Banner-Day

Chocolate "Down Under"

Banner-Day Pipe Heating recently completed a pipe heating trial for a major food producer located in Australia. The customer was seeking an alternative pipe heating method to replace the oil jacketed pipe heating system currently used on a chocolate export line and was not familiar with impedance pipe heating technology. 

Existing System Design Basis

 The existing chocolate export line was designed using double-walled mild steel pipe. This piping system was also insulated and clad to minimize heat loss. Hot heating oil was circulated between the outer and inner pipe walls to ensure the chocolate was maintained at temperature and remains in its liquid phase.

Impedance Pipe Heating – End Feed Systems

When configuring Banner-Day Pipe Heating’s TraceFREE® pipe heating designs, end feed systems are the most commonly used. They are excellent for lower to mid-range temperature applications, including multiple branch piping systems.

Impedance Pipe Heating - Center Tap Systems

The TraceFREE® center tap system is typically used for longer pipe runs, frequently without branch lines, and is well suited for midrange and high temperature applications. It does not require the use of dielectric insulated pipe joints because a center tap system is electrically grounded at each end. Said another way, the voltage between the X2 cable connections on the ends of the pipe and earth ground is zero. It is this characteristic that allows impedance to be applied to a piping system carrying an electrically conductive fluid.

Impedance Heating for Molten Salt Temperature Maintenance

Over the years, Banner Day has engaged with companies to solve out of the ordinary pipe heating applications or requirements. Our TraceFREE impedance electric pipe heating systems have versatility and has proven to be an excellent choice for their pipe heating solution. Recently, Banner-Day Pipe Heating has had the opportunity to collaborate with several organizations to support these alternative developing solar technologies. Our TraceFREE IPH center tap system is utilized due to the salt being conductive and the high temperature requirement. In a typical application, molten salt is circulated through highly specialized piping in the receiver (heat exchanger) during the day and held in storage tanks at night at 1050⁰F. Center tap systems are used for longer point to point pipe runs, do not require insulated pipe joints or dielectric flange gaskets and are grounded at each end thus being a good choice for solar applications.