Congratulations to all the participants and winners of the 1st annual NIA's Insulation Project Art Gallery Showcase and Competition. Thank you to the 13 companies who participated! The goal of this showcase was to highlight the creativity, artistry, and craftsmanship of contractor projects representing mechanical and industrial insulation systems.

Winners

1st Place Winner: Elite Insulation, Inc.
Thermal Performance for a Brewery’s Below-Ambient Systems

Pipe insulation was a 2-layer, half round shiplap, staggered joints with vapor retarder. The elbows were either a foam 2 piece or a 2-layer two-piece rubber due to tight installation positioning and chosen to reduce the amount of seams/cut joints and provide a vapor retarder. Rubber was used on flanges and valves for maintenance. Outside, aluminum jacketing was used to withstand the elements, with stainless banding (not screws) to keep the vapor barrier undamaged. On the fittings bigger than stamped 2-piece fittings, gored segments were installed. Jacketing with two different colors for supply and return allows brewery employees to easily identify systems.

• Industry Segment: Food Processing
• Type of Plant/Facility: Brewery
• Temperature Range: Below-Ambient System
• Region: Midwest
• Goals for the Project: New Construction, Energy Savings, Process Control,
  Condensation Control

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation, or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Designed to maximize system performance and longevity in a high humidity/moisture environment.

 

2nd Place Winner: Thermal Solutions, Inc.
Installation of Insulation and Stainless Jacketing on New Mash Cooker

Our scope of work for the project consisted of insulating new mash cookers, stills, and vessels for the expansion, which was completed in phases beginning with the mash cookers. The application includes a high heat cooker that requires a quick cool down. The four photos depict the different phases of construction, with the facility erected around the now insulated mash cookers. The number of protrusions required precise design and application.

• Industry Segment: Food Processing
• Type of Plant/Facility: Distillery
• Temperature Range: Above-Ambient System
• Region: Southeast
• Goals for the Project: New Construction, Energy Savings, Process Control,
  Condensation Control, Corrosion Control, Personnel Protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
The insulation was chosen for this project due to its quality, heat retention, rigidity, self-supporting nature, and the environmental conditions of the facility.

 

3rd Place Winner: Argus Contracting, LP
Noise Reduction with Sound Blankets

Sound blankets were fabricated to reduce sound from pipes, vessels, and equipment used for natural gas distribution. Sound enclosures were erected with tube steel and box rib. These enclosures were installed over instrumentation, actuator valves, and other pieces of equipment that needed to be accessible. The sound enclosures were lined with duct liner board and had loaded vinyl with silicone cloth door flaps.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of  Plant/Facility:Natural Gas Distribution
• Temperature Range: N/A
• Region: Southwest
• Goals for the Project: Corrosion Control, Noise Abatement

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
This project was designed solely for acoustics to reduce the decibel through pipe and equipment and not for thermal properties. The materials were chosen for their sound attenuating properties. A coating was applied and then covered with custom-made thermal blankets to reduce sound.

 

Participants 

Coastline Insulation
Insulated Chilled Water & Heating Hot Water Piping and associated equipment

A mechanical room that was insulated and jacked with colored PVC per piping system.

• Industry Segment: Commercial
• Type of Plant/Facility: University/College
• Temperate Range: Above-ambient system
• Region: Northeast
• Goals for the Project: New construction

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation, or reasons why any part is not insulated. N/A

DKB, Inc.
Installation of Metal High-Temperature Panel System

Removal and re-installation of insulation and covering after repair of large-scale boiler duct. This project was a remote site at a generation station. Duct size was 40 ft. x 40 ft. and up to 10 stories in height.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Coal Fire Generation Station
• Temperate Range: High-Temperature System
• Region: Southwest
• Goals for the Project: Insulation Repair/Maintenance, Energy Savings

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation, or reasons why any part is not insulated. N/A

Gribbins Insulation & Scaffolding
Boosting Thermal Efficiency and Safety with Insulated Vessels and Tanks

Installation of insulation and lagging on two horizontal vessels for thermal efficiency and personnel protection. A prefabricated insulated vertical panel system also was installed on a crude oil tank.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Petroleum
• Temperature Range: High-Temperature System
• Region: Midwest
• Goals for the Project: Insulation Repair/Maintenance, Energy Savings,
  Process Control, Personnel Protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Designed for thermal efficiency and personnel protection. The proximity of adjacent tanks required the skilled team to construct scaffolding for safe access.

