Title: Optimum insulation thickness for piping system using exergy and environmental methods

Authors: Gülcan Özel; Emin Açıkkalp; Burak Görgün; Hasan Yamık; Necmettin Caner

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Bilecik S.E. University, Bilecik, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Bilecik S.E. University, Bilecik, Turkey ' Department of Civil Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Bilecik S.E. University, Bilecik, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Bilecik S.E. University, Bilecik, Turkey ' Department of Chemistry, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Bilecik, Turkey

Abstract: Optimum insulation thickness for a piping system is investigated using a novel method that combines exergy and environmental analysis. Rockwool and glasswool are chosen as insulation materials for the system and the analysis was carried out for the city of Bilecik, located in the Marmara Region of Turkey. Investigation is performed for the different nominal pipe sizes (NPS or diameter nominal: DN) of 50, 100 and 150. The environmental impacts of the various parameters are described. Results for the environmental impact of the system, the net environmental saving, exergetic heat loss, the net exergy saving, fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions according to insulation thickness are presented. Optimum points are calculated as 0.109 m, 0.126 m and 0.137 m for DN 50, 100, and 150, respectively for the glasswool. Optimum insulation thickness for the rockwool was determined as 0.064 m, 0.073 m and 0.079 for DN 50, 100, and 150, respectively.

Keywords: optimisation; insulation thickness; exergy analysis; environmental impact; life cycle assessment; LCA; piping systems; rockwool; glasswool; insulation materials; Turkey; pipe insulation; environmental saving; exergetic heat loss; exergy saving; fuel consumption; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2017.080992

International Journal of Global Warming, 2017 Vol.11 No.1, pp.107 - 123

Received: 29 Nov 2014
Accepted: 28 Feb 2015
Published online: 14 Dec 2016 *

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