Protection of electric tracing belt used in generator

　　In the core equipment of power system, the stable operation of generator is related to the reliability of the whole energy network. When the cold season comes, many key components of the generator set are threatened by low temperature. Electric heat tracing technology has become an invisible guardian to ensure the all-weather operation of power generation equipment because of its accurate temperature control ability and stable heat output characteristics.

　　From the steam turbine of thermal power plant to the generator set of hydropower station, from the standby system of nuclear power plant to the small generator with distributed energy, the warm tentacles of electric tracing belt extend to all aspects of power production, building an invisible temperature barrier for power generation equipment.

　　The lubricating oil system of turbo-generator set is extremely sensitive to temperature. When the ambient temperature drops below 10℃, the viscosity of lubricating oil increases and the fluidity decreases, which seriously affects the lubrication effect of bearing bush. The introduction of electric heat tracing completely changed this situation. Engineers will wind the self-regulating electric tracing tape around the oil pipeline and the outer wall of the oil tank, and cooperate with the intelligent temperature controller to accurately maintain the oil temperature in the ideal range of 25-35℃. This scheme not only solves the problem of low-temperature start-up, but also avoids the local overheating risk that may be caused by traditional oil heaters. More ingeniously, the system adopts the time-divided control strategy to maintain the base temperature during the shutdown of the unit and automatically raise the temperature to the best state before starting, thus achieving a perfect balance between safety and energy saving.

　　The anti-freezing protection of hydro-generator is more challenging. Hydropower stations are often located in high mountains and valleys, and the temperature in winter is extremely low, so the cooling water pipes and bearing lubrication systems are easily frozen. The innovative scheme of a large hydropower station is to install water-resistant electric heat tracing in key parts and use stainless steel sheath in the outer layer to prevent mechanical damage. By monitoring the ambient temperature and cooling water flow, the system automatically adjusts the heat tracing power to ensure that the pipeline does not freeze under extreme conditions. Crucially, these heat tracing belts are all powered by 24V safe voltage, so even if the insulation is damaged, the safety of personnel will not be endangered.

　　The temperature maintenance of generator gas cooling system is also inseparable from electric heat tracing technology. When a large generator is cooled by hydrogen, the supporting drying device and gas pipeline are easy to condense at low temperature, which affects the gas purity. The electric heat tracing solution integrates the special heat tracing belt into the gas treatment system, and keeps the pipe wall temperature always 3-5℃ higher than the dew point. The practice of a nuclear power plant shows that this precise temperature control can stabilize the hydrogen humidity below 15ppm and significantly improve the cooling efficiency. The system is also equipped with redundant design, and the active and standby heating belts are automatically switched, so as to ensure that even if one-way fault occurs, the operation safety will not be affected.

　　The fuel system of diesel generator is particularly problematic in low temperature environment. When the air temperature is lower than the fuel cloud point, wax precipitation will block the filter and fuel nozzle. Electric heat tracing technology provides a perfect solution to this problem. The zonal heating system used in an Antarctic scientific research station controls the fuel tank, oil pipe and filter at different temperatures, which not only prevents fuel condensation, but also avoids unnecessary energy consumption. The explosion-proof tracing belt used in the system completely conforms to Class I, Division 2 standards, and can operate safely even in the fuel vapor environment.

　　The instrument and control system of generator set also need temperature protection. Precision electronic components may have measurement deviation or response delay at low temperature. The micro-temperature heating function of electric tracing tape provides ideal protection for such equipment. A wind farm embeds ultra-thin tracing tape into the control cabinet to maintain the working environment of electronic components above 10℃. This "mild heating" method avoids the temperature fluctuation caused by the traditional space heater, and improves the stability of the control system by 40%. More intelligently, the system can automatically adjust the heating power according to the equipment load, reduce the heat tracing intensity when it is full, and maintain the basic temperature when it is in standby.

　　With the development of power generation technology, electric heat tracing system is constantly innovating. The new generation of products integrates predictive maintenance function, and by analyzing the resistance change trend of the tracing belt, the signs of aging are found in advance; Wireless temperature monitoring technology realizes real-time visualization of temperature in key parts; The deep integration with SCADA system makes electric heat tracing an important part of intelligent operation and maintenance of power generation equipment. These technological advances not only improve the system reliability, but also provide a new data dimension for the life cycle management of power generation equipment.

　　From isolated power stations in the Arctic Circle to peak-shaving units in equatorial regions, from traditional coal-fired power facilities to emerging energy storage systems, electric heat tracing technology is showing its unique value in the global power generation field. It is not only a simple anti-freezing measure, but also an important guarantee for the reliable operation of modern power generation equipment. Today, with the increasing attention paid to energy security, this seemingly low-key technology is guarding the continuous supply of light and power in its own unique way. When the cold wave strikes, the electric tracing belts wrapped around the key parts of power generation equipment are silently maintaining a suitable temperature environment to ensure that the electricity demand of thousands of households is met.