Analysing the importance of insulation in heat exchangers

Abhay Miglani, Business Development Manager, Armacell Middle East

Dubai, UAE, 7 January 2019: Insulation has a crucial role to play in HVAC piping systems. Commenting on insulation, Abhay Miglani, Business Development Manager, Armacell Middle East, said: “Insulation is a material that ensures heat loss and heat gain.  Excess heat loss or heat gain can make the whole system inefficient, which ultimately leads to high utility bills.” Ambient conditions, he added, also play a crucial role and pipes are prone to condensation and corrosion under insulation (CUI).

The kind of insulation used on pipes, Miglani said, affects the overall performance of a system. “One has to be careful while selecting insulation materials. The wrong choice of insulation with improper installation is a perfect recipe for system failure,” he said. Pointing to an interesting aspect, Miglani added, “Thermal insulation may seem to be a small component in an overall HVAC system, but if selected and installed properly, it has a huge energy-saving potential.” Elaborating on the materials used to insulate pipes, he said: “Today, we have a variety of insulation material available in the market. Closed cell elastomeric rubber, rock wool, fiberglass, phenolic, polyurethane rigid foam (PUR), polyisocyanurate (PIR), aerogels and cellular glass are the most common. Every kind of insulation has its own unique properties and characteristics and it is crucial that an end-user keeps in mind what’s best for his use and application.”

Elaborating on how improper insulation can defeat the purpose of the work done by heat exchangers, Miglani said, “When we look at a heat exchanger, the primary responsibility is for it to transfer heat from one fluid to another in the most efficient manner.” He said in cases where both mediums are flowing through pipes (outside the heat exchanger), insulation plays a big role in ensuring the temperature of fluids remain as per design conditions. Miglani added, “In case of inadequate insulation or no insulation, there are huge chances of the line temperatures going haywire.”