Modern people want to live a full and comfortable in the city and in the countryside. And this requires heat, cold, hot water and sewage system. In most of the regions of our country these communications need to Compulsory warming. Today, the building materials market offers a wide range of insulators, which include special items, mounted on a pipe.
It always requires insulation for pipes
In regions where in winter the ground freezes, insulation for pipes to be used on a mandatory basis. Otherwise pipe rupture is assured. And to correct this mistake, when it's minus temperature - is not easy, and quick. Also effective heat insulation pipe of heating or hot water supply reduces heat loss. The heat will not be wasted on heating the soil, and the water temperature will not be reduced when entering the house.
It happens that the hot water supply or heating in suburban homes are on the unheated rooms, attics, basements, if an autonomous boiler room is away from home. In this case, effective insulation pipes will reduce heat loss, do not have to include additional heaters and pay for the extra kilowatts, and the heater will last longer, do not use for maximum.
Sewer systems also require insulation, despite the fact that in such constructions are usually liquid does not stagnate, if the correct slope is made for installation of pipes. But it happens that various deposits build up inside the pipes, which can cause obstruction and then drains at low temperature can freeze, causing rupture pipe. There is also such a trouble can cause untimely pumping the septic tank in the autonomous sewer system.
Warming is made not only to preserve the temperature of the coolant and as a protection against peremerzaniya during the cold season. Sometimes it is necessary pipes protection from the effects of high ambient temperature. For example, in refrigeration devices, and various industrial applications, for which chemical liquid is pumped gases.
What properties must have insulated material
Insulation for pipes, depending on the application (laying underground or external communications) must meet the following requirements:
- Low thermal conductivity level, which will help keep the temperature of the coolant in the heating pipes and hot water supply, and also not to warm the surrounding air heat pipe in the cooling device and instruments.
- The materials used for insulation must meet the sanitary standards and fire safety, have self-extinguishing properties.
- Insulation can not be excessively hygroscopic because in the structure soaked material decreases the amount of air dependent on the amount which its insulating properties.
- Thermal insulation must be mounted easily on pipes of any diameter and configuration to form a minimum number of joints, which excludes the presence of thermal bridges.
- The material must be durable and have maintainability, and possibility of repeated use.
- With a high resistance to corrosion, mechanical strength to endure sharp temperature drops.
- Material, affordable.
But also to acquire a cheap insulation is not necessary, as this may lead to even higher costs if you happen peremerzanie pipes in winter.
Types of thermal insulation for pipelines
Above mentioned requirements may have the following types of heaters:
- varieties of mineral wools - glass wool, basalt and other;
- Styrofoam;
- polystyrene;
- foamed polyethylene simple and foiling coating;
- polyurethane;
- expanded clay.
mineral wool
All varieties of insulated material on the basis of glass fiber or natural stone rocks have a high degree of thermal insulation and optimal cost. True wool on the properties retain heat costs are much lower material such as basalt insulation. The advantages of this type of insulation include:
- resistance to high temperature, the material can withstand up to 700 degrees;
- sufficient mechanical strength when after deformation mineral wool almost completely recovers its shape;
- resistance to aggressive chemicals - alkaline, acidic solutions, oils, and the like;
- environmental safety as derived from a natural feedstock.
- affordable price.
The disadvantages of mineral wools include their sensitivity to moisture. Therefore the device requires further waterproofing layer. In addition, the waterproofing will not only help to protect the insulation from the effects of water, but do not give the smallest fibers, stone or glass pollute the indoor air. These works lead to higher prices for construction and extend its life.
Produced mineral wool rolls, mats and plates with shells glued on top of the foil. These are the products most suitable for the production of thermal insulation work on the pipelines under Protection device wooden roof structures against fire at the place of passage of chimney stoves and Fireplaces.
Foam and expanded polystyrene
This material, which included more than half of the air is one of the most efficient thermal insulators. Not only molded foam is bad in that it has a low mechanical strength. For insulating pipes industry produces foam half-cylinders, called shells. These products have many advantages:
- quick and easy installation;
- long-term operation;
- absence of thermal bridges, because the connection of the individual segments is made on a "tongue and groove";
- products can be used in a temperature range of +80 to -110 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures truboproovda laid an additional layer of natural cork or basalt fibers;
- opportunity to pave the heating cable in a specially arranged grooves along the entire length of products;
- fireproof, do not support an open fire;
- foam shell can be used repeatedly.
The shell may be coated with a layer of foil, which works as a reflector ceiling air - hot or cold.
