TRACEPAK features a unique parallel construction, so tubing is not cabled or twisted, allowing for easier, tighter bends when connecting instrumentation to process lines or vessels. TRACEPAK's special configuration keeps process and tracer lines parallel inside the bundle, so tubing bends together and remains round, making installing, bending, and connecting easy. With TRACEPAK, there 's no need to un-cable tubes and then field insulate during installation.

Additionally, the tough, thermoplastic polyether urethane elastomer jacket contains no halogens, eliminating the possibility of chlorides from the jacket causing stress corrosion in the stainless steel tubing, ensuring a virtually maintenance-free tube life. The urethane jacket stays flexible enough for installation down to -40°F/°C and has a minimum service temperature of -67°F/-58°C.

When you use TRACEPAK for your instrument impulse lines, you'll see these advantages:

• Easy installation and connections

• Lower installed cost
• Reduced maintenance

• Consistent, reliable freeze protection or temperature maintenance
• Tubing stays round. Because the tubes are not twisted together the parallel construction of TRACEPAK keeps the tubing round during manufacture and installation.

• 8-inch bending radius. The parallel construction allows all of the tubes to bend together, side by side, so the bundle can be bent much tighter.
• The urethane jacket stays flexible enough for installation down to -40°F/°C and has a minimum service temperature of -67°F/-58°C. The standard TPU jacket also has a higher maximum temperature compared to PVC. The urethane jacket is more flexible but it is no less durable to abrasion or cuts. It will wrinkle on the inside of bends. That comes from two factors, one that it is more flexible and two that it is being bent at a tighter bending radius.

• Make connections in 6"/150mm. Again, due to the parallel construction you don't have to worry about straightening the tubes before you make the bends to 2-1/8"/54mm centers. O'Brien also makes a special tool that simplifies making the back-to-back bends.

• Non-wicking insulation. We selected an insulation construction that virtually eliminates the wicking problem. It also has a water soluble chloride content that averages less than 50 ppm.

• Eliminate the source of chlorides. Everything in the bundle is selected to come as close as possible to eliminating the source of chlorides. The jacket has no halogens, the marking ink is chloride free, even the mylar tape is chloride free.

• Quick Delivery with stock stainless steel. We stock 1/4" through 3/4" and 6mm through 12mm diameter seamless stainless steel tubing for immediate use in fabricating bundles. You'll get TRACEPAK when you need it.

• The O'Brien standard electric tracer withstands 420ºF/215ºC. We use other traces and special configurations that allow bundles to withstand blowdown temperatures up to 1000ºF/540ºC.

Typically the choice of steam or electric tracing is dictated by the preference of the unit. Some considerations besides the availability of steam or electric power in a unit are the area classification and the properties of the process that needs to be winterized or maintained at a specific temperature.

Electric Tracing
As a general rule of thumb electric tracing is more easily temperature controlled. If you are installing the instrumentation in a hazardous area as defined by the local code you must design your electric tracing system to be in compliance. (Click the Electric Tracing heading to learn more.)

Steam Tracing
If steam is available it can provide an effective choice for winterizing instrument impulse lines. Providing temperature maintenance with steam is more difficult than with electric tracing. This is true unless you want to maintain your process at the approximate temperature of the saturated steam pressure available. (Click the Steam Tracing heading to learn more.)

Find out more about accessories to complete your Tracepak installation.