Insulation of refrigerant pipes is the basic protection for cold storage refrigeration systems, directly related to unit load, refrigeration efficiency and equipment service life. To save costs, many constructions omit insulation treatment or use inferior insulation materials. Though seemingly simplifying the process, this exposes the pipes to ambient temperature, causing frosting problems and further triggering a series of operational hazards. The subsequent losses far exceed the cost saved in the early stage.

          Uninsulated refrigerant pipes are prone to frosting due to temperature differences. When the ambient temperature is higher than the refrigerant temperature inside the pipes, water vapor in the air condenses into frost on the pipe surface, forming a heat insulation layer. This frost layer hinders heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outside, disrupting the heat transfer balance of the refrigeration cycle and forcing the unit to consume additional energy to overcome thermal resistance, directly increasing operational load.

          The chain hazards caused by frosting cannot be ignored. Increased load leads to a significant drop in refrigeration efficiency, slower cooling speed and larger temperature fluctuations in the cold storage, affecting cargo storage safety. Meanwhile, long-term high-load operation of the unit accelerates the wear of core components such as compressors and condensers, shortens the overall service life of the equipment, and may even cause fault shutdown due to overheating of components.

           Standard insulation must adhere to two points: select high-quality insulation materials suitable for refrigerant pipes, ensure the insulation layer thickness meets standards, is tightly wrapped without damage or missing parts; strengthen insulation treatment for special-shaped parts such as pipe joints and valves to avoid insulation blind spots. Daily inspections should pay attention to the status of the insulation layer and repair damages in a timely manner to prevent frosting hazards.

           Refrigerant pipe insulation is by no means a dispensable additional link, but a key to reducing energy consumption and extending equipment service life. Doing a good job in standard insulation in the early stage, though increasing a small amount of investment, can effectively avoid frosting, load overload and other problems, ensure the efficient and stable operation of the refrigeration system, and lay a solid foundation for cold storage operation.