by: Ryan Worral, P.Eng.
Summary
Typical Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) plants are equipped with hundreds of feet of uninsulated flexible metal “jumper” hoses. The primary function of the “jumper” hose is to transfer hot process oil in a primary jacketed pipe across a connection flange. Traditional insulating technologies that utilize mineral wool and hard aluminum cladding are not capable of servicing these hoses as they have a small diameter and a very tight bend radius. The result is that the “jumper” hoses are left uninsulated and they are a significant source of heat loss costing HMA plants thousands of dollars each year in energy inefficiencies.
Recent improvements in thermal insulation technology have finally enabled HMA plants to insulate the neglected “jumper” hoses and recover significant capital in energy savings.
The Technology
Recent advancements in insulation technology are utilizing closed cell silicone sponge rubber as a primary source of high temperature insulation protection. The advantage of this material is that it has a very low thermal conductivity making it an excellent insulator. In addition silicone sponge rubber is non fiberous unlike traditional mineral wool and it does not required a hard aluminum cladding to contain the insulation materials. The inherent flexibility of silicone sponge rubber in combination with the aforementioned properties, make it an excellent solution for insulating the tight bend radius “jumper” hoses.
Economic Benefits
Insulating 1 ½” OD flexible metal hoses with silicone sponge rubber sleeves (under typical operating conditions) enables HMA plants to recover up to $30 in heat losses for every foot of “jumper” hose in one seven (7) month operating season (assuming a winter shut down). This translates into fuel heating costs savings of approx. $6,000 per operating season (Assuming 200 ft of “jumper” hose. Costs are based on 2005 North America fuel costs).
In most applications the flexible insulation sleeve will pay for itself within the first four (4) months of installation.
Installation Benefits
In addition to the economic benefits, the new insulation sleeve technology is easily cut to length with an ordinary pair of scissors and is quickly installed in the field. In many cases the insulation sleeve may be equipped with a hook and loop closure to further simplify the installation on existing lines without line disconnection or interruption. The hook and loop closure also allows for easy access to process lines while performing maintenance procedures or trouble-shooting system components.
Conclusion
Introducing the HMA industry to silicone rubber sponge insulation technologies will help demonstrate unrealized energy savings while creating a safer workplace environment.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Want to Install an Asphalt Driveway?
by: Edwin Reitstein
A nice level, smooth driveway is the fervent wish of many homeowners. In reality, though, it's harder to achieve than one might think. Concrete is expensive and takes a significant amount of time to set. Asphalt is inexpensive and sets within hours.
If you're repairing an existing asphalt driveway, before you consider taking on the more expensive project of laying new asphalt you may want to look at some cheaper alternatives. For a generally cracked, ugly driveway, you can buy driveway sealer and crack sealer from most any hardware or home improvement store. This is the fast, cheap way to seal up cracks, seal the surface as a whole, and black it again. For everything else, you'll want hot-mix asphalt.
Hot-mix asphalt is the very same asphalt you see burly highway road crews laying down. For the homeowner, though, hot-mix asphalt does not involve big machines. It's the same material but the application process is more basic. Hot-mix asphalt is an aggregate of gravel and sand mixed in with hot, liquid asphalt. When we say "hot" we mean it. Hot-mix applies at over 300 degrees F, and quickly cools to a workable 175 degrees F.
With hot-mix asphalt driveway, you have two options: overlay or full-depth asphalt paving. As the name implies, overlay is a thin "overlay" of a thin layer of asphalt driveway over your existing driveway. Your existing driveway, as bad as it might be, still needs to provide a firm, substantial base, or this option will not work. The second option is to jackhammer your existing driveway and lay down a full-depth asphalt driveway.
As you can guess, the full-depth asphalt driveway is the more expensive option. Not only do you incur the cost of jackhammering the existing drive, but you must lay down a bed of gravel before the asphalt. Oh, and did we mention that the layer of asphalt must also be thicker? That adds to the cost, too.
Read up as much on the subject as you can before calling any contractors. The topic of asphalt driveway paving is pretty much dominated by the industry, with few voices dedicated to the consumer.
For more information, come see us at http://www.EasyRenovate.com
A nice level, smooth driveway is the fervent wish of many homeowners. In reality, though, it's harder to achieve than one might think. Concrete is expensive and takes a significant amount of time to set. Asphalt is inexpensive and sets within hours.
If you're repairing an existing asphalt driveway, before you consider taking on the more expensive project of laying new asphalt you may want to look at some cheaper alternatives. For a generally cracked, ugly driveway, you can buy driveway sealer and crack sealer from most any hardware or home improvement store. This is the fast, cheap way to seal up cracks, seal the surface as a whole, and black it again. For everything else, you'll want hot-mix asphalt.
Hot-mix asphalt is the very same asphalt you see burly highway road crews laying down. For the homeowner, though, hot-mix asphalt does not involve big machines. It's the same material but the application process is more basic. Hot-mix asphalt is an aggregate of gravel and sand mixed in with hot, liquid asphalt. When we say "hot" we mean it. Hot-mix applies at over 300 degrees F, and quickly cools to a workable 175 degrees F.
With hot-mix asphalt driveway, you have two options: overlay or full-depth asphalt paving. As the name implies, overlay is a thin "overlay" of a thin layer of asphalt driveway over your existing driveway. Your existing driveway, as bad as it might be, still needs to provide a firm, substantial base, or this option will not work. The second option is to jackhammer your existing driveway and lay down a full-depth asphalt driveway.
As you can guess, the full-depth asphalt driveway is the more expensive option. Not only do you incur the cost of jackhammering the existing drive, but you must lay down a bed of gravel before the asphalt. Oh, and did we mention that the layer of asphalt must also be thicker? That adds to the cost, too.
Read up as much on the subject as you can before calling any contractors. The topic of asphalt driveway paving is pretty much dominated by the industry, with few voices dedicated to the consumer.
For more information, come see us at http://www.EasyRenovate.com
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