Hudak's Insulation, Inc.
Heat Exchanger — Exposed to Elements

The project was to exchange and replace exposed elements. It was also an energy saving and personal protection project.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Pharma
• Temperature Range: Above-Ambient System
• Region: Northeast
• Goals for the Project: New construction, Energy savings, Emission reductions, Process control, Corrosion control, Personnel protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Insulated support 4 inches below to prevent heat sink

I&I
I&I Assistance at Cameron LNG

Cameron LNG is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal situated along the Calcasieu Channel in Hackberry, Louisiana to provide global markets with direct access to LNG supplies on the deep-water ship channel with a 3-train natural gas export liquefaction facility.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: LNG
• Temperature Range: Liquefied natural gas system
  • Region: Southeast
• Goals for the Project: New construction, Energy savings, Process control, Condensation control, Corrosion control, Personnel protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Insulation was applied according to engineering standards and aligned with specifications.

Kerco, Inc.
Systems: Minus 40 & 25 ,Plus 25 Ammonia Refrigeration System, for Cold storage

Project Cold Storage Warehouse

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Cold Storage Warehouse
• Temperature Range: Below-Ambient System
• Region: Southwest
• Goals for the Project: Energy savings, Emission reductions, Process control, Condensation control, Personnel protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Supplied by refrigerant engineer

Luse Thermal Technologies
180 Feet Insulated from a River Barge

The project was to insulate 180 feet of pipe above water for a steel mill’s sanitary sewer while floating on a barge. It required skill and problem solving to overcome obstacles. The entire section of piping was insulated including flanges and a check valve.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility:Steel Mill
• Temperature Range: Below-Ambient System
• Region: Midwest
• Goals for the Project: Insulation Repair/Maintenance, Freeze Protection

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
The insulation material was chosen for its ease of installation, its cost effectiveness, and its corrosion resistance.

 

Performance Contracting, Inc.
110,000+ sq. ft. of Acoustic Insulation and Decorative Perforated Metal Panels

The MSG Sphere is the largest spherical music and entertainment arena in Las Vegas. It was designed by Populous to seat 18,600 visitors for a one-of-a-kind immersive video and audio experience. The insulation system includes custom patterned perforated metal panels over acoustical insulation and then a plaster system that includes an acoustic insulation board.

• Industry Segment: Commercial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Music and Entertainment Arena
• Temperature Range: Ambient Temperature
• Region: Southwest
• Goals for the Project: New Construction, Acoustic Insulation

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
The Sphere measures an est. 366 ft. high and 516 ft. wide at its broadest point. An acoustic plaster system was used to enhance audio experience.

Taurus Insulation
New Construction Hot Service Vessel in West Texas

New construction for a hot service vessel in West Texas.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Gas Processing Plant
• Temperature Range: High-Temperature System
• Region: Southwest
• Goals for the Project: New Construction

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part is not insulated.
Uninsulated pieces are due to the need to install the vessel. Final pieces will be applied after the vessel erection.

Texoma Industrial Insulation Inc.
Low Temp Ammonia Vessel Insulation System

Our Project consisted of insulating the Ammonia system for a food processing facility. Low temp vessel had 6" thick double layer Polystyrene. High temp vessel had 4" thick double layer Polystyrene.

• Industry Segment: Industrial
• Type of Plant/Facility: Food Processor
• Temperature Range: Low-Temperature System
• Region: Northeast
• Goals for the Project: New construction, Energy savings, Process control, Condensation control, Corrosion control

Please describe the design considerations for the insulation or reasons why any part s not insulated.
The only line not insulated is a vent line.