Thermal insulation systems for the Arctic

Approximately 20 percent of the territory of Russian Federation is located in the Arctic, there resides about 1.5 million people and about 30 large and medium sized cities are located. Another significant factor is the concentration in the territories north of the 67th parallel of a large number of developed and promising mineral deposits: oil and gas among them. In connection with the extraction and processing of natural resources, it is necessary to develop construction technologies in conditions of extremely low natural temperatures and permafrost. Construction in such regions is becoming one of the priorities of modern technological development, which provides for the creation of special construction systems oriented to the construction of high-risk facilities in the Arctic Circle. Such facilities include sea oil ships, oil and gas platforms, equipment for transportation of petroleum products, gas reduction units, and oil refining plants. In each of the above listed objects, it is necessary to correctly choose the insulation, which will ensure a high thermal insulation ability, and also be fireproof and durable. The research methodology outlined in the article is based on the method of mathematical planning of the experiment and statistical processing of its results with subsequent analytical optimization. Engineering interpretation of the results allowed to form a nomogram for the selection of technological parameters. The decisions, which became the subject of discussion in the article, are relevant for any region in which oil and gas production on the sea shelf and, especially, in severe climatic conditions develops. (paper)