Basics of HVAC Insulation, It's Types, Properties and Application, Insulating Material and it's advantages or Functions, Case Study of Insulation

1. SUBMITTED TO:
Mr. Paramjeet Singh
(Project Engineer/Assistant Professor)
Chitkara College of Applied Engineering
Chitkara University
SUBMITTED BY:
Mr. J.S. Dosad
1855991159
ME-6th Semester
B-Tech (LEET)

2. INSULATION
All those material that retard or stop the flow of
• Heat
• Electricity
• Sound
Through them may be broadly defined as insulating materials. The same material may
not be insulator against all the three types of energy waves; it may not be insulator
against heat or electricity or sound or more than one of the two transmissions.
• The importance of insulating material cannot be over emphasized in engineering
practice. Since heat and electricity are the main source of energy in many important
operations, a safe handling of these source may be impossible without insulators.
The insulator may be studied under three general headings, thermal insulators,
electrical insulators and sound insulators.

3. INSULATION

4. THE ROLE OF HVAC INSULATION IN IEQ(indoor environment
quality)
Effective thermal insulation ensures that the medium (air or liquid) stays at the right
temperature, reducing energy loss throughout the system and preventing the risk of
condensation.
By making this initial investment, you can achieve significant operating and maintenance
cost savings, while also guaranteeing an appropriate level of thermal and acoustical
comfort.

5. Why Is Ductwork Insulation
Important?
Ductwork insulation ensures that air
traveling through the duct system will stay
at the desired temperature and won't
"leak" out. Leaking air results in
unnecessary energy loss, which means
that your HVAC system will have to work
even harder. This will cause higher utility
bills as a result of wasted energy which is
not good for you and for the environment.
Without proper ductwork insulation, you
could be losing (10-30%) of the energy
used to heat or cool your home. A good
level of ductwork insulation will prevent
not only energy wastage, but also leaks,
temperature drops, and condensation
buildup.
What R-Value is Best?
HVAC contractors recommend that
ductwork insulation have an R-value of at
least 5, although the highest R-value
available, 8, is preferable.

6. Where Is Ductwork Insulation Most Necessary?
Ducts tend to be made of thin material, usually sheet metal or fiberglass, which is why
it is so easy for the air traveling through them to be lost. Proper insulation will ensure
that the regulated temperature will be maintained as the air makes its way from the
furnace or air conditioner to your living areas. The ductwork in unconditioned areas,
such as basements, floors, and ceilings is where ductwork insulation is most
necessary.
Ductwork Insulation Prevents Condensation
Cool air passing through warm areas in your home can cause condensation in the
ductwork. This condensation leads to moisture buildup inside the enclosed space of
the duct system. In turn, the moisture can lead to all sorts of problems, such as mold
and mildew growth. Proper insulation levels can actually prevent condensation form
occurring in your ductwork.
Seal Ducts Before Insulating
Before adding ductwork insulation, it is highly recommended to first seal leaks in the
ductwork. Find an HVAC contractor to seal the ductwork, specifically all of the points
in the duct run. The proper way to seal is with a material called mastic that is brushed
on and then left to dry for about a day. Mastic is used because it does not deteriorate
or shrink away from the joints. Keep in mind that, despite its name, duct tape should
not be used for sealing ductwork; it could deteriorate and decompose and cease to be

7. TYPES OF DUCTWORK
INSULATION
• The most common ductwork insulation material is fiberglass. A newer and more
effective option is duct wrap, such as Reflectix. Here’s a comparison of the 2
materials:
• 1. Fiberglass insulation
• Cost-effective
• Easy to install
• Easy to replace
• Absorbs noise
• Needs to be inspected often for any moisture absorption
• 2. Reflectix (duct wrap):
• Very efficient and stable
• Lightweight
• Made up of foil faces on the outside that hold bubble pack between layers of
polyethylene
• Has an R-value of 5.6, when installed according to manufacturer's specifications
• No risk of moisture problems as with fiberglass

8. CLASSIFICATION OF INSULATION MATERIALS
● Low temperature thermal insulation
●15.6°C to 0°C (60°F - 32°F) i.e., Cold or chilled water.
●-0.6°C to -73.9°C (31°F - 100°F) i.e., Refrigeration.
●-73.9°C to -267.8°C (-101°F - 450°F) i.e., Cryogenic.
● Intermediate temperature thermal insulation
●16.1°C to 99.4°C (61°F - 211°F) i.e., Hot water and steam condensate.
●100.0°C to 315.6°C (212°F - 600°F) i.e., Steam, high temperature hot
water.
● High temperature thermal insulation
●815.6°C to 1316.1°C (601°F -1500°F) i.e., Turbines, breechings, stacks,
exhausts, incinerators, boilers.

