Thermal Insulation Handbook for the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Industries

1.6. Economic Thickness of Insulation

The required thickness of insulation for any specific application depends upon the characteristics of the insulating material and the purpose of the equipment. When the sole objective is to achieve the minimum total cost, the appropriate thickness is known as the economic thickness. If we need to calculate the economic thickness, the following additional information will be necessary:

• Cost of heat to be used for calculation purposes, e.g., US dollars per useful megajoule

• Evaluation period (working hours)

• Whether or not the cost of finish is to be included in the calculation.

Any increase in the amount of insulation applied raises the cost of the insulation but decreases the cost of heat lost. The sum of ...