About Steam Pipes
In steam systems, the state of the insulation of pipes carrying the steam has an enormous impact on a facility’s energy bill. Understanding the cost and rate of heat loss from un-insulated or under-insulated steam pipes are the first steps in recovering these costs. The next step is weighing your insulation options.
Insulating Steam Pipes
In some circumstances, traditional stay-in-place insulation will not be ideal. One such situation is when the need for inspecting steam pipe surfaces is very high. Very frequently, when pipe inspection occurs, “plugs” are cut into hard insulation to provide access to the pipe surface. These insulation gaps also allow valuable heat to escape. More often than not, these plugs are never replaced, but even when they are, the full integrity of the insulation is compromised. Compromised steam pipe insulation allows moisture to get in and can actually increase the risk for corrosion under insulation (CUI) by trapping moisture inside. In addition, hard insulation can make inspection more time-intensive, difficult, and expensive — often forming a deterrent to conducting pipe inspections with optimal frequency.
It is in often environments where corrosion is a very high threat that frequent inspection is needed. For example, the piping in expensive off-shore oil platforms and water treatment facilities must combat both high moisture and chloride, a perfect storm for corrosion. When the risk for corrosion and the cost of corrosion-induced equipment failure is high, removable steam pipe insulation is an option you should consider.
