PIPE INSULATION MATERIAL

Cold insulation insulation is a type of insulation material required for lower temperature environments than the surrounding environment which is usually capable of preventing condensation, moisture ingress and long-term degradation.

WHAT IS PIPE INSULATION MATERIAL?

Cold insulation is a type of insulation required for lower temperature environments than the surrounding environment which is usually capable of preventing condensation, moisture ingress and long-term degradation. Moisture due to condensation is a problem in any refrigeration system.

Rockwool cheap pipe insulation material

1. Application of cold insulation materials:
Condensation control cold insulation materials:

When the pipe operates at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature, there is a possibility of condensation on the surface of the pipe. Humidity is known to be responsible for many different forms of corrosion, so preventing the formation of condensate on pipes is often considered important.

The pipe insulation layer can prevent the formation of condensate, since the surface temperature of the insulation layer will vary from the surface temperature of the pipe. Condensation will not occur, provided that the insulation surface is higher than the dew point temperature of the air; and insulation incorporates some form of steam barrier or retardant that prevents steam from passing through the insulation to form on the surface of the pipe.

Cold insulation materials reduce pipe freezing:

Since some water pipes are located outside or in unheated areas where ambient temperatures can sometimes drop below the freezing point of water, any water in the pipes can freeze. When water freezes, it expands, and this expansion can cause piping system failure in a number of ways.

Pipe insulation cannot prevent the freezing of standing water in pipes, but it can increase the time it takes for freezing to occur—thus reducing the risk of water in pipes freezing. For this reason, pipe insulation is at risk of freezing, and local water supply regulations may require the application of pipe insulation to the pipeline to reduce the risk of pipe freezing.

For a given length, a pipe with a smaller bore contains a smaller amount of water than a pipe with a larger borehole, and therefore the water in a pipe with a smaller bore will freeze more easily (and faster) than water in a pipe with a larger bore (assuming equivalent environments).

Since pipes with smaller boreholes have a higher risk of freezing, pipe insulation materials are often used in conjunction with alternative cryogenic methods (e.g., adjusting trace heating cables or ensuring water flows through pipes).

Energy saving:

Since pipes can operate at temperatures far different from ambient temperatures, and the heat flow rate from the pipeline is related to the temperature difference between the pipe and the surrounding air, the heat flow from the pipeline can be significant. In many situations, this heat flow is undesirable. The application of pipeline insulation materials leads to heat resistance and reduced heat flow.

The thickness of the pipe insulation material used to save energy varies, but as a general rule, pipes operating at more extreme temperatures have a greater heat flow and greater thickness is applied due to the greater saving potential.

The location of the pipe also affects the choice of insulation layer thickness. For example, in some cases, a heating pipe system in a well-insulated building may not need insulation, as “lost” heat (i.e., heat transferred from the pipe to the surrounding air) may be considered “useful” for heating. Building

since such “lost” heat will be effectively trapped by the insulation of the structure anyway. On the contrary, such pipes can be insulated to avoid unnecessary overheating or cooling in the rooms through which it passes.

Protection against temperature extremes.

When the pipe operates at too high or too low temperatures, there is a possibility of injury if any person comes into physical contact with the pipe surface. Human pain threshold varies, but some international standards set recommended touch temperature limits.

Since the surface temperature of the insulation material varies with the temperature of the pipe surface, typically the insulated surface has a “less extreme” temperature, the pipe insulation material can be used to bring the surface contact temperature into a safe range.

Noise control cold insulation materials:

The piping system can act as a noise pipeline that travels from one part of the building to another (a good example of this can be seen with the sewage piping system routed in the building). Sound insulation can prevent this noise transmission by acting to moisten the walls of the pipe and perform the function of sound separation wherever the pipe passes through a fixed wall or floor and wherever the pipe is mechanically fixed.

Piping systems can also emit mechanical noise. In such cases, the removal of noise from the pipe wall can be achieved by soundproofing incorporating a high-density sound barrier.

