Comparative Analysis of Aerogel Insulation Materials for Nuclear Power Plant Steam Piping Applications

      Within nuclear power plant systems, steam pipes serve as critical components, bearing the core responsibility of conveying high-temperature, high-pressure steam. Their thermal insulation properties directly impact the plant's energy utilisation efficiency, operational safety, and economic viability. Currently, conventional insulation materials such as aluminium silicate wool felts are widely employed in nuclear steam pipes. However, these materials present numerous drawbacks, including high density, suboptimal thermal efficiency, high water absorption rates, and short service life, rendering them ill-suited to meet the stringent requirements of nuclear power plants for ''high efficiency, energy conservation, long-term stability, and safety reliability''

     Aerogel insulation, as a novel high-efficiency thermal insulator, exhibits remarkable characteristics including extremely low thermal conductivity, low density, high-temperature resistance, strong hydrophobicity, and lightweight thinness. It demonstrates vast application potential in the field of steam pipeline insulation for nuclear power plants.

I.Typical Steam Conditions in Nuclear Power Plants (Taking AP1000 as an Example)

Main Steam Parameters (Typical)

Temperature: 270–273°C

Pressure: ≈5.6 MPa

Main Steam Pipe Outer Diameter: φ720–750 mm

Surface Design Temperature: ≈250–270°C

Ambient Temperature: 20°C, Windless Conditions.

II. Comparison of Aerogel with Conventional Insulation Materials (Taking Aluminium Silicate as an Example)

Thermal Insulation Layer Construction:

Conventional Aluminium Silicate Insulation:

Comprising 120mm (2x60mm) aluminium silicate wool felt + aluminium foil reflective membrane + metal outer cladding;

Aerogel insulation blanket: 45mm thick aerogel + aluminium foil reflective membrane + metal outer cladding;

Nano-porous insulation blanket: 75mm thick nano-porous material + aluminium foil reflective membrane + metal outer cladding;

Removable aerogel insulation sleeve: 65mm thick aerogel insulation layer;

Table 1: Comparison of Aerogel Insulation Solutions with Original Insulation Schemes

Table 2：Energy-saving Economic Analysis

Note: Based on a pipe length of 1000m, annual operating hours of 8000 hours, boiler thermal efficiency of 80%, and heat price of 70 yuan/GJ.

      The comprehensive analysis above demonstrates that aerogel insulation materials exhibit significant advantages over traditional aluminosilicate insulation in steam pipeline insulation applications within nuclear power plants. While meeting identical heat loss limits, aerogel insulation requires a substantially thinner layer (45–75mm, compared to 120mm for traditional aluminosilicate), effectively reducing pipeline space requirements while delivering superior energy efficiency.

      Over the entire lifecycle, aerogel's exceptional energy-saving properties yield considerable operational cost savings and carbon emission reductions.

      In summary, aerogel insulation materials demonstrate superior compliance with the stringent operational standards of nuclear power plants, namely high efficiency, energy conservation, long-term stability, and safety reliability. They possess significant potential for widespread adoption and application within the field of steam pipeline insulation, offering robust support for achieving energy savings, reduced consumption, enhanced quality, and increased efficiency in nuclear power plants.

       Based on the above analysis, Victor Aerogel, with over 15 years of experience in the research, development, and manufacturing of advanced aerogel insulation materials, possesses strong technical capabilities and mature production systems. Through continuous innovation, rigorous quality control, and extensive engineering practice, Victor Aerogel is able to provide high-performance, reliable aerogel insulation solutions that meet the stringent requirements of nuclear power plant steam pipeline systems, supporting long-term safe operation and energy-efficient performance. www.victoraerogel.com