9. INSULATOR
Uses of Insulators
• Insulators work as
protectors. They may
protect heat, sound and the
passage of electricity.
• Thermal insulators, sound
insulators and electrical
insulators are used for
various reasons, from
keeping houses warm to
protecting electrical wires
and soundproofing rooms.
Depending on what you
plan to use an insulator for
will depend on which type of
insulator to use.
Properties of Insulators
• High thermal resistance,
• Reasonably fireproof,
• Insect proof,
• Durable,
• Non-absorbent of
moisture,
• Cheaper and readily
available.
Function of Insulator
•Insulation reduces the
surface temperature of
piping or equipment to a
safer level, resulting in
increased worker safety.
•Controlling condensation
and limiting corrosion on
cold piping, ducts, chillers
and roof drains.
•Prevents or reduces
damage to Equipment from
exposure to Fire or
Corrosive Atmospheres.

10. THERMAL INSULATION
Introduction of Thermal Insulator
A thermal insulator is used to prevent
heat from moving from one place to
another. Typically thermal insulators
prevent conduction through a material
that prevents heat from moving
through them easily. These materials
include plastics, Styrofoam, reflective
materials that enhance reflection of
radiation and reduce absorption and
green roofs to plant an insulation
layer that absorbs and reflects
radiation from the sun. These
materials reduce thermal conduction
by making thermal energy more
difficult to travel. Thermal insulators
may be used to keep liquids warm --
like a thermos does -- or for insulating
within a house, such as ceiling, wall
and floor insulation in the form of
Advantages of Thermal
Insulation
 It provides comfort as it keeps room:
(1) cool in summer
(2) hot in winter.
 It saves fuel by minimizing heat transfer,
 It prevents condensation or moisture
deposition on interior walls and ceilings
and
 It prevents freezing of water taps in
extreme winter, and heat loss in case of
hot water system.

11. THERMAL INSULATOR

12. THERMAL INSULATING
MATERIALS
1. Slab or block insulation-known as blocks or boards, 2.5cm thick and
60cm x 120cm or more in area. These may be made of cork board,
mineral wool, vermiculite, cellular glass, cellular rubber, saw dust,
asbestos cement, etc. these are fixed to walls, slabs or roofs.
slab or block insulation

13. THERMAL INSULATING
MATERIALS
Slab or Block
Insulation

14. THERMAL INSULATING
MATERIALS
2. Blanket insulation-these
are flexible fibrous rolls
made from mineral wool,
processed wood fibers,
cotton, animal hair, etc.
Available in thickness of12
to 80mm. These are
directly spread on the wall
or ceiling surfaces.
3. Loose fill insulation—may
consist of fibrous materials
like rock wool, slag wool,
cellulose or wood fiber
wool, etc. Filled loosely in
the studding space.

15. THERMAL INSULATING
MATERIALS CONTINUE…
4. Batt insulation-similar to
blanket insulations
except that these are
small in size but of
greater thickness. These
are also spread on
surface of walls and
ceiling.
Batt Insulation
5. Insulating board-used
for interior lining of
walls and also for
partition walls,
available in different
sizes and thickness.
6. Light weight aggregate-
heat resistance of
concrete can be greatly
increased by using blast
furnace slag, burnt clay,
vermiculite

16. SOUND INSULATOR
• Insulators that reduce sounds are used for soundproofing rooms or for noise control.
Sound insulators work to reduce sound energy that is reflected by room surfaces.
Sound insulators include vinyl barriers that block noise from traffic, voices and music;
foam cells that dampen noise as it passes through multiple foam cells; and acoustic
tiles that absorb, echo and minimize reverberation. Soundproof your doors, walls and
windows to absorb sound for quieter homes and rooms.

