High Temperature Insulation Systems for Ag Equipment

Operators of agricultural equipment understandably have a big interest in operational reliability, this being a fundamental factor in economic success. Every hour of equipment breakdown impacts profitability.

Tmax-Insulation Cladding can prevent contact of flammable harvested materials such as dry particles and dust, or fluids such as oil or fuel, with hot engine components, thereby ensuring increased safety for agricultural machinery.Thermamax Hochtemperaturdämmungen GmbHReliability of agricultural equipment begins in the engine compartment. Steps to increase engine performance or power pack density can lead to thermodynamic problems. Surface temperatures of components such as turbochargers, elbows and exhaust lines can easily reach 750 C.

Thermal risks exist with combustible deposits of flammable material such as dry particles and dust from harvesting, or from fluids such as oil and fuel. During operations these inevitably get into the engine compartment or directly onto the engine where they can form a highly flammable layer. The need for effective fire protection measures, to prevent unwanted or uncontrolled heat transfer, is great.

Tmax-Insulation Claddings from Thermamax can offer an effective solution. They comprise three components in a cassette design: the outer shell, the insulating material and the

inner shell. The non-jacketted components are thermally insulated. Combustible deposits can no longer accumulate on the surfaces and temperature-sensitive components in the immediate area are protected from excess heat.

Temperatures within the system between 600 to 750 C are reduced on the surface of the Tmax-Insulation Claddings to a maximum of 180 to 220 C.

Tmax-Integral Insulation ensures optimum temperatures are maintained at all important points in the exhaust line, ensuring maximum efficiency in exhaust aftertreatment.Thermamax Hochtemperaturdämmungen GmbHMore efficient Exhaust Aftertreatment 

Time is passing: From 2019 Stage 5 of the EU-Emission Regulations for mobile machinery will be in place meaning even more demanding emission levels to be met. The pressure for innovation and the need for more effective exhaust aftertreatment systems is rising.

The efficiency of exhaust aftertreatment is strongly dependent on the correct handling of high temperatures. In close cooperation with the leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery and exhaust aftertreatment systems, we take care that optimum temperatures are maintained at all points in the exhaust line – thereby ensuring an exhaust aftertreatment operating at maximum efficiency. In addition to this Tmax-Integral Insulation can protect temperature-sensitive components in the area of the radiated heat.

Tmax-SONETHERM, the acoustically-optimized Tmax-Integral Insulation, comprises a high-temperature resistant fiber-molding with excellent sound-absorbing characteristics and a perforated metallic outer shell.Thermamax Hochtemperaturdämmungen GmbHMore effective Noise Reduction

Doing their job, tractor drivers are exposed to loud engine noise most of the time, whether in the cabin or out in the fields. And for adjoining residential areas noise levels can be high from time to time. When there’s harvesting around the clock this can be hard to bear.

Noise absorbing measures in the engine compartment are nevertheless not straightforward as they need space. Using Tmax-SONETHERM means that the hot surfaces of the exhaust line components are also treated as the system combines the thermal insulation with the principle of noise absorption.

Tmax-SONETHERM is not just an insulation that deals with the surrounding high temperatures. Thanks to its perforated metallic outer shell it absorbs the high noise levels in the engine compartment and reduces overall noise conditions in agricultural machinery.

Optimized Development Process using Simulations

Development of new products takes time. Using CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) allows ideas and designs to be fully assessed in the early stage of a project, so that ideally only one prototype needs to be constructed, and after a successful test and validation phase, immediate approval can be given and production started.

Simulations shorten the route to a production-ready product and improve the cost-effectiveness.Thermamax Hochtemperaturdämmungen GmbHSimulations can be used in various different ways in product development. For example with a modal analysis it is possible to predict the vibration characteristics of a virtual component. In a case study the effects of engine component vibrations on our insulation system were investigated. The closer the excitation frequency of the engine approached the natural frequency of our insulation, the higher the level of vibration. In this area of resonance the mechanical load due to vibration is particularly high and can lead to cracks in the insulation. From the modal analysis the critical natural frequencies could be identified and following design changes, optimized as required.

Another area of application for simulations is temperature analysis. It can clarify important questions upfront such as are the surface temperatures of insulated components below the ignition temperature of potential leaked fuels or other fluids? In this case the thermal characteristics of the components in question are simulated and possible design weaknesses recognized at an early stage and improved.

Simulations shorten the route to a production-ready product and improve the cost-effectiveness.