Dyplast Blog: Clarity in IIAR 2016 Conference Technical Papers

One of Dyplast's efforts over the past years has been to advocate for clarity and full disclosure of technical and empirical information - - not only in Dyplast literature but also in literature generally within the public domain. Dyplast's recent Technical Bulletins, Qwik Guides, and Articles (e.g. LNG Industry Magazine) set good examples.

Thus we feel we must comment on a Technical Paper presented at the recent IIAR Conference in Orlando titled: "Hygrothermal Analyses of Ammonia Refrigeration Pipe Insulation Systems" which contains misinformation. The Paper represents that it used computer modeling to predict moisture content that would accumulate in various insulation materials on ammonia refrigeration pipe over long periods, up to 10 years. Pipe insulation scenarios with and without vapor retarders were modeled.

In general, we offer that readers should always be cautious when evaluating conclusions from computer modeling software that are contrary to empirical evidence and logical thought processes.

Dyplast's most pertinent comments include:

 

Point #1: The Paper states it used 1.8 lb/ft3 polyisocyanurate (PIR) as its test specimen; to our knowledge this density of PIR is very rarely, if ever, used in ammonia refrigeration pipe applications. More commonly it is 2.0 or 2.5.

Point #2: The Paper predicts that over ten years, without a vapor retarder, the moisture content of the PIR insulant would be about 90% by volume. First of all, ammonia refrigeration systems present challenging problems, and the installation guidelines for virtually ALL insulants require a vapor retarder - - and more often a vapor barrier. Yet even without a vapor retarder, the claim of 90% moisture by volume lacks credibility. 90% by volume is over 3000% by weight, meaning the 1.8 lb/ft3 insulant would weight 56 lb/ft3. To our knowledge, a moisture content at this absurd level has never been recorded, and frankly appears impossible.

Point #3: The Paper indicates a thermal conductivity of 0.187 Btu.in/hr.ft2°F at 10°C was utilized in the calculations, which does not even meet ASTM C591 Standards (≤ 0.18), and thus could not be used on an ammonia refrigeration system. The k-factors of ISO-C1/2.0 and 2.5 meet ASTM C591 requirements.

Point #4: The Paper does not explain how the computer model works or to what extent the outputs have been validated against real-life scenarios. Dyplast may address this in a future Technical Bulletin.

For more information please contact us at info@dyplast.com

Dyplast Products releases Qwik Guides for Polyisocyanurate and Extruded Polystyrene

Dyplast uses Qwik Guides to condense into one page the information otherwise contained in DataSheets and longer technical materials. Dyplast’s latest release is a Qwik Guide for Polyisocyanurate and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS). 

Other Qwik Guides are available at www.dyplastproducts. com/resources/qwik-guides. The latest Qwik Guide offers information on comparisons between polyisocyanurate (PIR) and XPS. Click on the link below to view the Qwik Guide on XPS or to view the other Qwik Guides Dyplast has released to date.

Qwik Guide: Polyisocyanurate and Extruded Polystyrene

 

Dyplast Website Qwik Guides Page

 

If you have any questions please contact our professional Sales Team at sales@dyplast.com

Dyplast exhibiting at the 2016 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition

The 2016 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition scheduled March 20-23 2016 at the Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida offers an unrivaled opportunity for companies to showcase their latest products, services innovations and technologies and for attendees to meet, network and learn from others who are interested in the same professional opportunities.

 “IIAR provides advocacy, education, and standards for the benefit of the global community in the safe and sustainable design, installation and operation of ammonia and other natural refrigerant systems.” Dyplast exhibits at the IIAR Exhibition because our ISO-C1® family of polyiso insulation mechanical pipe insulation system is an integral part of the design and successful operation of the refrigeration systems. ISO-C1® has been successfully used for many years as mechanical pipe insulationand is a proven economic insulation technology. Exhibiting at IIAR allows Dyplast personnel to discuss first hand with the engineers, designers, and owners attending, the economic value that ISO-C1® imparts to their operations. 

Come visit Dyplast at (Booth #302) where our industry experts will be ready to provide more information on full product range of polyisocyanurate insulation for both mechanical insulation and architectural panel applications.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tom McGettigan joins Dyplast Products as Senior Account Manager

Dyplast Products, LLC is pleased to announce the newest member of the Dyplast team, Tom McGettigan. Tom joined Dyplast on January 25th as Senior Account Manager and is responsible for handling customer relationships, customer and market education and specifications for Dyplast products, and driving new business opportunities for our ISO-C1® family of products. 

