Shanxi Mining Enterprise Flammable Gas Pipeline: AG-F Aerogel Felt Reduces Insulation Thickness from 100mm to 30mm

A high-tech mining enterprise in Shanxi undertook a new pipeline project in 2021 covering 1,500 meters of flammable and explosive pipelines carrying high and low-concentration methane and hydrogen gases. The combination of flammable media, explosive atmosphere classification, and long-term anticorrosion requirements demanded insulation materials with exceptional fire safety, hydrophobicity, and sustained thermal performance well beyond the capability of conventional rock wool solutions.Rock wool's inherent moisture absorption weakness posed unacceptable risks in the mining environment, where water ingress into insulation degrades thermal performance, accelerates external pipe corrosion, and increases safety risks for flammable gas pipelines operating in potentially explosive atmospheres. The project required a Class A fire-rated insulation material capable of long-term performance without moisture-related degradation across the full operating temperature range of the gas pipeline system.AG-F Aerogel Insulation Felt was selected, with 900㎡ of Class A AG-650 aerogel felt at 10mm thickness applied in three layers. Thermal conductivity of 0.020 W/(m·K) and 99.6% hydrophobicity eliminated the moisture absorption risk that undermined rock wool performance in this environment. The operating temperature range of -197°C to 650°C provided full coverage across all process conditions. Most significantly, insulation thickness was reduced from the 100mm required for rock wool to just 30mm for aerogel, simplifying installation in the constrained pipeline routing environment and reducing total material volume.This application improved gas temperature stability, reduced safety risks associated with insulation moisture and corrosion, extended pipeline service life, and significantly lowered long-term maintenance costs compared to the rock wool baseline.