Problems with insulation materials and cooling materials

This question is too general; different materials are used for different operating conditions. It is recommended to refer to the SH3010 Technical Specifications for Insulation of Petrochemical Equipment and Piping.

Thermal conductivity is a physical quantity that indicates the degree to which a material can conduct heat. It depends on the type of material, as well as the temperature at which the material is found. Different materials have different thermal conductivities; for the same material, the thermal conductivity varies with temperature. Materials with a thermal conductivity of less than 0.23 W/(m·K) are commonly referred to as insulating materials or thermal insulation materials. There are generally two types of insulation materials: one is expanded polystyrene ； The second is foamed polyurethane. Foamed polystyrene is the cheapest, but it has operational temperature limitations; temperatures ranging from -65°C to 70°C are available ； Foamed polyurethane is a bit more expensive, but its operating temperature ranges from -65°C to 80°C. The thermal conductivity of the two materials mentioned above is the lowest. Moreover, due to their poor heat resistance, they undergo changes – or even melt – when exposed to temperatures above 100°C; therefore, they can only be used for insulation. Their insulating performance is much better than that of other materials, and polyurethane in particular is irreplaceable by other materials. Rock wool is commonly used as insulation material due to its good heat resistance. In the past, when polystyrene and polyurethane materials were not available, rock wool was also used as a cooling material. However, a drawback of using rock wool for cooling purposes is that it tends to develop condensation; rock wool absorbs water easily, and once it does, it loses its ability to provide insulation. Therefore, when using rock wool as an insulation material, it is necessary to install a moisture barrier. In summary, thermal insulation materials and cold insulation materials cannot be used interchangeably. Note: Foamed polyurethane and foamed polystyrene are corresponding materials obtained from polyurethane and polystyrene through relevant foaming processes, meeting the required process performance standards.

Heat retention and insulation are different energy-saving concepts that fall under the category of thermal insulation. Materials that are used at different temperatures cannot be mixed or used as substitutes for one another.

