Saturday, 6 June 2015

Report on DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THERMAL INSULATION TESTING RIG AS PER ASTM

1. INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT

This test method covers the determination of the performance of commercial sizes of block forms of thermal insulating materials when exposed to simulated hot surface application conditions. The terms “hot-surface performance” has reference to a simulated use-temperature test in which the heated testing surface is in a horizontal position.
                                                              
This test method refers primarily to high-temperature insulations that are applicable to hot side temperature in excess of 200 0F (930C). It may be used for materials such as performed insulations, insulating cement, blankets, etc. by proper laboratory preparation of the sample.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 












CHAPTER 2: COMPONENTS AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 COMPONENTS
v  Heating plate (S.S Plate)
v  Wood (Insulation material)
v  2 Electrical heater  (Strip type)
v  Cover box (M.S. plate)
v  PID Temperature controller
v  Contactor
v  3 PIN  Plug(6 amp,240 V)
v  K type Thermocouple
v  Wire (16 gauge)
v  Bolt and Miscellaneous










CHAPTER 3:     SIGNIFICANCE & USE OF TESTING OF            THERMAL INSULATION

Performance in service is the final measure of value for a thermal insulation, but simulative service tests may give useful indications. One type involves applications for a specified time to a surface heated at a temperature approximately that of intended service and noting during the test and afterward, changes in the material and its properties. Measurements of these changes may be used for predicting what may occur in service as a result of exposure to temperature corresponding to those of the tests.

This apparatus include a full complement of temperature sensor, a monitoring and control system, and tools and fixtures that enable rapid and reliable installation and removal of specimens.

The best use of this apparatus can be visualized in terms of its ease in handling and simplicity in design. Its best overwhelming use is its application in the performance of high temperature thermal insulation. This apparatus works on high temperature up to 800 0C on the safe side. The working temperature is variable, so that we can test the specimen at the temperature as per our requirements.






CHAPTER 4: EXPERIMENTATION PROCEDURE

Procedure of carrying out experimentation for finding change in properties of insulation when exposed to high temperature for long duration as per ASTM is given below.

1.      Use the heating plate for testing the flat or block form of insulation. Use the heating pipe for pipe insulation. The thickness of the layers in multi-layer insulation and the total thickness of insulation applied to the hot surface for a test shall be that recommended by the manufacturer for the temperature of the hot surface in question, or as agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser. When multi-layer applications are to be tested, stagger each joint between adjacent tests in the same layer with respect to the joint in the next layer. Equally dispose about that joint the test piece in the next layer that covers the joint of the preceding layer.

2.       Assembly of specimen on heating plate: specimen for testing on a heating plate shall be 457.2 by 612.38 mm with thickness 4 mm. Check each block for flatness and measure and record any initial warp age. Cover the test area of the heating plate with the test blocks. If any blocks have initial warp age, place the concave face toward the hot side. Apply additional layers to the first layers when necessary to give the total required thickness.


3.      Start the test with the heating surface (plate or pipe) at room temperature. Employ a heating rate consistent with the use for which the material is intended. During the heating period, make qualitative observation to detect visible evidence of flaming, glowing, soldering and smoking. After the hot surface has reached the desired test temperature, begin a period of exposure of 96h. At the completion of the test period, turn off the source of heat and allow the assembly to cool to about room temperature before any specimens are removed.

NOTE: Ambient conditions on the exposed surface of the test insulation shall be at room temperature.


4.      After test, examine the specimens very carefully to detect any tendency toward cracking. Note the number of cracks and the extent or the depth of cracking. Also note any tendency toward de-lamination. Record other discernible changes, such as evidence of flaming, glowing, soldering or smoking that can be observed by visual inspection. In addition, measure the block or pipe specimen for warp age by placing a straightedge along the length of the block or pipe and measuring the maximum warp age at the center of the specimen with a steel rule.


CHAPTER 5: DESIGN

5.1 DESCRIPTION:
v HEATNG PLATE: It consist of corrosion resistant and heat resistant plate .Plate is surface area 260 x 210 mm and 4mm thickness. Plate made of stainless steel (s.s.).
v COVER BOX: it box made of mild steel(m.s.).dimension of box 61.38 x458.2 mm and 14.01 cm height and thickness 0.10mm.cover box in mounted stand and made of material mild steel(m.s).at dimensions for 620.1x505 mm and 45mm  height. Stand on mounted five strip type plate heater.


v  PID TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER: Two main circuits are required. One is to make to average temperature of all five temperature measured by the thermocouples. And second one is to require to cut in/cut out the heater automatically at the selected temperature. The range of PID temperature controller is 0-400̊ c measure.


v HEATER: It used heating the plate at set of temperature. Strip type heater and made of material used stainless steel (s.s). Heating plate Voltage 120V .capacity of heater Max sheath Temp. 1200̊ C.
v  INSULATING MATERIAL: It set on the heating plate. e.g. (ceramic wool).   Wood.
Ø  High quality of tensile strength.
Ø  high quality of stability and thermal and thermal shock resistance , sound absorbability
v CONTACTOR:  A contactor is a relay that is used for switching power. They usually handle very heavy loads like an electric motor, lighting and heating equipment. It is to require to cut in/cut out the heater automatically at the selected temperature. Capacity of contactor rating AC – 3 phase and 25 amp, 11kw and coil voltage 220v AC.
K-type thermocouple:This K-type thermocouple probe provides accurate temperature monitoring in range of -50 to +1200°C. 
Immersion probe type K (Cr-Al) thermocouple sensor, having handle 12 inch long, 'Inconel 600' sheathing of 6 mm diameter and 1 meter long 14x36 PVC compensating cable.


