The Importance of Thermal Insulation for Nuclear Plants

Nearly 100 nuclear power plants in the United States produce 20 percent of the energy that’s used in various cities. In the future, the number of plants will grow; according to industry experts, over 30 new nuclear facilities will be built throughout the next few decades. Since power plants generate tons of thermal energy, there will be a huge demand for a ceramic fiber board because it can withstand 1000-degree temperatures.

Key Areas Where Insulation is Needed

In a nuclear power plant, water is boiled in various locations to generate steam. The energy that’s produced during the process spins a turbine engine. Although there are multiple components in a power plant, thermal insulation is usually placed in and around the containment area.

Within a containment area, workers must maintain electrical devices, structural elements, and hydraulic components. Proper insulation is typically installed near the systems and materials in this zone. The containment environment is fairly large, so the nuclear steam that seeps out of the supply system is always contained. A typical containment zone has:

Pipes Valves Pumps

A reactor is also found inside of a containment area. As a result, a lot of heat generates in the busiest locations. This is why workers usually put insulation on various pipes and different components throughout a containment zone.

The containment cooling equipment lowers the temperature as well. At most plants, the cooling components are connected to a water source, such as an ocean, bay, or river. When the equipment is used, it generates vapors, which decrease the temperature in a containment area.

Outside of the containment area, calcium silicate is typically placed on pipes because its strong and durable. It’s a great insulation option for stainless steel pipes since extreme heat doesn’t cause cracking and corrosion. Although calcium silicate is used on nearly 90 percent of pipes, fiberglass products and ceramic materials are gaining popularity.

Nuclear power plants need insulated products because the heat in certain areas can rise to uncomfortable levels. Thanks to ceramic fiber, the process of tackling important tasks in a nuclear facility is never a hassle.

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Understanding Energy Deregulation and Your Power of Choice

Most of us understand the concept that in order for consumers to have fair prices and a choice in open markets, competition among suppliers is a necessary and good thing. However, when it comes to resources all of us need, like power and communications, some feel that government regulation and control are necessary to protect the public. Deregulation in the energy markets is the result of two acts of Congress: the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of the 1970s, which created to infrastructure for independent energy production, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which opened the energy supply market to re-salers and wholesalers.

In an energy market that's regulated, one company controls the entire supply chain and pricing, leaving consumers no choice but to use that service provider or go without. In a deregulated market, the energy commission for each state or region is responsible for generating power and transmitting it to the grid, and private companies handle maintenance, transmissions and connections from the grid to the customer.

How It Works

Deregulation works by forcing companies to offer lower energy rates, progressive energy technologies and customer incentives to compete for business. Nine states have deregulated both natural gas and electricity:

California Texas Illinois Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania Maryland New York Rhode Island

The remaining states have deregulated either one source or the other, but soon all 50 states will have open energy markets.

Who Benefits?

Ultimately, everyone benefits from energy deregulation. The states no longer need to spend money on grid and infrastructure maintenance, private companies can put their profits into developing cleaner energy technology and the consumer can choose the provider and terms that suit their circumstances and budget. Deregulation also benefits your by converting your utility bill to a fixed - rather than a variable - expense, allowing you to better manage your money each month.

In state that have deregulated their energy provision, companies like DirectEnergyRates.net will allow you to compare the rates from different providers only line at the click of a mouse. You simply type in you zip code, and you'll receive a company by company listing of rates, services and terms for residential and business customers. This allows consumer to pick the services that will fit their needs, and let you know about things like which companies provide green energy technology.

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