Thermaxx Jackets

Summer is nearly over, now is the time to prevent pipe line freeze-ups! Frozen piping doesn’t only happen with water lines, there are many other substances and chemicals that are piped within a facility. Some pipes can cause shutdowns of production lines if the line freezes and breaks, creating hazardous conditions and in general wreak havoc! 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.

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is the corrosion of piping and vessels that occurs beneath insulation as a result of water penetration. The water can come from rain water, leakage, deluge system water, wash water, or sweating from temperature cycling or low temperature operation such as refrigeration units…More

One morning before work, I walked through our manufacturing plant and looked around. It was different. The employees had not shown up yet. Linking Information to Assets My eyes were still adjusting to the LED lighting I had just switched on. As I glanced across the floor from side to side, I thought to myself, there are a lot of THINGS in this space. I mean a lot… More

Stainless steel is resistant, but certainly not immune, to corrosion. In a previous article, we examined the need for inspecting stainless steel pipes further, including a discussion of conditions which encourage corrosion. When corrosion does occur in stainless steel, the corrosion often manifests in a very localized manner rather than uniform (or “general”) corrosion. Two forms of corrosion particularly troublesome to stainless steel are pitting and stress corrosion cracking, and both can cause very bad problems. Thus, for stainless steel piping systems, corrosion is an issue worthy of the attention of plant managers…More

Around the world, hundreds of thousands of steam valves are leaking or malfunctioning. Mechanical contractors are fixing, replacing or just simply attempting to help their client maintain the valve to keep it going. Valve failures vary. Some of these failed valves have a buildup of tuberculation or debris, or the operating nut will not turn in either direction. Perhaps your gate valve is leaking between the body and the bonnet, which is usually a pretty quick fix by tightening the bonnet bolts and nuts. What is the one thing that all these valves have in common? The insulation is missing… More

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!

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.

Thermaxx Jackets has worked with many clients who are trying to make their food processing plant more energy efficient, safer, and cleaner (such as Calabro Cheese). The USDA recommends insulating pipes in food processing facilities, providing a layer of protection between the piping and your product. The insulation blankets used should be food grade or food safe. “Food grade” or “food safe” means that the insulation jacket designers consider the particular needs of the food processing plant. Read more…

To be considered an expert in the insulation industry, there’s a lot you have to know. From understanding steam systems inside and out to being a master of physics, it takes a lot to be able to call yourself an expert. Think you can make the cut? Take our insulation test for experts to find out! More