DENSITY | www.gilsulate.com

DENSITY

DId your know?

One of the most critical issues to consider for pour-in-place insulation is the “use” or installed density of the product in place and after backfill. Gilsulate 500XR is the only pour-in-place insulation consolidated to its use density before backfill and does not rely on the backfill process or additional backfilling to compact. This provides the owner with assurance of proper coverage and accurate thermal properties of their piping system. Bulk, loose, or other density values should never be used for sale or the determination of actual installed dimensions.

The “use density” is the consolidated particles’ mass per unit of volume. GILSULATE® 500XR is packaged to take advantage of the consolidation of “use density,” i.e., one (1) cubic foot per bag. It is not sold in loose bulk density. Additional material consideration for “yield losses” due to loose bulk or other density pricing isn’t required when purchasing GILSULATE® 500XR. Although our small paper bags hold about 1.3 cubic feet of Gilsulate at loose bulk density, we sell them by the use density of 1 cubic foot per bag. *There is no equal alternative to or replacement for Gilsulate®500XR. (*Case 2:13-cv-01012-RSWL-JPR)

ASTM Tests and Density:

ASTM International has more than 40 different definitions of density. Different test methods can and will give different measurements of density. Using the wrong definition or value for “use” or installed density will lead to less-than-desirable results.

We use ASTM D4253; in addition, we also use ASTM D1895 method C to determine the “use density” and density under loading conditions. We modify this test slightly to increase the weight applied to approximate the static loading of soil in typical underground applications (both 400 and 1,000 pounds per square foot) and by increasing its duration. The static load in this test can be increased to measure greater loading in deeper burials.

Settlement Happens:

Almost all bulk solids settle. The question is, how much? With large bulk solids (thick coarse aggregate, rocks, pea gravel, etc.), the settlement will be small. However, as the size of the bulk solid decreases, the amount of settlement will generally increase.

This is particularly true for very fine bulk solids or powders which can settle more than 30% of the original bulk volume. As a fine powder is poured into a confined space (such as a trench for piping), the top particles push downward, compressing the particles below. The air between the fine particles is also being compressed, creating an upward air pressure gradient. The smaller the particles, the greater the pressure gradient. This pressure gradient dissipates over time as air escapes from between the particles, resulting in the gradual settlement of the bulk solid.

Compaction(settlement) occurs through pressure (such as the weight of the backfill) and/or vibration. Gilsulate 500XR is engineered and designed to be settled using a concrete-type vibrator prior to the backfill of soil over the trench. The vibration allows the smaller particles of Gilsulate to migrate between the larger ones and allows trapped air to escape. Proper consolidation before backfill means proper coverage over your piping system after backfill.

Why Are These Issues Important?

The design of the piping system is based on the performance of the material protecting the pipe. Heat loss analysis, thermal efficiency, freeze protection analysis, temperature gradients, sensitivity analysis, heat transfer calculations, etc. are all based upon envelope dimensions (that is, the volume of insulation surrounding the pipe) and the thermal conductivity of the insulating material. If only the backfill is relied on to complete compaction, coverage over the piping system will diminish. By properly consolidating Gilsulate 500XR before the backfill, you maintain the envelope dimensions and thermal efficiencies specified by the design engineer.

Thermal Conductivity Of A Powder:

Thermal conductivity is tested using ASTM C177. To test a powder using this method a frame is used between two temperature plates to hold the powder and thermocouples are used to measure temperature differences until a steady state is achieved. Thermal conductivity is calculated in this process. To accurately determine the thermal efficiency in pour-in-place insulation, the use/compacted density should always be used as a basis for thermal conductivity. Bulk density testing of thermal conductivity will provide an inaccurate measure in applications with higher use densities. The thermal conductivity of Gilsulate 500XR is based upon its use density, not bulk density.

NEWS & INFO

WHERE TO FIND ENERGY SAVINGS AND REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS

Owners and engineers spend a significant amount of their time in search of ways to save energy and reduce their operating costs. Often times, the methods and products previously used on underground pipe insulation projects were not suited for long-term energy savings...

WHERE TO FIND ENERGY SAVINGS AND REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS

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info@gilsulate.com

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THERMAL ENERGY CORPORATION (TECO)

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