Industrial Thermal Insulation Properties above Sintering Temperatures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Fire Safety Engineering

Background:

• The oil and gas industry faces risks of explosions and fires, exposing equipment to extreme heat.
• Thermal insulation, used for temperature control, may offer passive fire protection.
• Understanding insulation behavior under fire conditions is crucial for safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the dimensional stability and thermal transport properties of a specific thermal insulation material after exposure to temperatures from 700 °C to 1200 °C.
• To develop empirical models for thermal conductivity, dimensional changes, and crack formation.
• To assess the suitability of the insulation for passive fire protection in high-temperature industrial environments.

Main Methods:

• Heat treatment of a representative thermal insulation material to temperatures up to 1200 °C.
• Measurement of thermal conductivity at ambient and elevated temperatures (up to 700 °C).
• Extrapolation of thermal conductivity above 700 °C using porous material theory and analysis of dimensional changes and crack formation.

Main Results:

• Significant degradation and massive property changes were observed in the thermal insulation, especially near 1200 °C.
• Empirical equations were developed to describe thermal conductivity, dimensional changes, and crack formation.
• Massive degradation and crack development limit accurate numerical modeling above 1150 °C.

Conclusions:

• The tested thermal insulation degrades substantially at high temperatures, posing challenges for its use in severe fire scenarios.
• Protecting the insulation with a robust outer layer to maintain temperatures below 1100 °C could enable promising future numerical modeling for fire safety.
• Further research into material behavior and protective strategies is essential for enhancing passive fire protection in the oil and gas sector.