Electric Heat Tracing Market

Electric Heat Tracing: An Overview

Electric heat tracing (EHT) is a process of applying heat to pipes, tanks, vessels, and other equipment to prevent them from freezing or to maintain their temperature. The system comprises heating cables that are wrapped around the surface of the equipment to be heated. The cables are either self-regulating or constant wattage, and they are controlled by a thermostat or a control panel. EHT is widely used in various industries such as oil and gas, chemical, and food processing, to ensure that the process fluid or material stays at the required temperature.

The Benefits of Electric Heat Tracing

One of the significant advantages of EHT is its ability to maintain a constant temperature, which is crucial for the safe and efficient operation of various industrial processes. For instance, in the oil and gas industry, EHT is used to maintain the temperature of pipelines and valves to prevent freezing, which can cause blockages and affect the flow of oil and gas. Similarly, in the food processing industry, EHT is used to maintain the temperature of food storage and processing equipment, ensuring the quality and safety of the food products.

EHT is also an energy-efficient heating method, as it applies heat only where it is needed. Unlike traditional heating methods that heat the entire equipment, EHT heats only the surface of the equipment, reducing energy consumption and costs. Moreover, EHT is a low-maintenance system that requires minimal upkeep, reducing the operational and maintenance costs associated with traditional heating systems.

The Types of Electric Heat Tracing

There are two types of EHT: self-regulating and constant wattage. Self-regulating heating cables are made of conductive polymer materials that increase their resistance as the temperature rises, reducing the amount of heat output. These cables are ideal for use in applications that require variable heat output, such as long pipelines that require different temperatures at different locations.

Constant wattage heating cables, on the other hand, have a fixed output regardless of the temperature. They are used in applications that require a constant and uniform heat output, such as tanks and vessels.

The Future of Electric Heat Tracing

The electric heat tracing market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for energy-efficient and cost-effective heating solutions. The adoption of EHT is expected to increase in various industries, including oil and gas, chemical, and food processing, among others.

Moreover, technological advancements in the EHT system, such as the development of smart heating cables that can be remotely controlled and monitored, are expected to further boost the market growth. The integration of EHT with Internet of Things (IoT) technology is also expected to provide significant benefits, such as real-time monitoring of the system, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization.

Dynamics of Electric Heat Tracing Market

Growth Drivers in Electric Heat Tracing Market

The electric heat tracing (EHT) system offers more temperature range options, lower maintenance costs, and remote monitoring compared to steam heat tracing systems. EHT systems require minimal maintenance and can be replaced without damaging existing structures. As a result, industries are increasingly adopting permanent heating solutions and systems, reducing the cost of operation and maintenance, which drives the market growth. Furthermore, the preference for EHT systems over traditional steam tracking methods and the growing interest of various industries in adopting resource-efficient heating systems is driving market growth. EHT systems are beneficial to various industrial sectors, including petrochemical plants, refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing, power generation, water and waste treatment facilities, and food processing. The increasing demand for heat tracing systems and emerging new markets are creating lucrative Opportunities for market growth.

Low Maintenance Costs Associated with Electric Heat Tracing Systems:

Electric heat tracing systems are easy to install, utilize energy efficiently, and offer a wide range of temperature options. Compared to steam heat tracing systems, they have lower maintenance costs, with incurred costs only for control systems and electricity. Minimum maintenance is required to operate heat tracing systems, and replacements can be made without disturbing any current structures. Increasing demand for heat tracing systems from various end-user industries and increasing adoption of heat tracing systems in power plants are expected to create growth opportunities during the forecast period.

Adverse Effects of Overlapping of Heating Cables:

The main purpose of the electric heat tracing system is to prevent tanks, vessels, and pipes from freezing, heat loss, and maintain the required process temperature. The system uses electric panels and heat cables for heating. Overlapping or touching the heating cables after installation can lead to overheating, resulting in the failure of the entire system if even one section in the cables breaks. Special care must be taken during the installation phase to prevent overlapping heating cables. However, overlapping heating cables and the impact of installing heat tracing systems for tanks and large vessels are hindering market growth.

