Raychem Limited

Khosrow Afkhampour

Neville S Batliwalla

A method and apparatus for converting a fluid tracing system, e.g., a thermally insulated steam heat tracing system for a substrate, into an electrical heat tracing system for the substrate. A typical steam tracing system includes a substrate to be heated; an interconnecting system of steam tracing tubes adjacent to and in thermal contact with the substrate; and thermal insulation surrounding the substrate and steam tracing tubes. The conversion method includes the steps of removing the thermal insulation at spaced-apart locations and opening up the plurality of interconnected tubes so that elongate electrical heating elements can be inserted into the tubes, inserting elongate electrical heating elements into the tubes, and connecting the elongate electrical heating elements to a power supply in order to heat the substrate. Preferably, a gel-forming liquid is introduced into the elongate tubes and is converted into a gel within the tubes.

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Foster City, CA, United States of America

Khosrow Afkhampour