Novel Innovative Concept for Self-Drying of the Insulation of Cold Piping

Abstract

The self-drying concept for the insulation of cold piping is based on the wicking action of a hydrophillic fabric which is wound around the pipe and ex tended through the slot of the tubular insulation mantel. If the dew point of the am bient air is below the temperature of the surface of the pipe, water vapour will diffuse through the insulation, condense on the pipe and be sucked up by the wick fabric and transported by wicking action through the slot to the surface of the insulation mantel, from where it will evaporate into the ambient air.

In this paper, an experimental set-up is described which within a few hours can demonstrate the self-drying concept. Results are given that show that the concept is able to prevent moisture build up in tubular mineral fibre insulation even without any vapour retarder jacket.

The concept can also be used on piping below freezing temperature if the cooling plant is closed down for a short period once a year or every other year, depending on the permeability of the vapour retarder jacket.