Opportunities in Electric Heat Tracing Market

The market for electric heat tracing systems is expanding rapidly as a result of growing demand from a wide range of industries. The end-user industries of these systems include oil and gas, power and energy, chemicals, and food and beverages. These industries are among the primary contributors to the market growth of electric heat tracing systems. Electric heat tracing systems are widely used in the oil and gas industry for several applications such as upstream, midstream, and downstream components of oil and gas production, processing, storage, and distribution applications that must be kept at a certain temperature for peak performance. Additionally, heat tracing is used in the extraction of oil and natural gas from the ground, which requires high temperatures. Heat tracing is also used during the processing of gas, heavy oils, and petrochemicals to keep the refinement process running smoothly.

The demand for heat tracing equipment is expected to increase in the coming years as the oil and gas industry recovers from the economic downturn and exploration and production activities increase. Oil and gas exploration companies are looking for highly technical and eco-friendly solutions. In the Arctic polar region, where the ambient air temperature is extremely low, and strong winds create snow and ice conditions, unique operational heat tracing solutions are required for oil and gas-carrying pipelines.

Challenges in Electric Heat Tracing Market

One of the major challenges in the installation of heat tracing systems is for tanks and large vessels used to store water, chemicals, ammonia, resins, and oil in various process industries, such as chemical, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas. The installation of heat tracing systems on large tanks can be particularly challenging because as the tank size increases, the chances of significant heat loss also increase. Thus, electric heat tracing solutions are required to balance the heat lost with the heat supplied to the tanks and large vessels. Installing heat tracing systems for large tanks is difficult and expensive as thermal insulation is not always sufficient to compensate for heat losses. Thus, the installation of heat tracing systems for large tanks incurs significant costs, and repairs or replacements are time-consuming once the tank is insulated.

Ecosystem of Electric Heat Tracing Market

Self-regulating heat tracing cables are expected to dominate the electric heat tracing market by type during the forecast period. These cables are highly energy-efficient, owing to their self-regulating feature built-in tracers. The resistance of the polymer core of the tracer increases as temperature rises, which causes a decrease in the power output. As a result, the energy output always matches the system's requirements, preventing the creation of high surface temperatures. This feature also ensures that there are negligible chances of any fire hazard, even in the presence of inflammable gases or liquids in and around the pipelines. Self-regulating cables are increasingly being adopted across various verticals, including oil & gas, chemicals, commercial, and residential, for applications such as freeze protection & process temperature maintenance, roof & gutter de-icing, and floor heating.

Among these verticals, the electric heat tracing market for the oil & gas industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The oil & gas industry uses electric heat tracing for various applications, such as freeze protection, viscosity controls, and temperature maintenance. Heat tracing helps maintain the temperature or viscosity of the fluid, preventing components from separating or gases from condensing. This industry relies on heat tracing to prevent pipes, vessels, and tanks from freezing in cold regions and maintain the process temperature in different ranges, as per the requirement.

During the forecast period, the electric heat tracing market in North America is predicted to experience substantial growth. As compared to the Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific, North America is the coldest region, and the demand for electric heat tracing is increasing to prevent pipes and vessels from freezing. Countries in North America, such as the United States, are extensively using electric heat tracing for frost protection, floor heating, and roof & gutter de-icing, which is driving market growth. The United States is projected to be the most significant contributor to the market in this region, with major players driving market growth. Electric heat tracing is increasingly being adopted in the Asia Pacific region due to rapid industrialization and the expansion of oil & gas pipeline infrastructure, and the region is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period.

The electric heat tracing market is divided into various segments based on the system components, including electric heat tracing cables, power connection kits, control and monitoring systems, thermal mineral insulations, and others. Among these, electric heat tracing cables are expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period. These cables are predominantly used in North America due to the extreme cold weather conditions, as they protect pipes and vessels from freezing. The segment's growth is driven by various applications, such as temperature maintenance, under-floor heating, anti-condensation, pond freeze protection, soil warming, anti-cavitation, and window de-misting.

The market has also been segmented based on application, where the freeze protection & process temperature maintenance segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR. Heat tracing is crucial to prevent water or chemical pipelines from freezing in cold climates. Insulation alone is insufficient to prevent freezing. For instance, at 150°C, steam is not a viable fuel source for simple antifreeze. Low power electric heat tracing is the most convenient and efficient option. The North American region primarily faces freezing issues, and temperature control is achieved through ambient air sensing or pipe sensing control. The segment's growth is expected to be driven by the growing utilization of these systems with ambient air sensing for temperature control.