Temperature Measurement: Thermocouples shall be used to measure the surface temperature of the heating plate and the heating pipe. They shall be applied either by peening the individual wires into small holes drilled into the surface and separated by not more than 3 mm or by joining the wires with a welded bead and cementing them in grooves with the bead tangent to the surface
But not projecting above it. Thermocouples wires are coated by the bids of ceramic which enable them to withstand high very high temperatures up to 1200˚C avoiding its ill effects like decomposition, corrosion, disintegration etc. the combination of the thermocouple and measuring instrument used shall ensure an accuracy of the temperature measurement of ±1%.
 Type K is general purpose thermocouple is shown in figure 3.4. It is low cost and owing to its popularity, it is available in a wide verity of probes. Thermocouples are available in the -200˚C to +1200˚C range. Sensitivity is approximate 41µV/˚C.

5.2 DIMENSIONS (all dimensions are in mm.)


CHAPTER 7 : RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Reporting of the Insulating material as per ASMT should be done in following format with required information. This in turn gives information of testing parameters to be checked while carrying out testing work. Based on this testing parameters one can state behavior of thermal insulation under high temperature and quality of insulation.
·         Name and any other identification of the material.
·         Kind of insulation tested, sectional, segmental, or block.
·         Number of layers of insulation applied.
·         Size and thickness of each layer.
·         Temperature of test.
·         Warpage.
·         Extent of cracking.
·         Amount of de-lamination.
·         Decrease in thickness along the top of the pipe.
·         Other visible changes.
·         Any evidence of flaming, glowing, soldering and smoking.


We can also determine the thermal conductivity of the insulating material:

“The thermal conductivity is a rate of heat flow across a unit area of a conductor per unit temperature gradient.” 

Where,
K = Thermal conductivity, w/m.k
Q = Rate of heat flow, k
A = cross Area of insulation material, m2
dt = Temperature difference between room temperature & plate temperature.
dx = Thickness of insulating material.









CHAPTER 8:  READINGS OF TIME V/S TEMPERATURE       WITHOUT INSULATION
We tested our apparatus first without thermal insulation and we set a temperature of controller 150 C as in starting mode the current was flowing and the supply is on so the temperature was also increasing .As the temperature reached on 152 C the contactor break the supply and hence current flow is stopped still temperature of the plate increasing it reached up to 180 C and then again start to decrease and when it reached to 148 C the contactor again give the supply and hence the current start flowing still temperature decreases to 142 C and again start increasing as this time it reached to 152 C supply again breaks still temperature reach up to 175 c and then start decreasing as it reached 148 C current start flowing again but it decreased up to 143 C and again start increasing as it reached 152 supply breaks but still it increased up to 170 and then falling down temperature to 142 and then again it raises up to 175 C .so thus this types of reading we were getting of testing without thermal insulation.

Time (sec)

Temperature
Time (sec)
Temperature
0
80
150
140
5
81
155
144
10
83
160
145
15
84
165
147
20
86
170
148
25
87
175
150
30
90
180
152
35
91
185
154
40
93
190
158
45
95
195
160
50
97
200
162
55
98
205
166
60
100
210
163
65
102
215
168
70
104
220
152
75
106
225
146
80
108
230
144
85
110
235
134
90
112
240

142
95
115
245
143
100
117
250
145
105
119
255
148
110
122
260
150
115
124
265
153
120
127
270
156
125
129
275
158
130
132
280
160
135
133
285
162
140
136
290
164




145
134
295
69
150
140
300
68

CHAPTER 9:  READINGS OF TIME V/S TEMPERATURE WITH THERMAL INSULATION

Now with thermal insulation material properly put on the plate and we again started testing as before, we set the temperature of the controller again at 150 C. but this time the controller also break the supply at 152 C but the temperature keep increasing up to 236 C then it started to decreasing and as it reached to 148 supply again started but it reached to 140 C on lower limit of temperature then it started to increasing and as it reached to 152 C the supply again broke but temperature this time reached up to 172 C and then it started to falling down as it reached to 148 C  the supply started and it went down to 143 C this time and again started increasing again it broke the supply at 152 C but it reached to 172 C then it fell down again then we got similar type of the observation 2-3 times so can say the cycle was repeating it selves then.

Time (sec)

Temperature
Time (sec)
Temperature
0
48
150
70
5
48
155
71
10
49
160
72
15
50
165
72
20
50
170
73
25
50
175
74
30
51
180
74
35
52
185
75
40
52
190
76
45
53
195
77
50
53
200
78
55
54
205
74
60
55
210
78
65
55
215
77
70
56
220
77
75
57
225
77
80
58
230
76
85
59
235
77
90
59
240

74
95
60
245
73
100
61
250
73
105
62
255
73
110
63
260
73
115
64
265
72
120
65
270
71
125
66
275
71
130
67
280
70
135
67
285
70
140
68
290
70




145
69
295
69
150
70
300
68
CHAPTER 10: FUTURE SCOPE

  • This test method covers the determination of the performance of commercial sizes of both block and pipe forms of thermal insulating materials when exposed to simulated hot-surface application conditions. The term “hot-surface performance” has reference to a simulated use-temperature test in which the heated testing surface is in a horizontal position.

  • This test method refers primarily to high-temperature insulations that are applicable to hot-side temperatures in excess of 200°F (93°C). It is used for materials such as preformed insulations, insulating cements, blankets, and the like, by proper laboratory preparation of the samples.

  • The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

  • This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.