Case study 2: Variable power limiting heating cable technology in biofuels industry One of the largest midstream infrastructure and logistic solution providers in the US is shifting its terminal facilities from petroleum- based to biofuels production. This conversion requires multi-million-dollar terminal retrofits to enable the aggregation, storage, blending, and distribution of biofuels, mainly biodiesel, all totalling up to 5,000 miles of pipeline and 130 liquid petroleum terminals. Since typical terminal storage and distribution for petroleum-based products, like diesel and gasoline, do not require supplemental heat tracing, areas such as piers, jetties, tankage, blending, and interconnecting piping had limited power distribution capacity. However, biodiesel, ethanol, and SAF storage and distribution do require heat tracing to maintain the right viscosity levels. For example, biodiesel (B100) requires a process temperature maintenance of 110°F (43°C). The customer’s mission-critical objectives for the heat management solution include finding the optimal yet cost-effective system design for this project that would keep critical processes running and manage the additional demands for power distribution in the terminal areas such as piers, jetties, tankage, blending and interconnecting piping. nVent engineers designed a system using Raychem Variable Power Limiting technology (VPL-4) powered at 480V for longline heating, interconnecting piping, and vessel heating. VPL heating cables offer great features like ease of design and cut-to-length installation. However, most important to the customer was that the long circuit length capability of VPL-4 at 480V reduced the circuit count and addressed the challenge of limited power distribution in piping and vessels in areas of the terminal. To manage the higher temperature lines that required process temperature maintenance or freeze protection, the engineers selected Raychem HTV high-temperature self-regulating heating cables with High Power Retention (HPR) technology that have a minimum of 95% power retention after 10 years and a design life of 30 years or more. The design was completed with a heat trace control and monitoring unit to save energy, minimise risk, and maximise productivity.
Case study 3: Series resistance heating cable technology in biofuels industry A Newfoundland refinery is undergoing a major retrofit to manufacture renewable diesel and SAF. The main feedstock will be animal fats and plant oils, which will arrive via ships from the Northeast USA. Since the previous petroleum feedstock loading dock and distribution system did not require heat tracing, the dock area had limited power distribution available. However, because animal fats and plant oil feedstocks and some finished goods become waxy and solidify at ambient temperatures, they require heat tracing to maintain temperatures in the 120°F (50°C) range to keep them in liquid form. The customer’s objective was to find an efficient and budget- friendly heat management solution to sustain mission-critical processes and handle increased power needs at the dock and distribution areas. nVent engineers designed a system using Raychem series heating (SC) cables for the longlines due to their ability to meet the process temperature maintenance needs, heat the long distribution lines, and manage the limited power distribution reliably, safely, and with the lowest installed cost. The design was completed with a heat trace control and monitoring unit to save energy, minimise risk, and maximise productivity. Case study 4: Skin-effect tracing system technology in biofuels industry Two major renewable producers in Port Arthur, Texas, have partnered on a challenging project to deliver chicken fat as feedstock to a rail unloading facility, then through an underground line into the refinery. The underground line would be buried at depths ranging from 6 to 100 feet. Chicken fat and used cooking oil are two of the feedstocks being utilised in the refinery to produce renewable diesel. Routing this feedstock into the refinery involves the design of a one-mile-long heated underground pipeline. The chicken fat and oil have to be maintained at a process temperature of 120°F (50°C) to keep them in liquid form. The customer’s mission- critical objectives for the heat management solution included protecting critical processes and managing the engineering and contractor challenges for construction, installation, and future reliable operation of this underground heated line. nVent engineers designed a system using
www.decarbonisationtechnology.com
64
Powered by FlippingBook