Maximize your energy savings with proper insulation size

This paper reports that proper insulation involves choosing the largest thickness of insulation that satisfies all design parameters. Miscalculation of the economic thickness results in underinsulated pipe systems. This is a common mistake in insulation practices. Too little insulation is used on hot or cold process lines. A set of simplified equations overcomes this obstacle and removes some guesswork out of insulation sizing. Traditional methods of analyzing pipe insulation systems use an incremental payback method to determine the most economical thickness for heat conservation. This method gradually increases the thickness of the insulation and tests the payback of each increment until a predetermined payback threshold is crossed. The most economical thickness for a given pipe size and operating temperature occurs at the payback threshold.