Heat Shielding for Improved Energy Efficiency
Heat shielding technologies have improved rapidly in recent years. New innovative materials and manufacturing techniques have improved the reliability, durability and safety of these heat barriers in industrial manufacturing applications. Today, Keen Technical Solutions is constantly looking for ways to utilize heat shielding as a part of our energy efficiency efforts.
What Is Heat Shielding?
In manufacturing, industrial heat shield barriers are used to protect workers, sensitive infrastructure and equipment and improve efficiency in harsh hot environments. Certain heat shield materials can reflect up to 90% of radiant heat. Other benefits include:
Improved energy efficiency
Improved worker safety and efficiency
Protect sensitive electronics and HVAC elements
Heat Shield Applications
We’ve utilized various heat shield barriers in several industries to reduce the impact of high temperate processes on the surrounding environment. The most heat-intensive shielding applications include:
Manufacturing
Chemical processing
Petroleum refineries
Petrochemical
Power generation
Other applications span industries, especially hot water plumbing in healthcare, entertainment and hospitality facilities.
Automotive Exhaust Applications
One common type of heat shielding is its automotive application. These materials improve vehicle safety by protecting thermally-sensitive components like sensors and wiring from the 900+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures present on exhaust manifold surfaces. Different materials have been utilized in this specific use case and reflect the number of heat shielding solutions available to manufacturers.
The Most Effective Heat Shielding Materials
Aluminum sheeting or foil is widely considered the most cost-effective insulating material. Aluminum alone is one option, though it is also paired with other materials in multi-layer constructions to higher temperature environments.
In relatively low-temperature automotive applications, aluminum alone functions well enough. Its thin, lightweight and malleable characteristics make it ideally suited for mass production. More intensive environments require more comprehensive materials and engineered solutions. This often requires layers of application-specific ceramics between 0.2-0.5mm aluminum sheets.
See How Heat Shielding Materials Can Improve Your Business
Facility managers in many industries can put heat shielding materials to strategic use to lower energy costs and improve productivity. Learn how Keen Technical Solutions uses all available technologies to make a series of marginal improvements that add up to substantial cost reduction. Contact us today to get started.