Dominating Companies in Electric Heat Tracing Market

• NVENT ELECTRIC PLC
• THERMON GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
• SPIRAX-SARCO ENGINEERING PLC
• NIBE INDUSTRIER AB
• BARTEC TOP HOLDING GMBH
• DANFOSS
• ELTHERM GMBH
• EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
• WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
• DREXAN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
• DREXMA INDUSTRIES INC.
• EBECO
• HEAT TRACE PRODUCTS, LLC
• KING ELECTRICAL MFG. CO.
• NEXANS
• SST GROUP
• TRASOR CORP.
• URECON LTD.
• WARMUP Plc
• HEAT-LINE
• VULCANIC GROUP
• KLOPPER-THERM GMBH & CO. KG
• GENERI, S.R.O.
• TEMPCO ELECTRIC HEATER CORPORATION
• VALIN CORPORATION
• Anhui Huanrui Heating Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Briskheat
• Chromalox
• Ives Equipment, Inc.
• Neptech Inc.
• Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Pentair PLC
• Perma-Pipe, Inc.
• QmaxTest Research Corporatio
• Technitrace
• Tracelec
• Urenco Limited

Recent Developments in Electric Heat Tracing Market

• In January 2021, Pentair announced that it had acquired NuHeat, a leading manufacturer of electric radiant floor heating systems. This acquisition expanded Pentair's portfolio of heating solutions and helped the company to provide a more comprehensive offering to its customers.
• In May 2019, nVent Electric announced that it had acquired Pyrotenax, a leading provider of electric heat tracing solutions. This acquisition allowed nVent Electric to expand its portfolio of heat management solutions and to offer a wider range of products to its customers.
• In March 2019, Raychem RPG and Emerson announced that they had formed a joint venture to provide heat tracing solutions to customers in India. The joint venture combined Raychem RPG's expertise in manufacturing and Emerson's global experience in heat tracing to offer high-quality products and services to customers in India.
• In August 2018, Chromalox announced that it had partnered with Puffer-Sweiven, a leading provider of process control solutions. The partnership allowed Chromalox to expand its reach and to offer its electric heat tracing solutions to customers in new markets.
• In October 2017, Thermon announced that it had acquired CCI Thermal Technologies, a leading provider of industrial heating solutions. The acquisition allowed Thermon to expand its portfolio of heat tracing solutions and to provide a wider range of products to its customers.
• nVent Electric plc, a leading provider of electrical connection and protection solutions, announced in 2021 that it has completed the acquisition of Zircon Industries Inc. Zircon is a US-based company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced heat tracing solutions for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The acquisition is expected to strengthen nVent's portfolio of heat tracing products and solutions.
• Pentair plc, a diversified industrial company, announced in 2019 that it has acquired Nuheat Industries Ltd. Nuheat is a Canadian-based company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of electric floor heating systems. The acquisition is expected to expand Pentair's portfolio of smart and sustainable heating solutions, and strengthen its position in the global market for electric heat tracing products.
• Thermon Group Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of industrial process heating solutions, announced in 2019 that it has completed the acquisition of CCI Thermal Technologies Inc. CCI Thermal is a Canadian-based company that specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of electric heat tracing systems for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The acquisition is expected to expand Thermon's product offerings and customer base in North America and Europe.
• Chromalox, a leading provider of advanced thermal technologies, announced in 2018 that it has acquired Heat Trace Products, LLC. Heat Trace Products is a US-based company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of heat tracing solutions for industrial and commercial applications. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Chromalox's position in the global market for electric heat tracing products, and enhance its ability to serve customers in the oil and gas, chemical, and power generation industries.

In conclusion, electric heat tracing is an essential heating solution that is widely used in various industries. With its energy efficiency, low maintenance, and ability to provide constant and uniform heat output, it is an ideal alternative to traditional heating methods. As the demand for energy-efficient and cost-effective heating solutions continues to grow, EHT is expected to play a significant role in the future of the heating industry.