Equipment is procured in response to a needed function. Once an equipment is purchased, then what? This question is not even raised when there are full staff and maintenance crew at the facility. Their function is simply continuously monitored and insure the operation of that equipment is nearly the same as the original installation. They also understand adjustments are made for decay, impact of the ambient weather (sun, snow, rain …), age, entropy, friction, corrosion, erosion, fatigue, and other factors will be considered during the life expectancy of the equipment. In short, dedicated maintenance staff’s position is to prolong the life of the equipment and insure homogeneity in the specifications and operations of the equipment.
Lack of such staff in a facility means, the original installation must accommodate and minimize the impact of the maintenance issues raised. This action can come at some cost. Then the question of the cost to benefit ratio is raised for every preventive maintenance action taken versus the dollar spent. On the plus side (or the pros) of this ratio, the extension of life expectancy and insuring the homogeneity in the specification has secondary benefits. If the unit is not operating at ideal condition, it is working in the non-ideal condition, which means that in order to compensate for its lack of performing to the task, the components of the unit must work harder, longer duration, more stress to meet its demand specified.
In the case of the air conditioning unit, water heaters, or boilers, the thermostats request the operation of the unit, and unit must deliver proper btu’s to the space as requested. The higher efficient units will satisfy the thermostat at a rapid rate as designed by original engineer. However, the less efficient unit will require more time to satisfy the heating or cooling of the space. This increase in time of operation can translate to:
• Longer operation of the unit
• Overstressing the unit beyond original manufacturer recommendation
• Higher personnel maintenance requirement
• Higher cost of electricity
• Higher maintenance annual budget for the facility
• Higher aggravation and occupant calls for heat or cool to the facility managers
• Faster replacement cost of the unit and
• budgetary constraints on the capital investment of the facility
Based on this discussion, the need for preemptive detection and solution for enhancement of operation is very necessary. One such discussion is the insulation of the piping that carries and transports the energy via the fluids. Whether the pipe is carrying the Freon, hot or cold water, poor installation will cost financial damage to the facility. During the maintenance of such pipes, the insulation is often non-existent, brittle, poorly reinstalled, and subject to damage to the weather. A means and methods of insuring the reinstallation is always meets the original intent of the designer is to create a protocol and proper reinstallation material for the facility maintenance workers.
The use of adhesives, tapes and similar are nearly one time disposable systems. During unwinding of the adhesives, the entire insulation is jeopardized or torn. Patching such system is nearly pernicious to the entire system. This is when the repackaging of the insulation receives its highest importance. The repackaging must be easy and allow the least time or effort on the installers under any weather conditions.
One can easily calculate the heat loss of any pipe with fluid with inside temperature of Ti and pipe wall temperature of Tw and the outside ambient temperature of To for various pipe sizes. This is seriously amplified when in a facility or in an apartment complex with 220 units with 5 ft Freon line sets all exposed to arid condition and weather. The dollar and energy of such units is significant. In the world of high energy cost, geo-political ramifications of energy, green and sustainable earth concerns, absolutely any energy savings achieved will be a blessing to the facility managers.
An insulation guard that is easily removed and reinstalled becomes ideal in such circumstances. In addition, such covers will provide further insulation, and protection from the weather to the actual insulation within.
Sep 262011
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