We hate to say it, but it’s true – every time you use a piece of equipment, you will experience energy loss. Whether a generator is not operating with a full load or an excavator engine is not burning exhaust completely, there will be a discernible amount of lost energy. In the case of the generator, carbon build-up will affect performance, with an excavator you might see fuel consumption go up because the system isn’t running as efficiently as it used to. But there are solutions you can employ that will lead to immediate cost savings and improved performance. Let’s look at how removable thermal blankets can provide that result.
Increase Performance of Equipment
One of the easiest ways to reduce your fully loaded cost on a piece of equipment is to increase the performance output. You can start by covering key energy-leaking components with removable thermal blankets. These replaceable blankets come in many different forms and material make-up, but the basics consist of an inner material, a layer of insulation, and an outer material. The material and insulation may change based on temperature requirements, location of equipment, and environment.
For example, a brand-new CAT 330 off the showroom floor will typically burn between ten and twelve gallons of fuel per hour. The excavator comes with an 80-gallon tank, so at that rate, you can run the excavator for approximately six to eight hours per day. If diesel fuel is averaging $3.60 per gallon, you will pay $288.00 per day in fuel, or $1,440.00 per week.
Now, let’s look at what happens when you place a thermal blanket on the turbo housing and exhaust piping of an engine. By using these thermal insulation blankets, the temperature of the equipment will increase, and the turbo doesn’t have to work as hard. The exhaust system will burn emissions much more thoroughly. In terms of cost of operation, by installing the blankets you can decrease the fuel burn rate by three to five gallons per hour. In a worst-case scenario, you now burn seven gallons per hour. That translates to more than eleven hours of operation before you need to refill the tank. Here is where the cost savings part comes in. You go from filling the tank every day to filling it up every other day for a cost of $864.00 per week. That is a savings of $576.00 per week.
Conserve/Safeguard Your Systems
You can increase the life of your systems with the proper installation of a custom-fit thermal insulation blanket. Not only does a blanket improve the performance of your equipment, but it will also reduce condensation and the risk of corrosion. It will minimize the cost of maintenance and replacement of parts. It is important to note these blankets will provide valuable protection for nearby heat-sensitive materials resulting in fewer costs associated with repairs and replacement for damaged parts.
Protect Your Personnel
Keeping your employees and other individuals who occupy your workplace or facility safe is invaluable. Often overlooked, the safety benefits of removable insulation blankets provide cost savings too. Thermal insulation blankets can reduce ambient air temperature, noise levels, and component touch temperature. Improving working conditions and worker safety can protect your employees from costly injuries. Ensure your business is meeting the OSHA requirements for worker safety here.
By installing removable thermal blankets on key heating system components, you should see near-immediate cost savings from numerous factors. Don’t miss out on energy efficiency advantages and more. Get started by understanding how a custom heat thermal insulation solution can apply to your industry and contact us today.
