Applications for Aerogel-Based Products

The role of superinsulation as niche products in the insulation business and their particular importance for space-saving applications has been presented previously. A lower thermal conductivity means that the same insulation performance is achieved with a thinner insulation layer or that the same thickness of superinsulation is used to ensure far better insulation performance. This advantage is contrasted by a significantly higher cost per installed performance as shown below. This assessment is based on data from 2009. 

In order for a high priced superinsulation product to become competitive with conventional ones, the value of the saved space and other beneficial factors must compensate significantly for the added cost of the material. In this context, the key question to be addressed is how can one put a dollar value on space savings Depending on the type of application, a reduction in space, weight, or volume affects overall assembly and operation 

For most aerogel insulation products, the reduction of the operating cost is higher than the savings accrued during installation. However, in the case of off-shore oil and gas pipeline 

Application Installation and assembly cost Operating cost Economic potential 

Off-shore oil and gas Smaller pipe diameter, lower weight, more pipes per installation round trip, fewer trips Superior lifetime, improved degradation resistance ++++ 

---