Our Approach
CIAC Systems is manufacturing the latest, state-of-the-art electric heat trace panels available today.
We have created what the market has been asking for throughout the years, but until now, no company has engineered or produced.
Comprehensive EHT Monitoring Systems
How CIAC Is Completely Unique
CIAC Systems sets itself apart from any other heat trace panel manufacturer - and what we offer, as a complete package, has real value to the people that are responsible for plant operations.
Electric heat trace cables have a service life. Over time, they're known to fail to meet their original specification for watts/foot output. Customers need to know that a cable has reached its usable life BEFORE a problem occurs within their plant. Other heat trace panel providers can provide voltage and amperage measurements. But these are only a reflection of the current system attributes, and are not indicative of future faults.
Telescope vs. Binoculars
Megohms vs. Milliamps
By measuring resistance (ohms/megohms) instead of current (amps/milliamps), our system can detect trends much earlier thanks to more sensitive data (1000X) on a circuit's health. Perhaps a good example would be looking out over the horizon at a ship sailing toward you with a pair of binoculars. Now look at that same ship with a telescope and that is analogous as to how the CIAC System performs versus any competitor on the market today. You will get clearer, earlier information to warn you of potential future faults in your electric heat trace circuit.
The table below is simply using Ohm's law to graphically illustrate this concept. In our industry we consider any megohm measurement of 5 megohms or less a "faulty/failed" circuit. As you can see, in a typical 208 vac circuit, at 5 megohms, you will be measuring just 0.04160 milliamps, hardly even registering on a typical competitor's instrument. This example is even worse on a 120 vac circuit as you can see below.
By combining the best tool possible for measuring EHT circuit health (insulation resistance measured in megohms) and by taking these measurements periodically (daily or weekly dependent upon ambient temperature), CIAC has created a new standard in the electric heat trace industry for assisting our customers in Predictive Maintenance and Planning to avoid unanticipated disruptions to their operations.
What CIAC Systems Offers
Predictive Circuit Failure Capability:
Daily/Weekly testing of individual circuit insulation resistance (meggering). This is the KEY electrical attribute in terms of forecasting electric heat trace circuit potential failure. No other heat trace panel has this capability.
Heat Trace Circuit Audits all year long
Today, heat trace system audits are performed annually. The result is a "snapshot" of that system on that one day, with no reference point to ambient conditions or plant operating conditions (is the piping itself hot or cold and the resultant changes in megger readings?). Additionally, based on when the audit is performed, it is likely that maintenance/outage work may have been performed on pumps, valves, instruments, etc. It is common for heat trace cable problems to be caused by these repairs - yet an annual audit will have likely "missed" these issues.
With CIAC, you will have both automated system audits performed weekly (above 40 deg F) and daily (below 40 deg F), and, the ability to have a "quick audit" performed at any time simply by clicking the appropriate button on your Dashboard Display. No more annual "snapshots" - audits performed continuously to keep you informed and safe.
Trending and Forecasting of Circuit Failures:
Over time, the Comprehensive Circuit reports provide extremely valuable insight into the potential for failure of individual EHT circuits.
The variables of ambient temperature, ambient humidity, (plant operations provided by the user if desired, via the data export functions), and the daily/weekly “megger” test results provide the basis for you to determine trends in your EHT system and to then forecast potential failures. These forecasts will help determine how to effectively use available maintenance budgets for the repair and replacement of your highest priority heat trace installations.