2. Factors affecting performance:

The relative performance of pipe insulation varies on any given application that can be affected by many factors. The main factors are:

Thermal conductivity (value “k” or “λ”)
Surface emissivity (value “ε”)
Resistance to steam (value “μ”)
Insulation thickness
Density of insulation materials

Other factors, such as the level of humidity and the opening of the joints, can affect the overall performance of pipe insulation. Many of these elements are listed in the international standard EN ISO 23993. 

► COMMON INSULATION MATERIALS:

Pipe insulation materials come in many forms, and are divided into 2 main types:

1. Hot pipe insulation material:
Rockwool mineral wool cold insulation.

Mineral wool, including stone and slag wool, are inorganic fibers of mineral fibers that are linked together using organic adhesives. Mineral wool is capable of operating at high temperatures and exhibits a good flame retardant performance rating when tested.

Mineral wool is used on all types of pipes, especially industrial pipelines operating at higher temperatures.

The most common insulated glass wool.

Glass wool is high-temperature fiber insulation, similar to mineral wool, in which inorganic fibers are bonded together by adhesives.

As with other forms of mineral wool, insulated glass wool can be used for heat and sound insulation applications.

Flexible elastic foam.

These are flexible rubber foams, sealed umbrellas, based on NBR or EPDM rubber. Flexible elastic foams exhibit such high resistance to steam movement that they usually do not require additional steam barriers. Such high vapor resistance, combined with the high surface emissivity of the rubber, allows flexible elastic foam to prevent the formation of surface condensation with a relatively small thickness.

Therefore, flexible elastic foam is widely used on refrigeration and air conditioning pipes. Flexible elastic foam is also used on heating and hot water systems.

Hard insulation foam.

Pipe insulation made from phenolic foam insulation, PIR or hard PUR is common in some countries. Hard-foam insulation has minimal sound performance but can exhibit a low thermal conductivity value of 0.021 W/(m· K) or lower, allowing to meet energy saving laws while using reduced insulation thicknesses.

Hot insulated polyethylene foam.

Polyethylene is a flexible foam insulator that is widely used to prevent freezing of domestic water supply pipes and reduce heat loss from indoor hot water supply pipes.

The combustion efficiency of Polyethylene generally follows 25/50 E84 thickness up to 1″.

Glass.
100% Glass is produced mainly from sand, limestone and soda ash. Cell insulators consist of small cells that bind together or seal together to form a cellular structure. Glass, plastic and rubber can include the base material and a variety of foaming agents are used. Cell insulation is usually further classified as open cell (interconnected cells) or closed cell (cells sealed together). Generally, materials with a sealed cell content greater than 90% are considered sealed cell materials.

Nanoflex is the best insulation material.

Nanoflex insulation has the lowest thermal conductivity among commercially produced insulation. While no manufacturer currently produces Nanoflex pipe segments, it is possible to wrap a Nanoflex blanket around the pipe, allowing it to act as pipe insulation.

The use of Nanoflex for pipe insulation is currently limited.

Pipeline hot insulation material

2. Cold pipe insulation material:
Nanoflex cold insulation foam cold insulation

Our Nanoflex insulation tube panels are environmentally friendly and do not harm humans. Often used in pharmaceutical warehouse projects, refrigeration systems in hospitals.

Cold insulated Nanoflex Rubber

Aeroflex vulcanized rubber sheet hoses and cold insulated Aeroflex sheets are used to prevent condensation when working at operating temperatures down to -57 °C (-70 °F) and prevent heat loss at a maximum temperature of 125 °C (257 °F).

Cold insulated Nanoflex Rubber

Armaflex cold insulation plate tubes are professional nitrile rubber insulation systems, flexible, sealed, elastic cells, designed to effectively prevent condensation and prevent energy loss. provides a built-in anti-bacterial protection layer that reduces mold and bacterial growth, and has a built-in vapor barrier to prevent condensation.

Cold insulated Nanoflex foam

Nanoflex cold insulation sheet pipe manufactured by Hoa Binh company creates Nanoflex insulation products with closed cell structure and 3D physical cross-linking