Author name: Drafts Dijital Dönüşüm

REMOVABLE INSULATION SYSTEMS ON EQUIPMENT Process equipment such as reactors, product tanks, raw material tanks or flash tanks in industrial facilities must be insulated depending on their operating temperatures. The reasons or advantages of the relevant insulation application are as follows: Saving Energy Maintaining Process Reliability Personnel Protection Protection for Anti-Freezing and Winter Conditions Fire Proofing Sound Insulation Environmental Awareness (reducing CO2 emissions, etc.) Saving Energy is usually the main reason for conventional insulation applications. However, maintaining the stability and/or reliability of the process, especially in chemical process facilities, is one of the main motivation sources for insulation applications. Regardless of the reason, after an equipment is insulated, the integrity of the insulation system on it should not be compromised and it should perform close to the manufacturing design. The fact that the parameters determined to ensure process reliability, such as raw material (or semi-products) temperature, vary according to ambient conditions are factors that will have a direct impact on the succeeding sub-processes and affect the entire production. In equipment insulations such as reactors, product tanks, raw material tanks, etc. the main reasons (saving energy, process reliability, etc.) should be provided, as well as the parameters determined by considering the operation and maintenance processes. If there is a need for any activity (regular maintenance, repair, modification, etc.) for a similar insulated equipment, for sure, the first requirement is removing the insulation and performing the relevant activity. Critical parameters for this process: Time for insulation dismantling Waste disposal Re-installation of insulation Insulation performance after re-installation Insulation removal time and re-installation time of the insulation after the relevant activity are the factors that determine the total downtime of the equipment. Sure, these periods should be short, and the required workforce should be easily accessible with low costs. On the other hand, the control and disposal processes of the wastes that will occur during the dismantling are situations that create both extra labour and extra costs, as well as environmental awareness. At the end of all these, the fact that the reassembled insulation system performs close to its original design is also a reason for preference for the facility management. Because, as stated above, insulation performance is a very critical parameter in terms of both energy saving and process reliability. Conventional insulation methods include covering the above-mentioned type of equipment with insulation fillings (rock wool, glass wool, nanogel, etc.) and cladding with aluminium or steel alloy sheets as the last layer. In such applications, compliance with the design performance should be inspected throughout the entire construction process, and even periodic controls should be made after the application. In addition, if any activity like maintenance, revision, etc. is needed, the relevant insulation will have to be partially or completely dismantled and reinstalled after the activity. This situation will also result in the permanent presence of a talented insulation team in the facility and the prolongation of the downtime depending on these dismantling and installation times. The situation is completely different in new generation removable insulation applications. In these applications made with flexible and removable insulation systems, there is no manufacturing requirement on the equipment, and even if there is no special insulation competence, it can be easily installed, partially or completely dismantled, and then reinstalled by any personnel. There is no waste in these processes and they are completed in a very short time compared to conventional insulation applications. In this way, equipment downtime is not prolonged due to insulation requirements. There is no performance change in the reinstalled insulation system because there is no need for any intervention that will damage the integrity of the system. Even if there is any damage on any part of insulation, it can be taken care of in a short time by remanufacturing the relevant part. Since the use of external workforce is at a minimum in all of these processes, the risks in terms of occupational safety are also minimized.

