Tank & Vessel Insulation: Heat Loss & Savings

Hot tanks and vessels have large surface areas, so even at modest temperatures they lose a lot of heat — a bare 30 m² tank at 85 °C wastes tens of kilowatts around the clock. Removable insulation cuts that and keeps the wall touch-safe.

Direct answer: a bare hot tank surface loses roughly 650 W/m² at 85 °C and 1,300 W/m² at 150 °C (20 °C ambient, ASTM C680). Inzonex removable insulation cuts that by 90% and keeps the surface touch-safe.

Heat loss vs insulated — by surface temperature

Surface temp	Bare loss	Insulated	Outer surface	Reduction
60 °C	400 W/m²	34 W/m²	23 °C	91.6%
85 °C	650 W/m²	58 W/m²	26 °C	91.0%
120 °C	1,000 W/m²	97 W/m²	30 °C	90.3%
150 °C	1,300 W/m²	134 W/m²	33 °C	89.7%

Per-m² flat-surface flux, ASTM C680 / ISO 12241, 50 mm Lamella (≤220 °C) or 100 mm Wired mat (>220 °C), 20 °C ambient. Multiply by the bare area.

Worked examples (per year, 8,000 h, natural gas)

Item	Heat saved	Energy/yr	CO₂/yr	€ saved/yr
A process/storage tank (30 m², 85 °C)	17.8 kW	167 MWh	33.8 t	€9,691
A heated vessel head (8 m², 120 °C)	7.2 kW	68 MWh	13.7 t	€3,944

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FAQ

How much heat does a bare tank lose?

At 20 °C ambient (ASTM C680): a process/storage tank (~30 m², 85 °C) loses about 17.8 kW; a heated vessel head (~8 m², 120 °C) about 7.2 kW. Insulating a process/storage tank saves ≈167 MWh and ≈33.8 t CO₂ per year (8,000 h).

Can you insulate storage tanks and similar?

Yes. Tanks need access for level gauges, manways and inspection. Removable insulation panels lift off where needed and refit cleanly. Inzonex covers storage tanks, process vessels, reactors, autoclaves and feed-water tanks. The outer surface drops to a touch-safe ≤45 °C and the part stays serviceable.

How much does tank & vessel insulation save?

Each item saves up to 96% of its bare loss. A process/storage tank at 85 °C saves ≈9,691 €/yr of energy (≈167 MWh, ≈33.8 t CO₂) at typical gas prices; payback is usually under two years.

What insulation thickness is used?

Up to 220 °C surface: 50 mm mineral-wool (Lamella); above 220 °C: 100 mm (Wired mat), because conductivity rises with temperature. Both keep the outer surface ≤45 °C.