of the heating cable

It is a flexible heating element that is placed in an insulator. Depending on its purpose, the system can be designed for both dry places and for rooms with high humidity. The principle of its operation is quite simple: a heating cable for a water pipe generates heat that appears when an electric current passes through it. The higher the power input, the more heat is released.

Why do I need a heating cable for pipes?

Above we have described some of its functions. But there are several other tasks that the heating cable for the pipeline successfully solves. The main advantages of the system are as follows:

• When it is used, there is no ice completely.
• There is no condensation, the presence of which greatly reduces the service life of thermal insulation materials.
• Provides uninterrupted transportation of any liquid material through the pipes.
• When a heating cable is used, the installation of the pipeline can be done at any depth. This does not depend on the degree of freezing of the soil.

Main elements of cable heating systems

Typically, a heating cable for a water pipe consists of:

• A start-up system that is located in the control cabinet;
• Aluminum scotch for fastening and insulation of heating system;
• Materials for the thermal insulation of the water supply;
• Temperature regulator;
• Directly the heating cable.

Types of heating systems

They are different depending on the field of application. Used in a variety of devices. Depending on the heat dissipation scheme, the systems are divided into cables with mineral insulation, resistive and self-regulating.

Resistive cable

It is of a zonal or linear type. The latest models of the cable are distinguished by the heat generated when the electric current passes through the veins. These modifications can be single- and double-core, and also consist of several linear or spiral parts. Resistive heating cable for water supply, the price of which is much lower than self-regulating, - on average from 3,000 rubles per 4 meters - requires for its work the availability of special sensors that automatically react to any temperature change. Cut this cable into pieces of arbitrary size is strictly prohibited.

The principle of the zone resistive device is the same as in the above models, but it has some design differences. The system consists of two parallel insulated conductors that conduct current. In their isolation there are small gaps, located with a certain pitch. A thin helix made of a high-voltage alloy is superimposed over the conductive wire. In places where there is no insulation, the helix is wound to the cores, and the cable is an A set of resistors, which are connected in parallel to the conductors. Zone heating cable for pipes can be cut into sections not less than 1.5 m in length.

Self-regulating cable

How is it different? By design, the self-regulating heating cable is identical to the device of the zonal system. It also has conductive veins, but they do not have an insulating coating. They are enclosed in a polymer matrix or connected by means of spiral polymer conductive filaments. During the heating process, the heat-releasing polymer increases the resistance. When the self-regulating heating cable is installed, its heat release varies over the entire length and depends on the outside temperature. With an increase in the degree regime, the resistance of the polymer increases, respectively, the heat release decreases, and vice versa. This process is the same self-regulation, in which neither overheating nor cable burning occurs. Such a heating element can be divided into pieces from 20 cm to several meters.

Cables with mineral insulation

It is a conductor made of metal, which is insulated with magnesium oxide, that is, an inorganic mineral in a single shell of copper, nickel alloy, stainless or heat-resistant steel. The mineral insulator possesses a number of valuable qualities - thanks to it the structure becomes more stable, it provides high dielectric properties over a wide range of temperatures. Magnesium oxide in the form of a powder is known as the most reliable and effective insulator having a high thermal conductivity.

This heating element for pipes is specially designed for places where:

• High temperature prevails;
• Need a strong cable construction;
• It is necessary to maintain a high temperature;
• Need a long service heater;
• Resistance to corrosion is important;
• High output power is needed.

Heating cable for water supply: installation

It can be carried out in two ways: outside and inside. When the heating cable for the gutters is laid inside the pipe, in case of freezing it will melt the ice much faster than the one that is located on top. But with the duties assigned to the heating system, it will cope in any cases with a 100% guarantee.

Outdoor heating can be done in two ways:

• Lay several heating strands in one line;
• Just wind the cable on the pipes with a certain pitch.

When winding around the pipe increases the heating area, which adversely affects the level of efficiency of the entire system. And how to properly perform outdoor installation? The heating cable for gutters is tightly wound or placed on channels, fixed with aluminum tape in several places. Also do not forget to install temperature sensors between the cable turns. Strengthen them, too, with the help of aluminum tape. The next stage consists in winding a strip of aluminum along the entire length of the heated water pipe. Thanks to this element is tightly adjacent to the pipe, in addition, provides protection against drying and destruction of insulation, which will subsequently fit. The final step is to isolate the cable from unwanted heat loss.

At the end of the installation, the system must be properly connected to the electrical supply. It does not matter what type of heating cable is installed for the water pipe, the price for it is not the main factor, it is necessary to supply a temperature controller that monitors the entire heating system with the help of sensors. It will turn it on or off automatically, depending on temperature fluctuations. It must be remembered that the resistive element has a high sensitivity to various damages. During installation, it is not allowed to cross and overlap the cable.

Internal installation of the heating cable is burdened with some difficulties.

1. It is not easy to insert it inside the pipe. It is desirable that when installing pipes, ready-made rotary devices, taps, fittings are not used.
2. At the design stage, it should be remembered that the internal arrangement of the heating element reduces the diameter of the pipe, so you need to purchase equipment with a larger diameter.
3. The presence of the element for heating gradually leads to overgrowing with water sediments and may lead to an earlier failure of the pipe.
4. It is almost impossible to replace a heating cable for a water pipe under the ground.

The internal installation is carried out with an additional tee installed in the pipe, through which the wire is laid. The location of the heating cable inside the pipe is usually used to ensure the operability of such complex components as pumps or cranes. The use of an internal heating system allows more efficient use of electricity, because in this case only the moving liquid is heated, and not the pipe and its elements.

The use of heating systems for water supply makes it possible, with minimum costs, to ensure year-round and uninterrupted operation of the water pipe and other equipment.