Author Archives: chris

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, or NH₃.  Because of Ammonia’s vaporization properties, it is frequently used as a refrigerant. NH3 boils at −33.34 °C (−28.012 °F) at a pressure of one atmosphere, Ammonia was commonly used before Freons (chlorofluorocarbons) became popular. Read more.

We often hear from clients facing a similar problem: condensation (or sweat) forming on their cold pipe or component. One may think it’s something that can be overlooked, but water can cause serious damage to sensitive piping or equipment if left untreated. Corrosion (the gradual destruction of materials, usually metals, by chemical and/or electrochemical reaction with their environment) can occur on the sweating pipe, and the equipment around it leading to messy leaks and equipment failure. Moisture buildup can also cause mold or mildew to form, or create a slippery workspace. In this article, we will discuss the problem in depth and present our solution. Read more.

With the price of fuel oil fluctuating as it does one important constant remains, energy savings. Oil Fired Boilers tend to be are still a very common component used to make hot water or steam. In today’s world we need to look for any way possible to save valuable energy dollars. With the oil-fired boiler that begins with the insulation. Read more.

Spray drying is the process of converting a mixture in its liquid form to a powder. This is done by removing the moisture component from the liquid solution. The solution, sometimes called an emulsion, is sprayed through a nozzle into a chamber that simultaneously has hot air being blown into it. This is the preferred method of drying of many thermally-sensitive materials such as foods and pharmaceuticals.

Chilled water applications (around 45°F/7.77°C) and cryogenic applications (-126°F/-87.8°C & lower) require that ambient air does not reach the component or sweating/icing conditions occur. To keep ambient air from infiltrating the insulation and subsequently reaching the component a vapor barrier is required. The purpose of a vapor barrier is as it sounds, it is a barrier of some type of material that will not allow the ambient air to come in contact with the component. Is that all that is required to stop the sweating? Hardly! Unless the vapor barrier has sufficient insulation between it and the component to prevent the vapor barrier from being at a temperature that is at or lower than the dew point the vapor barrier is worthless.

Chiller insulation blankets are becoming the standard replacement insulation for factory applied chiller insulation. The factory applies insulation to the low temperature surfaces such as the evaporator, water boxes and suction elbow. The insulation is usually ¾” thick rubber insulation with a K factor of 0.3 Btu-in./hr.-ft²-°F. If maintenance is required on any of the low temperature areas of the chiller and the insulation is affected, it must be removed… Read more!