Thermolastic^® Insulation Products

World-wide, legislators are setting clear targets for the reduction of pollutant gases and particulate matter from diesel engine exhaust emissions. Despite significant advances in engine design, developments in catalytic converter and particulate filter systems appear to provide the most promising solution in meeting the stricter requirements.

Currently, most of the available systems are temperature dependant and research shows that heat loss from wide bore exhaust pipes can reduce the efficiency of the equipment used in exhaust gas conversion and particulate removal.

Insulation is already used around converters and filter traps to enhance performance though the exhaust pipe from the engine manifold to the catalyst can is largely ignored. The new regulations also apply to existing vehicles and will necessitate a programme of retrofits, where the diversity of vehicle operating conditions will have to be taken into account, often when the vehicle is situated on another continent.

Retrofits will require an easy to fit, insulation kit. Variable engine load and frequent stops and starts, typically found on city buses, adversely effect the gas temperature cycles hence the catalyst equipment can become inefficient. Choosing a proven insulation system will reduce heat loss and optimise erformance. In retrofit applications exhaust pipe configurations vary from vehicle to vehicle and it is unlikely that drawings will always be available, therefore on these occasions, bespoke insulation jacketing will not be an option.

The “fit all” Thermolastic® System provides a solution.

Although Thermolastic was originally designed to maintain gas temperatures in exhausts where emission control equipment is used, it is also widely used for thermal insulation.

Typical applications are to reduce temperatures in engine compartments and where the exhaust is in close proximity to services such as hoses and cables.

Other applications include agricultural equipment, i.e. Harvesters where the product is used to reduce the risk of crop fires, and in confined spaces such as Power Generator sets, Locomotive and Marine engine bays.