Use of hygrothermal models for understanding water transport in corrosion under insulation applications

Thermal insulation is used in operating facilities to conserve heat and protect against freezing amongst others. A consequence of insulating the equipment is the necessity to manage the introduced threat of corrosion under insulation (CUI). For CUI to occur, water and oxygen must enter and migrate through the insulation to reach the external surface of the equipment. The water transport characteristics are dependent on several factors such as type of insulation, type of jacketing, equipment operating temperature, external weather, water entry/leakage rate and cyclic service. In hot piping, there are competing water transport characteristics, as in water vapor moves outwards away from the equipment as water enters insulation. Knowing the water transport and the parameters that influence the time of wetness at the metal surface helps in understanding conditions favoring CUI. The use of transient hygrothermal models for moisture control is well established in the building insulation design codes and standards. The building designs naturally shed the liquid water to minimize entry and facilitate vapor management so that moisture doesn't accumulate within building. Several building industry hygrothermal models have been developed and are available for commercial use. One such commercial model has been used to understand water transport in a CUI application. The case study involves evaluation of piping and equipment installed with a closed cell polyurethane insulation. The hygrothermal model provided insights on the parameters influencing the time of wetness and the ease of water escaping the equipment-insulation-jacketing system.