Proper design and installation of an insulation layer is critical to both HVAC systems’ and process industry pipelines’ safety and energy efficiency. Just as in the case of building insulations, it is crucial to provide certain pipes, ducts and equipment with the best-suited technical insulation solutions, especially when considering numerous variables that need to be taken into account. In order to make it easier for clients to design and construct HVAC and industry pipework, Paroc presents PAROC Calculus.
When calculating optimal insulation for pipes, ducts, flat surfaces and process industry tanks, designers need to consider a number of factors, including potential and maximal heat loss, content and environment temperature, medium’s flow velocity and pipe material and dimensions – all in accordance with EN ISO 12241 (Thermal insulation for building equipment and industrial installations). Based on this standard, PAROC Calculus offers thorough calculations for various types of HVAC and process industry objects, namely pipes, ducts, flat surfaces as well as circular and rectangular tanks. The accessible interface allows designers to implement a vast number of project parameters, ranging from the object’s physical dimensions (length, thickness, inner diameter), through content (medium type, initial and final temperature, flow rate), environment (indoor/outdoor, ambient temperature and air velocity, relative humidity), up to the energy characteristics (energy source, annual operating time, price of energy).For products that require support for external cladding, influence of the heat loss can be specified (typically values between 15 to 25%).
All calculations are based on equations described in standard EN ISO 12241. Operating on the given data, PAROC Calculus helps to choose an optimal solution for different types of constructions – the program provides specific product suggestions and economically viable insulation thickness. By adding additional insulation layers, users can follow real-time changes in performance results – e.g. heat loss and uninsulated heat loss volume, surface temperature, dewpoint, CO2 emission and average annual savings. In cases where product properties are exceeded, a warning is displayed. The program’s product database is expandable. Builders and designers can add other insulation products for inclusion in future calculations. In order to do so, the program will ask users to fill in thermal conductivity at four different temperatures as well as the emissivity of the surface. The program then calculates the Lambda – temperature curve.
PAROC Calculus is available in two versions, web-based and a downloadable version with increased functionality.