17. SOUND INSULATION
• High noise is fast becoming acute problem in many cities and tow and.
• Insulation against noise is an important an engineering problem as against
heat in fact in cosmopolitan cities “Noise Pollution” is one of the biggest
challenges for the citizens
Following material are used at present as acoustic Insulator:
Cellular Concrete.
• It is a variety of concrete in which voids are created during manufacturing
stage. Generally it is made by adding powdered aluminum and water to a
cement used for making concrete.
Cellular Concrete

18. SOUND INSULATION
Acoustic plaster
• This is made by mixing together magnesium oxy-chloride granulated slag and some gelatin.
Acoustic boards
• These are made by bonding together fibrous materials like wood and vegetable fibers in a
matrix of plaster, they are light in weight and can be cut and joined on the ceiling and partition
wall.
• Acoustic boards are also made by using vermiculates and pearlite.
Acoustic Plaster

19. ACOUSTIC
BOARDS

20. ELECTRICAL INSULATOR
• An electrical insulator, also known as a non-
conductor, is used to prevent the flow of
electric currents.
• Materials that work as non-conductors lack
movable electric charges. Highly resistant
electrical insulators include mica (crystalline
silicate minerals), glass, quartz and solid
ionic substances.
• These materials work by tightly binding
electrons so there is no electron flow
between them and therefore no conduction.
Electrical insulators may be used for circuit
boards, high voltage systems and as
coating on electric wire and cable.
Advantages
• A very poor electrical conductivity
i.e., a very high electrical resistivity.
• Resistance to deterioration on
heating
• Very low thermal expansion.
• Non-inflammable.
• Chemical stability at high
temperature.
• High strength hardness and
resistance to abrasion.

21. ELECTRICAL
INSULATORS

22. ELECTRICAL
INSULATORS
Mica
• The name indicates a group of natural minerals having a sheet like structure by virtue
of which they can be separated into thin elastic sheets of this group two members,
named muscovite and phlogopite are used extensively as electrical insulators.
• These minerals have very low thermal conductivity, high electrical resistance, great
toughness, flexibility and resilience a unique combination for an ideal insulator. Mica
in different forms is used in a variety of electrical devices such as resistance to
electrical heating appliances.
Mica

23. ELECTRICAL
INSULATORS
Asbestos
• Highest Grade of asbestos which occurs in long fibre and is free from iron
oxides is a commonly used insulator in many electrical appliances.
• It is used for covering electrical covering in traction type electrical motor or
coil.
Asbestos

24. RUBBER
• Rubber It is one of the very common used electrical Insulator it has following Special
properties.
• Very low electrical conductivity.
• High resistance to moisture and abrasion.
• High flexibility.
• High Resilience.
Rubber

25. ELECTRICAL
INSULATORS
Paper
• Paper is also classed among very useful insulators for common Use.
• Insulation paper is specially made without addition of fillers. When impregnated with
oil, its properties as an insulator get further improved.
Paper

26. ELECTRICAL
INSULATORS
Synthetic resin
• These artificial materials have occupied a place of great importance in the field of
electrical insulation.
• They are available both in solid and liquid form among the solid product of cellulose
ester and phenolic vinyles etc are important bakelite is an outstanding example of this
group.
Synthetic resin

27. CASE STUDY
• This is a case study of houses build in Sweden under the guidelines of
• Swedish National Board of Housing :-
• The energy use in the European Union should decrease with 20% in 2020 and with 50% in
2050 compared to the energy use in 1990 (European Commission, 2008). A large part of
the energy use is related to heating of buildings and production of domestic hot water. In
Sweden, this part is just below 30% of the total end energy use which corresponds to
around 10% of the Swedish greenhouse gas emissions. The data on energy use is
uncertain, but according to the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
which is responsible for the Swedish energy use targets in buildings, the energy use for
heating and domestic hot water has been reduced by 8% between 1995 and 2008. To
reach the Swedish energy use targets of a 20% reduction in 2020 and a 50% reduction to
2050 compared to 1995, further decisive actions are needed.
• The Montreal protocol from 1987 that went in force in 1989 demanded a phase out of the
worst ozone depleting gases till 1996. Thermal insulation materials, such as polyurethane
(PUR) foam, were filled with these substances which demanded research on how to
replace them in thermal insulation materials. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the
research was focused mainly on replacing the materials with the ozone depleting CFC-11
(trichlorofluoromethane). New materials and components have been introduced to the
market, such as cellulose fiber insulation, foam glass, polyurethane (PUR),
polyisocyanurate (PIR), expanded polystyrene (EPS) with added graphite, aero gel and
vacuum insulation panels (VIP).
• When introducing new materials to the market, it is very important not only to look at the
physical properties of the material as such, but also to compare the way of manufacturing
and recycling the material. It is important to ensure that no rebound effects occur when
changing to a more efficient material that could be more energy demanding in the

28. REFERENCES
• Building Construction : Dr B.C. Punmia
• Civil Engineering Material : Prof. Singh
• Insulating material (Department of Energy)&Research
GATE
• Wikipedia
• NetworX (Duct-insulation)

29. THANKS…