Tom comes to Dyplast well recommended with more than 20+ years of experience in the fiberglass insulation industry.  Tom received a bachelor's degree in Science from The University of Florida.

Join us in celebrating this new addition to the Dyplast Products Team!

Tom will be reporting to Joe Hughes, VP Sales and Marketing.

Technical Bulletin 0116 Insulation Performance at Cryogenic Temperatures

Dyplast's latest Technical Bulletin offers insight into insulation performance at cryogenic temperatures. Since insulation performance in cryogenic applications, although not theoretical physics, is indeed a complex subject, the approach in this article is somewhat along the lines of gedankenexperiment. In other words, the objective is to logically examine the complex issues that surround  insulant performance at cryogenic temperatures - - a different approach than simply examining and comparing numbers advertised in datasheets, particularly those measured under ambient conditions with the hope or trust that they accurately represent insulant performance at -265ºF (-165ºC).

The above chart suggests that polyiso and aerogel insulants achieve materially better k-factors than either cellular glass or elastomeric insulants. So why not logically exclude the latter from future projects, especially since earlier paragraphs in this article offered that thermal insulation's ultimate objective is to "insulate". Wouldn't logical thinking conclude that thermal conductivity "k-factor" is the paramount indicator.

Get ready for a somewhat mind-bending ride if you desire to better parse the world of cryogenic insulation. As Elon Musk (re: Tesla, SolarCity, and Space-X) is fond of saying, if your brain does not hurt at the end of every day, you're not doing your job!

Technical Bulletin 1215 Comparisons Between Aerogel and Polyiso in Low Temperature Mechanical Insulation

 Dyplast's latest Technical Bulletin 1215 offers a comparison between Aerogel and Polyiso in low temperature mechanical insulation. The purpose of this Technical Bulletin is two-fold: 1) to examine aerogel insulation (specifically Aspen Aerogels® Cryogel®Z) in some detail, and 2) to compare Cryogel Z with polyisocyanurate insulation (specifically Dyplast's ISO-C1®/2.5).

So! Is Cryogel Z a revolutionary insulant that will eventually dominate "cold" mechanical insulation applications? Or at the other extreme does Cryogel Z have fatal flaws? If the product is still evolving, is it ready for prime-time? The viewpoints of self-described "informed" stakeholders continue to be radically different; and internet research uncovers conflicting opinions regarding performance.  This Technical Bulletin may sway opinions one way or the other, yet at a minimum it is intended to assist stakeholders as they select the optimal insulant, and engineers as they design the optimal insulation system

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Dyplast Releases Technical Bulletin 1115 on Thermal Aging of Insulation in Low-Temperature Applications

Technical Bulletin 1115

Thermal Aging of Insulation in Low-Temperature Applications

Dyplast's latest Technical Bulletin addresses "Thermal Aging", which is the gradual reduction of thermal insulation performance over time experienced by some insulants due to latest-generation (highly efficient) blowing agents diffusing out of the closed cells within the insulant. There are many insulants with initially "poor" thermal efficiencies that exhibit no thermal aging (i.e. they remain poor), and alternatively there are insulants with initially "superior" thermal efficiencies that even after aging continue to have superior thermal efficiencies. Thus over the lifetime of the insulation system this latter class of insulants offers energy savings that far exceed those of non-aging insulants!

1)  Insulants manufactured with Hydrocarbons, HFCs, or HFOs generally have better (i.e. lower) thermal conductivities than those blown with air or air-equivalents;

2)  Testing methods such as those used by ASTM strive to predict thermal aging and provide apples-to-apples comparisons between alternative insulants, yet it is incumbent on engineers/specifiers to execute due diligence;

3)  Thermal aging protocols typically age specimens at ambient conditions that vary rarely reflect the conditions present at the actual application;

4)  Thermal aging is mitigated (sometimes dramatically) by a number of factors – particularly low process temperatures and physical impediments to gas diffusion such as insulant layers, vapor barriers and jackets.

Technical Bulletin 1115 

Please contact Dyplast personnel at (800) 433-5551 

or e-mail us at sales@dyplast.us 

or visit our web-site 

www.dyplast.com for complete information.