Thermaxx Blog: Insulation, Energy Savings, & More

Cryogenic Pipe Insulation Solutions for LNG Plant in Maryland With Aspen Aerogels

Written by Richard Brown - Regional Sales Manager of Thermaxx | Jun 10, 2021 5:58:09 AM

What is Cryogenic Liquid Natural Gas? When  LNG  is returned to its gaseous state, it is  used  across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors for purposes as diverse as heating, cooking, generating electricity and manufacturing a wide variety of products.

It is  natural gas  that is cooled to -260° Fahrenheit, the temperature at which  natural gas  becomes a  liquid. The volume of the  liquid  is 600 times smaller than the gaseous form. The  LNG is re-gasified and burned by the power plants when needed.  

Cryogenic LNG Pipe Issues in Maryland

When it comes to insulating Cryogenic Pipe, tanks and vessels, insulation requirements and installation practices are unique. The sheer size and temperature conditions of these large-diameter structures introduce new challenges that simply aren’t as common with typical pipe insulation applications. To ensure that your Cryogenic Pipe, tanks and vessels are set up for success, Thermaxx has outlined energy efficiency considerations you need to keep in mind when designing, specifying, and installing insulation material for LNG Cryogenic Pipe Applications.   

Risk exposure from equipment failures due to corrosion, shrinkage of current insulation and integrity of the insulation around the turning valves. Missing insulation and the effects of frost formulation on the Cryogenic pipes’, valves and pump systems.

Thermaxx Solution

Removal of the old foam insulation was labor intense. It required hours of pressure washing to fully separate the insulation from the pipe. Thus, the replacement insulation was a more efficient multi-layered material of Aspen Aerogels Cryogel underneath the new metal cladding. The turning valves were jacketed by Thermaxx Removable Jackets with the inner lining layered with Cryogel. The jackets were designed to have multi-layered Cryogel material and also have the capability to be removed. This is the first time this has been done effectively in the industry for this application.  https://blog.aerogel.com/cryogenic-pipe-insulation

Conclusion

Our solution was a success, and the service provider was satisfied with the results. We solved the problems of the formation of condensation and Ice on the LNG pipes, and designed removable insulated jackets for their turning valves, for easy future inspections. Also, it gave the LNG pipe and tank system a much needed 40 plus year make-over. Thermaxx looks forward to the challenge of completing future projects for our customers like this one in Maryland and others across the country with this type of application. 

Contact Thermaxx for more information about our LNG insulation solutions.