Insulation

Comment by Crusader-Rob on May 22, 2013 at 12:52pm

is there any links or pictures you can offer? I'll be looking at this in 3-6 months

Comment by David Upex on May 22, 2013 at 4:25pm

Is that stuff fire proof can I wrap the sides of my kettle in it and heat using my burner?

Comment by Crusader-Rob on May 22, 2013 at 5:04pm

what sort of prices?

Comment by Chris on May 23, 2013 at 3:26pm

It's available in 1m or 1.2m widths. As an example, the 10mm stuff is $20.18+GST per sq metre.  Not sure about flame proof, but it's certainly OK for 100°C kettle walls.  I'll do some pics this w/e.

Comment by Chad Keven on May 24, 2013 at 11:14am

while we're on this topic....does anyone have a tip for gas fire HLT insulation? my HLT should be fairly well sheilded from gas flames, but still not sure what to use.

Comment by Chris on May 27, 2013 at 12:19pm

Here's my HLT sporting it's new attire. Was fairly easy to do. I may trim the top edge back and finish with Aluminium tape. Tha tank is 85L.

Comment by mattd2 on May 27, 2013 at 3:09pm

Very nice Chris, where did you get the 85L vessel from, any details? and price?

Comment by Chris on May 30, 2013 at 10:59am

It's one end of an old hot water cylinder with some bits welded on. 3kW cylinder element.  Home made steel stand. The other end will be my kettle eventually.  Think the whole cylinder was $100. I also made a borosilicate sight glass tube (removed for insulation installation) which works well - doesn't cloud up like the polycarb ones. Just need a lid!

Comment by Matthew Vincent on June 5, 2013 at 7:12pm

Hi Chris

How's the 10mm product going? I've made contact with the rep from up this way (North Island) and he's suggesting the 15 - 20mm thick product.

Did you use the 'adhesive backed' product or just tape the outside tightly with the Al tape?

I see on their 'Installation Instructions' sheet they say -

"It is recommended not to glue the first layer to the walls of the vessel as Thermobreak Sheet will expand as the vessel will reach operating temperature. This could force the insulation to tear away from the adhesive. Allowance should be made for expansion and contraction of the insulation".

I'm thinking a couple layers of the 10mm product could be best, with the outer layer having the adhesive backing?? Maybe the 10mm alone is sufficient??

Keen to hear any feedback

Comment by Chris on June 5, 2013 at 8:29pm

Hi

Haven't cranked it up yet, but I used the adhesive backed.  As for thickness, I think it's very much diminishing returns.  I haven't done the calcs, but doubling the insulation will only fractionally decrease heat loss as the delta T has been reduced so much by the first layer.  I'll post some temps of the outside & inside when I use it next.  May be a couple of weeks as I'm still modding stuff! 

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