Insulation material selection
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The reaction tank is cooled by saline and heated by steam – what insulation material should be used? Generally, polyurethane is used for insulation, while rock wool or aluminum silicate is used for heat retention. Rock wool and aluminum silicate are sensitive to moisture; water droplets on the low-temperature kettle can affect the insulation layer. So what material is good for both insulating against cold and retaining heat?
When steam is used, the temperature reaches around 160 degrees Celsius, and the polyurethane turns black at that temperature
Some polyurethanes can withstand temperatures of 195 degrees, as well as low temperatures
The maximum temperature tolerance of polyurethane is 100°C above zero. I’m not sure whether the cooling by saline and heating by steam in the reactor you mentioned occur through the external jacket of the reactor or through internal coils. One method uses the external jacket, while the other uses internal coils. I have previously worked on insulating reactors in some factories, and rubber-plastic insulation materials were used at that time. According to the equipment diagrams, there are spiral coils inside the reactor as well as an external jacket; in such cases, the internal coils are generally used for heating, while the external jacket is used for cooling. For construction purposes, it is sufficient to focus only on providing insulation.
I think you might have it backwards; usually, the heating steam goes through the external exhaust pipe, while the cooling fluid goes through the internal exhaust pipe.
Use rock wool directly, but be sure to install a moisture barrier. Or use rock wool inside, followed by polyurethane, and then a moisture barrier.