Pittsburgh Corning’s FOAMGLAS® insulation has again been specified by the UK-based, global, high-performance polymer-solutions provider Victrex Manufacturing.
Victrex manufactures a high-performance PEEK film that is used in various industrial and energy sectors, and the company is doubling its manufacturing capacity with its new PPP3 facility at Thornton Cleveleys, UK.
Pittsburgh Corning’s FOAMGLAS® insulation has been used by Victrex for its hot oil systems for well over a decade to ensure safe, reliable plant operation. Hot-oil wicking fires in absorbent insulations such as ceramic fibre, mineral wool, high-temperature silica insulation blankets or calcium silicate can be dangerous and difficult to control and can spontaneously ignite. Cellular plastic foam is unsuitable since it would be damaged by the high temperatures. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is a 100% closed-cell glass foam that can neither wick combustible fluids, nor burn, nor smoke in fire. FOAMGLAS® insulation also provides passive fire protection (PFP) for process pipework and vessels.
Pipework and vessel manufacturer Pipetawse fabricated seven PAU structures in its north-east England facility which, when brought together, formed a fully-functioning, hot-oil temperature control building. These PAUs were pre-insulated with FOAMGLAS® insulation before being shipped to Thornton Cleveleys. Insulation contractor, and TICA member, NIS was responsible for insulating and cladding the assemblies. Site technical support was provided by Pittsburgh Corning’s local UK technical team.
Process temperatures ranged from 350°C for 4in-8in piping down to 180°C for smaller piping. FOAMGLAS® insulation thicknesses varied from two layers of 60mm FOAMGLAS® ONE™ for the 8in pipes down to two layers of 30mm for the 1in pipes, dry applied and covered with stainless-steel cladding.
FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is widely used throughout hot and cold process industries in the oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical and allied industries, wherever process performance, security and safety are design requirements.
For further information please contact Pittsburgh Corning.