At the heart of each technological process is economic efficiency, which is influenced by a combination of many factors. One of these points, important for many industries (chemical, oil refining, metallurgical, food, housing and communal services and many others), is the thermal insulation of equipment and pipelines. On an industrial scale, it is used on horizontal and vertical apparatuses, tanks for storing various liquids, in various exchangers and pumps. Particularly high requirements for thermal insulation are distinguished by the use of cryogenic and low-temperature equipment. The energy industry uses insulating elements in the operation of all types of boilers and turbines, chimneys, storage tanks and various types of heat exchangers. Depending on the area of application, certain requirements are imposed on them, which are included in the SNiP. Thermal insulationpipelines ensures the preservation of the invariance of the set parameters at which technological processes take place, as well as their safety, reduces losses.
General information
Thermal insulation is one of the most common types of protection, which has found its application in almost all industries. Thanks to it, trouble-free operation of most objects that pose a threat to human he alth or the environment is ensured. There are certain requirements for the choice of material and installation. They are collected in SNiP. The insulation of pipelines must comply with the norms, since the normal functioning of many systems depends on this. Almost all requirements listed in the documentation are mandatory. In most cases, the thermal insulation of heat pipelines is a key factor for the smooth operation and functioning of energy, housing and communal services and industry facilities. An additional quality that the thermal insulation of pipelines has is to meet the requirements applied in the field of energy saving. Competent and standardized pipe insulation reduces heat losses during its transfer from the supplier to the final consumer (for example, when providing hot water services in the housing and communal services system), which in turn reduces overall energy costs.
Facilities Requirements
Installation and operation of heat-insulating structures directly depend on their purpose and installation site. There are a number of factors that affect thermal insulation materials. These include temperature, humidity, mechanical and other influences. To date, certain requirements have been adopted and approved, in accordance with which the calculation of pipeline insulation and subsequent installation is carried out. They are considered basic, accounting for them is basic in the construction of structures. These include, in particular:
- safety in relation to the environment;
- fire hazard, reliability and durability of the materials from which the structure is made;
- thermal performance.
The parameters characterizing the operational properties of thermal insulation materials include some physical quantities. These are thermal conductivity, compressibility, elasticity, density, vibration resistance. Flammability, resistance to aggressive factors, pipeline insulation thickness and a number of other parameters are also important.
Thermal conductivity of the material
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the raw materials from which the insulation is made determines the efficiency of the entire structure. Based on its value, the required thickness of the future material is calculated. This, in turn, affects the amount of load that will be exerted from the side of the heat insulator on the object. When calculating the value of the coefficient, the entire set of factors affectinghis direct influence. The final value affects the choice of material, the way it is laid, the required thickness to achieve the maximum effect. It also takes into account temperature resistance, the degree of deformation under a given load, the allowable load that the material will add to the insulated structure, and much more.
Lifetime
The operational period of thermal insulation structures is different and depends on many factors directly affecting it. These, in particular, should include the location of the object and weather conditions, the presence / absence of mechanical influence on the heat-insulating structure. These factors, which are of key importance, affect the durability of the structure. An additional special coating helps to increase the service life, which significantly reduces the level of environmental impact.
Fire safety requirements
Fire safety standards are defined for each of the industries. For example, for the gas, petrochemical, chemical industries, the use of slow-burning or non-combustible materials as part of heat-insulating structures is allowed. At the same time, the choice is influenced not only by the indicated indicators of the selected substance, but also by the behavior of the heat-insulating structure during a general fire. Increased fire resistance is achieved by applying an additional coating that is resistant to high temperatures.
Sanitaryhygiene requirements for facilities
When designing objects within the framework of which specific technological processes with increased requirements for sterility and cleanliness must take place (for example, for the pharmaceutical industry), certain standards are of paramount importance. It is important for such premises to use materials that do not affect air pollution. The situation is similar for housing and communal services. Pipeline insulation is carried out in strict accordance with established standards, while ensuring reliability and safety of use.
Domestic manufacturers of protective materials
The market for thermal insulation materials is diverse and able to meet the needs of any customer. Here is the product
action of both imported and domestic manufacturers. Russian companies produce the following types of thermal insulation materials:
- mats, which are fiberglass stitched on both sides, lined with mineral wool or kraft paper;
- mineral wool products based on a corrugated structure (it is used for industrial insulation of pipelines);
- synthetic-based mineral wool boards;
- products based on glass staple synthetic fibers.
The largest producers of heat-insulating materials are: JSC "Termosteps", Nazarovsky ZTI, "Mineralnaya wool" (CJSC), JSC "URSA-Eurasia".
Foreign material producers
Products of foreign companies are also represented on the market of heat-insulating materials. Among them stand out: "Partek", "Rockwool" (Denmark), "Paroc" (Finland), "Izomat" (Slovakia), "Saint-Gobain Izover" (Finland). All of them specialize in various types and combinations of fibrous heat-insulating materials. The most common are mats, cylinders and slabs, which can be uncoated or coated on one side (such as aluminum foil).
Rubber and foam materials
Polyurethane filling foam has received the greatest distribution of foam heat-insulating materials. It is used in two forms: in the form of tile products and spraying, it is used mainly for protection in low-temperature production. Its developer is the Scientific Research Institute of Synthetic Resins (in Vladimir), and its subsidiary, Izolan CJSC. Pipeline insulation is also made with synthetic-based materials. In this case, equipment operating in conditions of negative and positive ambient temperatures is subjected to protection. The main suppliers of such materials are L'ISOLANTE K-FLEX and Armacell. Such thermal insulation looks like tubes (cylinders) or plate and sheet products.