Application Of Flexible Insulation Jackets Within Passive Fire Protection Systems Fire safety in industrial facilities is of great importance in terms of reducing operational risks and safety of employees. Since “pool fire, jet fire, explosion and BLEVE” cases are always among the possible risks in industrial facilities where flammable and combustible dangerous materials are used in standard processes such as storage, processing, and transportation. Therefore, serious consequences such as loss of life, chemical spills, environmental and air pollution, toxic fallout, injuries, property loss and loss of process (and business) continuity are very likely to occur after these incidents. The potential consequences of fires in industrial facilities are very serious and strict fire safety protocols and passive fire protection systems are required to prevent or contain such incidents. Passive fire protection systems limit the spread and damage of fire, making the facility safer in the event of a fire. This article discusses the application of flexible insulation jackets used for passive fire protection in industrial facilities. Figure 1 Actuator PFP Cover What are Flexible Insulation Jackets? Flexible insulation jackets are special insulation systems made of components resistant to high temperatures and chemical abrasives. These jackets are customizable products that wrap in-plant components such as pipelines, equipment and tanks and are used specifically for heat, sound and fire insulation. Figure 2 PFP System on a Reactor What are Passive Fire Protection Systems? “Passive Fire Protection” (PFP) systems are systems that aim to keep the spread of fire and damage within the facility under control. It consists of components that prevent fire penetrations and rapid spread of fire by dividing the building plan into certain small zones within a certain architectural structure (building, warehouse, etc.). In industrial facilities, equipment such as tanks or heat exchangers, pipelines, on-line fittings (valve, flange, etc.), instruments and also structural steel construction (piperack, etc.) components are equipped with PFP systems. In facilities equipped with PFP systems, suitable conditions for evacuation and fire intervention and most importantly TIME are gained. For this reason, PFP systems are the most effective solution to minimize the risk in all industrial facilities where flammable and/or combustible materials are used or stored in standard processes or to minimize damage even if the risk occurs. Passive Fire Protection Purposes of Flexible Insulation Jackets: Insulation: Flexible insulation jackets are made of materials resistant to high temperatures, preventing heat transfer to the surrounding areas by insulating the hot surfaces in the facility. Limiting Fire Spread: In the event of a fire, flexible insulation jackets can help contain the fire by preventing the spread of flames and heat. Limiting the Effect of Fire on Equipment: A component (actuator, heat exchanger, tank, cable trays, steel construction, etc.) equipped with a flexible insulation jacket prevents flames and heat from damaging the relevant component for a certain period of time. In this way, valuable TIME is saved and the equipment is prevented from being damaged by the fire until the intervention. Controlling Chemical Leakages: Flexible insulation jackets can help control potential chemical leaks in pipelines and equipment within the facility. Thus, the risk of leaks causing fire is reduced, and in case of a possible fire, the effects of the fire are prevented from increasing exponentially due to these leaks. Figure 3 Drain Plug & Indicator Application Steps: Risk Assessment: The potential fire risks within the facility are evaluated and it is determined which components should be protected with flexible insulation jackets. In terms of human and environmental safety in general and process safety in particular, it is necessary to determine the risky situations in the facility well, to determine the appropriate measures for these risks by experts in this field, to use certified products without quality doubt and to take the necessary precautions. Material Selection: Materials with suitable temperature and fire resistance for a certain period of time (30 minutes, 60 minutes, etc.) according to the relevant standard and resistant to chemical effects are selected. Installation: Flexible insulation jackets are applied to in-plant components with appropriate assembly methods under competent supervisory control. Correct fitting ensures the jackets work effectively. Periodic Controls: The applied flexible insulation jackets should be checked preferably annually. The jackets those have been disassembled for maintenance and similar interventions or damaged due to external reasons should be intervened immediately. Post-Fire Controls: If a fire has already been occurred in the facility, the condition of the flexible insulation jackets after the fire should be checked and any damage or abrasion should be immediately intervened. Figure 4 Sample Design Conclusion: There will always be a fire risk in industrial facilities where flammable and combustible hazardous materials are used or stored in standard processes. These risks may be due to many different reasons, depending on the characteristics of the facility. First of all, it is a must to take the necessary measures to prevent the fire and be prepared in case it does. Passive fire protection systems in industrial facilities become more effective with the use of certified flexible insulation jackets without doubts of quality. These jackets are made with materials resistant to high temperatures, preventing heat transfer during fire, protecting the relevant component for a certain period of time and keeping the spread of fire under control. The correct selection, installation and periodic maintenance of flexible insulation jackets are of critical importance in terms of facility safety.