Exactly the same half-cylinders are made from extruded (extruded) foam polystyrene has already called or Penoplex. It has the same technical characteristics but with the same degree of heat conductivity with foam has a smaller thickness, which is useful for insulation of pipes extending away from the walls or other structures. Penoplex has a more rigid structure and greater plasticity than the plastic foam, so that it can bend to a certain limit.
Insulating materials made of polyethylene foam
Compared with other types of heaters polyethylene foam has better properties:
- Material is more durable, resistant load at break of 0.3 MPa, after exposure to a pressure slightly deforms, but quickly takes the original shape.
- Virtually no water absorption. It can be used in a wet environment, preventing occurrence of corrosion on the tubes.
- Endures the impact of materials such as cement, lime, concrete and other contacts.
- Withstands the temperature drop from +90 to -60 degrees. At higher temperatures, the product loses its shape.
- A material refractory enough. Foamed polyethylene may catch fire only at an open fire 300 degrees. Thus during burning material does not release into the environment of harmful toxic substances.
- Easy to install, can serve as insulation to pipes of any shape, with a diameter of 150-200 mm.
- Low cost compared to expanded polystyrene products or polyurethane.
Hollow cylinder made up to two meters long with a wall thickness of 6 to 20 mm or rolls.
The product of polyethylene foam is cut to length and is worn on the pipe section is sealed by special place conventional bandage or adhesive tape. Some brands of insulation made of polyethylene foam have a protective coating made of aluminum foil, which performs the function of a reflector. In the case of web material, it is cut into strips, which is wrapped pipe. This method is best suited if the conduit has a plurality of bends of different diameters and at selected sites.
Polyurethane foam
This material is gaining popularity in the construction due to its high technical characteristics. Is he:
- does not rot and does not rust;
- It can be mounted on the pipe, lying in the ground without any trays or channels;
- creates a completely sealed enclosure to insulate structures;
- It has a low specific gravity and low thermal conductivity; lifespan is estimated fifty and more years;
- resistant to mild acids and alkalis;
- It has excellent adhesion to almost all materials.
Polyurethane foam insulation may be applied to the pipe by various methods - spraying a liquid material and rigid type "shell" products. The spraying is carried out using special equipment and requires certain skills and knowledge. The shell, having the form of two hollow half cylinders, is mounted on the tube simply due to existing "tongue and groove" coupling structure, and those products which have a smooth end, fixed to the pipe with special clamps, cable ties, or regular knitting wire.
But apart from this very popular today acquire a ready-tube, which is factory applied thermal insulation coating of polyurethane foam and a protective layer. When using such products outdoors protective sheath is made of galvanized steel for laying underground pipelines protection is made of polyethylene. Benefits of pre-insulated pipes are obvious: reduction in construction time communications as Laying of engineering networks no longer requires insulation work, insulation and quality checked OTC factory.
expanded clay aggregate
Another representative of the traditional insulation for pipelines - expanded clay gravel. It is used mainly for thermal insulation of external water supply networks, sewerage. Since the particulate material is needed to construct it stacking trays made of wooden boards or to use special concrete structures.
Besides all of the above insulation is not so long ago, a new material for thermal insulation of pipes - thermal paint which is applied in the usual way - with a brush, roller or spray. When the minimum thickness of the insulating layer is sufficiently high insulation quality. But the cost of this material is also not small.
installation of thermal insulation
The most demanded material for thermal insulation of pipes - a product in the form of a hollow cylinder. They are mounted easily and require no special knowledge or skilled worker.
First, it checks the state of the pipe. It should not have a leak, to be cleaned of rust and dirt and corrosion inhibitor treated.
If insulation products are not equipped with protrusions and recesses, should attach them using double-sided tape.
When this is done the displacement of individual elements of the hollow cylinder along the length of 10-20 cm, so that the connecting seams do not converge at a single location. The shell of the foam after its attachment to the pipeline should be protected from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The material for such protection can be - roofing felt, asphalt, roofing felt, foil insulating, and other opaque cloth. For insulation of complex sections of the pipeline can be ready to use fittings or use roll insulation materials.
Cylinders made of foamed polyethylene having a foil layer, such protection is not needed.
The main essence of the article
While insulating pipes used any available material that meets the requirements for thermal insulation, regulated by building codes. A correct installation of the chosen insulation will prolong the life of engineering networks and reduce, and may be completely and eliminate the number of repairs related to the rupture of pipes due to negative temperatures.