Heating with a cable has recently become very popular in the repair and construction. Thanks to the cable, it is possible to heat not only the pipeline, but also other objects, such as roofs and floors. The ability to roll the material to any position allows you to mount it on almost any plane, so the surface of the object receives the necessary heating.
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What is a heating cable?
Heating cable
The cable heats up due to the electric current flowing through it, thereby converting electrical energy into thermal energy without the use of various types of fuel.
One of the main parameters in the operation of components is specific heat, which is measured as power in relation to length (W/m). Modern materials can maintain the required temperature (5 - 150 C). The operating period is at least 20 years and a 10-year warranty is provided by the manufacturer.
Its benefits
Heating cable installation
- If installed correctly, the heating will last a long time and without any complaints.
- This type is universal. It can be used not only for heating pipelines located underground and on the street, but also during installation underfloor heating indoors and heating of coatings when laying the roof
- Does not harm the environment and is absolutely safe
- Installation does not require the use of any special skills and is quite easy to install. And further use does not carry any nuances and is quite simple. The only thing when choosing is to pay attention to the parameters and technical data of the materials
Principle of operation
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The cable consists of several sections of different lengths (from a few centimeters to several hundred meters). A core is installed inside, the components of which have a high electrical resistance. The specific heat release depends on the value of the resistance of the alloy: with an increase in the resistance, the heat release increases.
The core is completed with screens consisting of both aluminum components, and from copper wire meshes. It is covered with an insulating sheath made of polymer components.
Principle of operation
A sheath of polyvinyl chloride substances is installed around it, protecting it from external influences. In this case, the cable can consist of either one or several special cores.
Accordingly, single-core ones have the lowest price, but the simplicity of the design contributes to the influence of electromagnetic radiation from the outside.. A system consisting of several heating conductors will be more reliable, and shielding with foil will protect against interference. Naturally, the cost of a shielded one will be higher than that of the same one that does not have foil protection.
Additionally equipped with the following devices and components:
- junction boxes
- means for terminating, splicing and passing through thermal insulation
- automatic protection devices, heating devices
- installation of circuit breakers and additional heating control devices in one cabinet
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Heating types are of the following types:
Resistive heating cable
They have a simpler design and are designed for floor installation and installation in pipelines with a diameter not exceeding 40 mm. The principle of operation is to turn on the heating with the help of installed temperature sensors. When it drops below the set value, the system automatically turns on and the elements are heated by current, which direct the resulting heat to the pipes.
Once the required temperature is reached, the system will automatically switch off. The cable itself consists of a metal core wrapped in insulating material. Due to the simplicity of the device, it has the ability to save parameters during the entire period of operation of the device, and also has a high specific heat release.
Its price is cheaper than that of self-regulating. The biggest disadvantage of resistive materials is the need to change the entire heating section in case of a malfunction, since it is arbitrarily unacceptable to dismantle any section. It goes on sale in the form of finished sections of a certain size. When selecting, it must be remembered that for different lengths of sections, cores with different materials are used.
In the case of cutting, an increase in specific heat generation occurs, which causes overheating of the insulation and further breakage. The maximum effect when mounting this type of components in the pipeline can be obtained with additional pipe insulation.
Most often in stores you can find 4 types of resistive heating elements, which differ in the presence of cores and additional shielding (single-core, single-core screened, two-core, two-core screened). Each cable is marked with information about the type, specific power, voltage and date of manufacture.
Self-regulating heating cable
Self-regulating cable is installed for heating large diameter pipelines, roofs and large industrial premises. The system independently, without the use of any sensors, begins to heat up, reacting to a decrease in temperature. In heating components of this type, several semiconductor cores are installed inside, which have the ability to change resistance when the temperature rises or falls. In the event of a drop in temperature, a decrease in resistance occurs, which automatically increases the production of current and leads to further heating.
A self-regulating cable can respond to any, even small thermal changes, in different areas of the surface. Accordingly, the heating on different parts of the pipes can be completely different, which allows you to use it as efficiently and economically as possible.
One of the advantages is reliability. For example, it will not overheat and will not fail, even if an overlap occurs on any of its segments. In addition, it is possible to cut to any required size, which further simplifies the installation and repair of heating components.
