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Croon helps companies and industries through the winter with heat tracing
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13 October 2011
MeteoConsult has predicted one of the coldest winters we have had in a long time. With temperatures down to minus 23oC it is wise to take measures to avoid freezing installations or coagulation of industrial products like caustics and fats. Parking garages and loading platforms can be kept free of snow and ice using heat tracing. Schiphol, Naturalis and Unilver have been using heat tracing by Croon for many years now.
What is heat tracing
Heat tracing involves keeping products that may not solidify, swell or freeze at the right temperature. This used to be done in the old days with bags of straw and horse manure; later heating with steam was used. These days electric heat tracing is used.
Croon has been active in the field of heat tracing and advises, designs and maintains existing heat tracing installations. Croon developed its own special heat tracing maintenance program. This guarantees maintenance to the right circuit at the right time.
IECex-03-certificate mineral insulated cables
One of the more common heating cables for heat tracing is the MI-cable, a mineral insulated cable. This cable has a metal outer jacket and therefore it can be used for high temperatures. Often the entire cable is replaced if damages occur. This is a relatively expensive solution. Repair of this cable, however, is only possible by welding. In order not to lose the Ex-certificate of the cable the specialist repairing the cable must have the IEC-ex-03 certificate. Croon is the first Dutch company specialised in heat tracing that has obtained this certificate. The KEMA-certificate certifies that the holder can weld Ex-certified Mineral Isolated heating cables. This makes Croon the only company in the Netherlands that is allowed to execute repairs on MI-heating elements in ATEX environments in combination with engineering and implementation.
Applications
MI-heating elements are especially used in industrial environments. Companies like Shell, DSM, Unilever, Exxon, BP, Sabic, Purac Biochem, Vopak, E-on, Nuon, Sloe-centrale, Rijnmond Energy, Essent and many others have long since started using these elements. Also companies in food processing industry, chemistry, energy, storage and transhipment as well as oil and gas have trusted the expertise, reliability and flexibility of the electrical heat tracing installed by Croon Elektrotechniek.
