Low-temperature and ultra-low-temperature pipelines and storage tanks typically operate at temperatures ranging from -40 to -192 degrees Celsius.
In LNG and other cryogenic projects, storage and transportation require special precautions against heat leakage.
Currently, the most commonly used cryogenic insulation materials include PUR/PIR, expanded glass, rubber-plastic, and modified phenolic foam. These materials offer significant improvements over previously used perlite materials in terms of both performance and construction. However, the emergence of aerogel insulation represents a fundamental change in existing cryogenic insulation systems.
The Current Status of Traditional Insulation Materials: Traditional materials experience rapid degradation in insulation performance, resulting in high maintenance costs.
Traditional materials offer poor insulation performance and high heat loss, posing a risk to the storage and transportation of natural gas or other compressed gases.
The thick wrapping thickness of traditional materials creates numerous inconveniences in the design of dense pipeline layouts.
The poor insulation layer makes pipelines susceptible to corrosion from condensation.
The insulation layer can easily lose its effectiveness due to excessive condensation. Organic materials may be waterproof, but they cannot meet fire protection requirements.
The advantages of using aerogel insulation include excellent cooling performance, very low thermal conductivity, and excellent low-temperature stability. Even at -200°C, it maintains excellent flexibility and cooling performance for long periods without breaking.
The highly effective cooling performance of aerogel felt significantly reduces the required insulation layer thickness, effectively reducing cooling losses and optimizing the design of dense pipeline layouts.
Aerogel material is highly waterproof at low temperatures, effectively inhibiting water penetration into metal pipeline surfaces, preventing pipeline corrosion and preventing the insulation material from losing its insulation effectiveness due to water seepage.
The material is easy to cut and install, and has low maintenance costs.