There are two fundamental differences between heat retention and cold insulation. For heat retention, it is sufficient to choose insulation materials with appropriate insulating properties along with suitable insulation methods. Cold insulation is different; the presence of air flow poses a problem, so in addition to using good cold-insulating materials, it is also necessary to use insulation methods that can prevent air from circulating； This post was last edited by nquan1973957087 on 2015-11-26 at 21:52. Winter has arrived, and the temperatures are low; especially these past couple of days, temperatures across the country have dropped to their lowest levels. In Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, temperatures are already approaching 0°C, making it very likely for equipment to freeze. Consciously or unconsciously, we have all put on thick clothes to keep warm, and heating has been turned on in places where it is available. So the question is, has our equipment been kept warm? What are you wearing? Can you wear those to survive the winter safely? We would like to share with you our company’s experience in preventing equipment from freezing, and we hope to receive your support, feedback, and likes. Equipment freezing occurs merely due to a drop in ambient temperature. To address this issue, insulation is sufficient; however, in regions like the Northeast where temperatures are extremely low, heat tracing is also necessary (for some products such as palm oil, which freezes below 40°C, mere insulation is not enough – heat tracing is required to provide thermal compensation). Common heat tracing methods used both domestically and internationally include: 1. Steam heat tracing ； 2. Heat transfer oil heating or electric heating ； Let’s start with the first type. In most cases, it involves the use of external jackets; that is, jackets or linings are placed around pipes and valves to allow steam to be introduced for thermal compensation or to isolate them from the external air temperature. An example is insulated valves (as shown in the diagram). The second type involves the use of heat transfer oil or electric heating elements, where copper tubes for heat transfer oil or heating cables are wrapped around equipment or valves with irregular shapes. The jacket design results in higher overall investment costs, and it also increases the risk of medium leakage ； For applications with high explosion-proof requirements, especially in the chemical industry where heat transfer oils are commonly used, this approach eliminates potential safety hazards caused by electrical issues with electronic components such as cables. But the ideal approach nowadays is to opt for external insulation whenever possible; if external insulation isn’t sufficient, then electric heating must be used. Moreover, once electric heating is installed, an additional layer of external insulation should be added to ensure that the heating element functions properly. In summary, the presence of heat tracing means that maintenance or replacement of the components related to heat tracing may be necessary from time to time. The approach of being able to repeatedly disassemble and reassemble the insulated and energy-saving rings for irregular-shaped components, or of adding heat tracing, is likely to be one of the most reliable, convenient, and cost-effective solutions. Below are some photos; I hope everyone can offer their feedback. Thank you! A purely external, reusable insulation method: pneumatic ball valves, reusable custom-shaped insulation rings for energy savings + oil heating via copper pipes (depending on the specific conditions on site, most of the heating copper pipes are enclosed within). For equipment enclosures, reusable custom-shaped insulation rings for energy savings + electric heating are used. This approach reduces steam and electricity consumption, labor costs, as well as other overall energy expenses by 20–60%. According to the law of conservation of energy, the “NANSEN reusable insulation rings” prevent unnecessary energy losses, thereby helping to increase customers’ profits. While helping you generate more revenue, we also enable better cost savings for you. Special-shaped equipment components such as valves are important heat-generating parts in thermal systems; yet they are often weak points in the pipelines that require special attention. They have a higher frequency of maintenance or replacement. During maintenance and disassembly, the traditional insulation materials used result in difficulties in maintaining the equipment, forcing construction teams to apply new insulation, which leads to five types of waste: time waste (poor insulation affects production capacity and equipment efficiency) ； It’s expensive (each time insulation work needs to be done, it incurs high costs) ； Time-consuming (the process of installing and removing insulation takes a long time, which can sometimes significantly affect your startup efficiency) ； Strain (fiber irritation harmful to the human body that occurs during the removal or installation of insulation materials) ； Waste (environmental pollution caused by discarded insulation materials). To this end, we have developed a reusable insulation product that can be used in conjunction with valves and equipment; it prevents the aforementioned problems entirely, makes installation and removal easier, and is cost-effective due to its reusability. This insulation product is made from lightweight, flexible, asbestos-free materials, and it can be used effectively even in highly complex and confined areas. It can be installed on various types of valves, including globe valves and stop valves. Generally, users only need to provide the valve name and model to order the corresponding reusable insulating energy-saving ring (for example, just telling us it is a DN100 flanged ball valve is sufficient); for special types, detailed specifications or dimensions are required. Features of the reusable insulating and energy-saving ring: Product Characteristics 1. Excellent insulating performance – the insulation layer is made of heat-resistant fiber blankets with a fluffy surface (similar to down), capable of withstanding temperatures ranging from -200°C to 1500°C. 2. Easy to disassemble, simple to install, convenient for cleaning pipeline equipment, and easy for maintenance. 3. It can be reused and has a long service life. 4. It has high strength, is both soft and flexible, making it easy to bend and wrap around. 5. It can be customized for the areas that require insulation, allowing for the production of non-standard products. 6. High product adaptability: Suitable for pipelines and equipment of different shapes in various temperature ranges. 7. Environmentally friendly and pollution-free: It contains no asbestos or any other harmful substances, and is completely harmless to humans and the environment. 8. The product has a nice and neat appearance, with a surface that can be wiped clean. 9. Improve the hot working environment to prevent burns to personnel. Lowering the indoor temperature makes it easier for the air conditioner to cool the space, thereby improving comfort. Welcome everyone to discuss; thank you all for your appreciation! If you like it, remember it and give a like! Like! Like!

I’m talking about insulation coatings – I wonder if you’re familiar with them?

I haven’t been in contact with it; could you give a rough idea?

Imported polymer materials—thermal barrier coatings—are brush-on coatings with a certain thickness that can replace traditional insulation materials. Features: 1. Corrosion prevention and insulation can be achieved simply through coating, making installation easy and fast. 2. It eliminates the hidden nature and invisibility of corrosion beneath traditional insulation layers, **reducing safety hazards. 3. In field use, insulation coatings can **save space and also make various equipment and pipelines look very attractive. 4. It can prevent the formation of dew that often occurs in cooling equipment. 5. Reduce energy loss and save energy, while preventing exposed equipment from causing burns to staff.

Is insulation done this way in newly built factories these days? Will the cost increase a lot?

The cost will be relatively higher, but the direct and indirect economic benefits, as well as the safety performance, are quite good.