A vacuum jacketed hose is a type of specialized hose designed to maintain the temperature of the material being transferred through it. It consists of an inner hose, which carries the substance, surrounded by an outer jacket that creates a vacuum insulation layer between the inner and outer surfaces.
They are typically used to transfer cold or hot fluids. The vacuum barrier reduces heat transfer, thermally insulating the fluid inside the hose. Vacuum jacketed hoses are known for their extremely high thermal insulation performance, stainless steel construction, safety, and durability.
Note: “Vacuum jacketed hoses” are also referred to as “vacuum insulated hoses.” Both terms refer to the same products.
Double-Walled Vacuum Insulation
The key to vacuum jacketed hoses’ ultra-high insulation performance lies in their double-walled design. By incorporating vacuum technology, the double-walled hose creates a vacuum-sealed space between the inner and outer layers. The vacuum barrier effectively minimizes conductive and convective heat transfer.
A vacuum space is virtually empty (depending on how “deep” of a vacuum it is). Because there are almost no air molecules in the vacuum space, heat has a very difficult time traveling. Convective and conductive heat transfer are virtually eliminated within a vacuum space.
Many vacuum jacketed hoses also include multi-layer insulation (MLI) within the vacuum annulus. MLI reduces radiation heat transfer as well, for the highest performing vacuum jacketed hoses.
Are vacuum jacketed hoses pre-insulated?
Yes, vacuum jacketed hoses can be considered pre-insulated. Most pre-insulated hoses consist of an inner hose with one or multiple insulation materials wrapped around and fixed in place. Pre-insulated hoses have many benefits; because the insulation material is already attached, it makes installation processes much quicker and easier.
With vacuum jacketed hoses, the thermal insulation is already built-in to the hose when it is delivered to you. For that reason, vacuum jacketed hoses can also be considered pre-insulated. Instead of purchasing the inner pipe and insulation material separately, a vacuum jacketed hose delivers an “all-in-one” solution.
Are vacuum jacketed hoses corrugated?
All vacuum jacketed hoses are corrugated, but not all corrugated hoses are vacuum jacketed. Many corrugated hoses are just single-walled, flexible hoses that do not possess any unique thermally insulating properties. Vacuum jacketed hoses are technically two corrugated hoses — one inside of the other — that maintain flexibility while also delivering thermal insulation.
What applications are they used in?
Vacuum jacketed hoses have been used extensively in cryogenic applications for many decades. They are used in the storage and transport of cryogenic materials including liquid nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, hydrogen, and others.
In recent years, Insulon vacuum jacketed hoses have also been used in high temperature applications. Insulon vacuum jacketed hoses represent advancements in vacuum technology that enable operation in high temperature environments, in addition to cryogenic ones.
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