Describe heat loss

Heat loss is the rate at which process equipment heat flows to a cooler ambient, stated in either watts or BTU/hour.

The purpose of heat tracing is to replace that heat lost through the thermal insulation in order to maintain a desired temperature difference (ΔT or Delta T). Therefore, the first step in heat tracing system design is to calculate the heat loss.

Heat loss calculations always involve three factors: (ΔT or Delta T) or (Tp –Ta) Nominal Pipe Size or Vessel Dimensions Types and Thickness of Thermal Insulation