The downside is the relatively short service life of the semiconductor matrix (on average, about 20 years), because of this, it is desirable to use this type of heating element in the public domain. Therefore, for such work as installing a heating cable in the floor, it is desirable to use a resistive type.
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Zone heating cable
Zone heating in terms of characteristics and cost is between resistive and self-regulating materials. This type is similar in many characteristics to resistive, but has one of the main advantages of self-regulating elements: the ability to cut immediately on the object.
The conductors are wrapped with a layer of insulation, on top of which a material made of alloys (for example, nichrome thread) is laid, which has high resistance and provides heating.
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Cable application
Tank heating with cable
The heating cable must be selected taking into account the calculation of possible heat losses at the facility with the most negative thermal changes, not forgetting the type and thickness of the installed thermal insulation. The type of heating system is selected taking into account the compensation for the heat loss of the object.
Heating cable for pipe heating
- In a water supply system, heating materials can be mounted both in the pipe cavity and from the outside. The internal setting of the resistive heating system is used in pipes of small diameter. External installation is carried out on pipelines of large diameter, a heating self-regulating cable is used for it.
Installation of a warm floor
- Floor installation. It is not uncommon that during the repair of flooring occurs underfloor heating installationused both in apartments and in private houses. Heating materials are mounted in a uniform manner in the floor concrete screed. From above, the necessary coating is set. When switched on, the floor is evenly heated. When installing this system, resistive heating elements are used. When installing a warm floor, heating mats are used, consisting of heating elements, of small diameter, mounted on a grid and having a small interval. It is made from a cable consisting of one or two cores. At the same time, systems made of single-core are recommended to be installed in non-residential premises and industrial facilities. In apartments and private houses, it is recommended to install mats consisting of a heating system with shielding and the presence of two heating wires. The presence of shielding makes it safe for a person to live, excluding the effects of a magnetic field on him. One of the advantages of installing a “thin warm floor” is the ease of installation of the structure, due to the fixing of the heating components directly on the grid, which allows you to independently install the system
Roof heating
- Roof. In order to prevent the formation of ice and the accumulation of snow, heating systems are used on roof surfaces. Materials are placed in areas where icicles, ice, and snow accumulation are most likely to appear. Installation of heating eliminates the need for cleaning the roof in the future. It is possible to install components in modern construction on any type of roofing materials.
Photo of a container with a fixed heating cable
- Heating of various containers. In order to prevent freezing of various liquids (petroleum products, chemicals, etc.), heating elements are mounted in the heating tank. In this case, it is possible to use both resistive and self-regulating heating systems.An important function is the prevention of freezing and therefore, depending on the transported materials, they may differ in the required temperature. So + 40С is enough for transportation of petroleum products, and for transportation and storage of bitumen in containers, a temperature in the region of + 170С is required.
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Installation of heating cable in pipes
High-quality installation of the heating system will ensure the trouble-free operation of the water supply and other similar devices.
- Before starting installation, clean the surface of the pipe, remove rust
- Installation of heating components is carried out in several ways:
- The heating element is mounted on the pipe in parallel, using one or more cables.
- The installation of heating elements is carried out according to the spiral type. This method is used in pipes of small diameter and in the presence of a heating cable of sufficient length.
The heating cable is used for plumbing systems
When installing heating components, it is necessary to carry out an installation that excludes contact from flanges and connections that can pass liquids. This method will protect the cable from getting wet in the heating system in case of a possible violation of the tightness of plumbing and other structures.
When installing thermal insulation, it is necessary to mount the heating section in such a way that its cold end remains outside the insulation layer. If the installation takes place at a distance from the outlet, then it is necessary to use a junction box. To prevent the resistive wire from burning out, it is necessary to avoid crossing it when setting. This rule does not apply to self-regulating, as it is not combustible.
In order not to experience problems when disconnecting the pipeline in the future, during operation, it is necessary to install a heating section in the area of the valves and flanges, not more than 1.4 m long.
It is possible to additionally protect the heating structure from possible ingress of liquid by installing additional insulation. After installing the insulation on the pipes, it is necessary to mark the presence of a heating cable.
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