Thermal lnsulation in distillation columns and their auxiliary unes

Abstract

A large number of industries use a boiler for the steam production that is used in many processes, the heat transfer by the steam is lost through the pipes and walls ofthe devices, so in this investigation was selected the distillation columns of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering as a process of interest. To produce steam is necessary to bum fuels, which is very importan! to thermally insulate the column's walls and its auxiliary lines in order to reduce the heat energy loss through hot surfaces, avoid risks by burns, improving the process efficiency in terms ofthe final product volume and purity, economics savings reducing the fuel consumption and the most important thing, the environment protection, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases from the combustion of petroleum derivatives. Through the methodology that shows the heat transfer and distillation unit operation will be determined the optimum thickness and type of insulation to be used for this system and obtain its thermal efficiency.