Success Story Summary

Water Penetration in Thermal Oil Lines Poses Fleet Problem for Petroleum Shipper

Rigel Shipping Canada, Inc. primarily transports petroleum products, heating oil and some chemical products. At the heart of each ship, running on the main weather deck from stem to the accommodation superstructure, is a thermal oil pipeline. This pipeline supplies the thermal heating medium for heating the liquid cargo in the ship's 12 storage tanks. The high viscosity of some of the cargoes carried requires these cargoes to be heated and circulated constantly. With the aid of heat exchangers, the thermal oil system is designed to function at 356°F (180°C) at the burner outlet, despite the severe climactic and environmental conditions inherent in the fleet's broad operations area—from Arctic waters to the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, viscous cargoes in the cargo tanks can be maintained at a temperature of up to 140°F (60°C) during transit. These diverse conditions can tax the capabilities of nearly any insulation system. Water absorption into the insulation system is a chief concern. Flammability also is a real concern. Rigel Shipping selected all-glass, totally closed-cell FOAMGLAS^® Insulation, which won't absorb water in liquid or vapor forms. Because of its impermeability, FOAMGLAS^® Insulation cannot absorb or transport combustible liquids.

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