INDUSTRIAL INSULATION APPLICATIONS AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Nuclear facilities, where most of the energy produced is obtained through nuclear reactions, harmful substances that can harm the environment for many years are also released. Therefore, the safe and sustainable operation of nuclear facilities is extremely important to keep possible environmental pollution under control. Industrial insulation systems play an important role in the safe and sustainable operation of nuclear facilities. There are two main systems in nuclear power plants, they are called Nuclear Island and Turbine Island. The Nuclear Island is the restricted zone within the boundaries of the Containment, where the nuclear reaction takes place. The Turbine Island, on the other hand, is the whole of the systems in which the steam (sometimes pressurized water or heavy water) produced by the heat energy obtained by the nuclear reaction is converted into electrical energy. Apart from these, we can also talk about a third main system called BOP (Balance of Plant), which includes all auxiliary components other than these systems. All these main systems have industrial insulation applications. In the maintenance and repair activities of the facility, removable flexible insulation systems are generally used in nuclear facilities so that the insulation can be easily disassembled and reassembled in the same way after the operation, especially in cases where emergency intervention is required. This is where the biggest difference lies compared to industrial insulation applications in other power plants or similar process facilities. Because the urgency of maintenance and intervention in nuclear facilities is many times higher than in all other facilities due to high environmental risk factors. Removable insulation systems are a type of industrial insulation lining that can be applied to the surfaces of equipment, pipelines, valves and other components in nuclear facilities. It is designed so that when there is a need for intervention on the insulated component (pipe, equipment, etc.), it can be disassembled locally or completely and easily reassembled when the process is completed. For this reason, it is essential that any module should not exceed a certain weight level (usually 20-25 kg). In addition, there are important parameters to be considered in the design, manufacturing and assembly processes of removable isolation systems used in nuclear facilities. The parameters considered in the design of conventional insulation systems, especially thermal insulation capability, acoustic insulation capability, waterproofing, resistance to chemical or similar corrosive substances, fire resistance and even passive fire protection, are also taken into account in nuclear facility insulations. However, the most important difference at this point is the applications in the Nuclear Island zone of the facility, which is also called the Containment. When these applications are compared with conventional insulation systems, there is almost a whole other universe of parameters considered. Containment; is a large zone that includes the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS), which may consist of a reactor, piping, pumps, valves and other miscellaneous components and equipment. NSSS has a very large net positive heat load. The insulation on the hot service piping and equipment inside the containment has one purpose; “controlling cooling loads.” Whether connected directly to a body of water (e.g., river, lake, sea, etc.) or to vapor compression cooling (air conditioning), the cooling system must remove this heat. In nuclear power plants, mostly mineral wool, calcium silicate, fiberglass, nanogel and similar microporous products are used as insulation materials, various refractory materials when necessary, and reflective metallic materials or technical textiles with fireproof properties are used as claddings. Cassette type insulation modules (figure-1) produced with metal cladding materials have recently been replaced by completely removable insulation jackets made of fireproof fiberglass material (figure-2 and figure-3). The thermal, seismic and other safety requirements of both methods are taken into consideration during the design phase, and they are produced as such. Again, in both applications, each of the modules is labelled with its own unique codes, and it is delivered with assembly drawings in which their positions are indicated with every needed detail. Removable insulation systems can be used in the expansion or renovation projects as well as the construction of the facility. In addition, worn or damaged module or modules can be reproduced by the manufacturer. In conclusion, removable insulation systems are an important technology that increases safety and sustainability standards in nuclear facilities. These systems ensure that the harmful substances that may arise during the operation of the facility are kept under control and that the efficiency in energy production is increased. However, it is extremely important that these systems have high design standards, the correct selection of materials, and the implementation of appropriate installation and maintenance processes. NOTE: The content of this article is informative and useful about insulation systems in nuclear facilities. However, you should not forget that nuclear facilities are a serious and sensitive issue, and only the project designers and owners are authorized/responsible for the design and implementation of any nuclear facility. Therefore, the article should be used appropriately by citing the source and relying on completely accurate and reliable information. Finally, due to the sensitivity of nuclear facilities, it is important for companies and experts operating in the nuclear energy sector to act carefully and responsibly for the use of the article.