Freeze Protection & Safety Shut-off Solution for Instrumentation and Tracing Lines
Limitations of Traditional Steam Traps in Intermittent Tracing & Instrumentation Lines
In the chemical, petrochemical, and power industries, impulse lines, sampling lines, and auxiliary pipelines often utilize steam tracing to prevent medium solidification. However, traditional mechanical steam traps (such as thermodynamic or float types) face severe challenges in these scenarios:
- Winter Freeze-up: Mechanical steam traps typically discharge condensate near 100°C and fail to actuate in lower temperature ranges (e.g., 35°C-60°C). This results in water accumulation and freezing during shutdowns or cold nights, causing pipe rupture.
- Inability to Drain: Traditional steam traps lack a draining function. Condensate retention after shutdown leads to corrosion or freeze damage.
Winning™ has developed and manufactured an actuating valve that operates based on set temperature rather than pressure differential, achieving “automatic low-temperature draining” and “freeze protection.”
FP14 In-Line Temperature Control Shut-off Valve
The Winning™ FP14 is a self-acting in-line temperature control shut-off valve. Instead of relying on buoyancy or thermodynamic principles, it utilizes a built-in thermal element to directly sense fluid temperature and actuate a plunger-style valve core.
Core Control Logic
Automatic Low-Temperature Draining
Fully open during initial startup for rapid venting. After shutdown, when the condensate cools to the preset freeze protection temperature (e.g., 35°C, 41°C, etc.), the valve automatically closes or throttles to force system draining. This eliminates residual water accumulation in the pipeline, fundamentally eradicating the risk of ice blockage.
Precise Freeze Protection
Designed as a replacement for traditional steam traps, specifically for process tracing scenarios below 150°F (66°C). It maintains a constant condensate discharge temperature, ensuring that tracing lines remain in a freeze-protected state—characterized by active heating flow, inactive shut-off—despite ambient temperature fluctuations.
Positive Physical Shut-off
Utilizing a plunger-style valve core structure to achieve a tight metal-to-metal seal,preventing leakage. Unlike mechanical steam traps that rely on gravity drainage, the FP14 operates reliably in any installation orientation (horizontal, vertical, or inverted), solving installation challenges caused by space constraints in instrumentation piping.
Applicable Fields & Scenarios
Core Application Scenarios: Instrumentation Tracing & Condensate Return Freeze Protection.
Process Analyzers & Instrumentation Tracing
Used in tracing systems for pressure transmitters and flow meter impulse lines. Prevents medium solidification or pipe rupture in impulse lines during winter, ensuring the accuracy of instrument signal transmission and equipment integrity.
Condensate Return Systems
Suitable for freeze protection of exposed or outdoor condensate pipelines. Automatically shuts off and drains tracing lines when steam-using equipment is shut down, preventing condensate backflow and freezing.
Low-Temperature Process Tracing
Suitable for heating and tracing of temperature-sensitive process fluids (up to 66°C). By maintaining a constant discharge temperature, it prevents process media from overheating and degradation.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification Data |
|---|---|
| Model Number | FP14 |
| Connection Size | 1/4″ |
| Body Material | SS316 |
| Temperature Setting | 35°C / 38°C / 41°C / 48.9°C / 54°C / 60°C / Customized |
| Max. Pressure | 2 MPa |
| Max. Temperature | 120°C |
| Flow Coefficient (Cv) | 0.5 |
| Weight | 0.31 kg |
Engineering Logic
Condition A: Normal Operation (T > Tset)
- Status: Tracing steam is flowing, and the pipeline temperature is above the setpoint (e.g., 41°C).
- Action: The thermal element expands due to heat, keeping the valve core in an open or modulating state, allowing condensate to discharge normally.
Condition B: Shutdown / Low Temperature (T < Tset)
- Status: Steam supply stops, and the pipeline temperature drops to the freeze protection setpoint (e.g., 35°C).
- Action: The thermal element contracts, driving the plunger valve core to close the flow path.
- Result: Residual pressure is utilized to evacuate remaining condensate from the line, achieving automatic draining. With no water retention in the pipeline, pipe rupture due to freezing is completely prevented.
Beijing Winning™ Thermo Control Equipment Co., Ltd. provides professional engineering solutions for fluid temperature control.
Contact us for support: We offer a variety of preset temperature options to meet freeze protection requirements for different environments.