Project Scope:

• ~400 Feet of Straight Piping with [Q]Core
• 10 [Q]Core Valve Jackets
• (30) 90-Degree Elbows
• (10) 45-Degree Elbows
• 30 Pipe Supports

Project Results:

• Completed On-Time & Within Budget
• Project Qualified for North Shore Gas Subsidy Covering Approx. Half of Total Project Cost

Project Details

PQ Corporation handles specialty chemicals with relatively high freezing points, which creates significant challenges during Chicago’s harsh winter months. One key issue involved the valves in their unloading lines, which were insulated with fiberglass blankets and conventional heat trace. 

The system was located low to the ground, where foot traffic and routine activity often compressed or damaged the insulation. Adding to the complexity, the mechanical system included numerous fittings—valves, elbows, and tees—clustered within just a few feet of each other, making effective insulation coverage even more difficult.

Over time, the fiberglass absorbed moisture, lost R-value, and couldn’t maintain the necessary temperature differential. As a result, PQ Corp employees resorted to using steam to keep valves thawed during the winter. An audit by North Shore Gas identified the excess steam use and recommended upgrading the insulation to reduce natural gas consumption. 

PQ Corporation initially contacted Dragon Jacket to re-insulate the system after replacing the heat trace. Dragon Jacket proposed a trial project using its latest innovation, [Q]Core, which integrates heat tracing directly into the inner surface of its durable insulation jackets.

This solution provided a far more reliable and cost-effective alternative to fiberglass and conventional heat trace—especially in tough environments with ground-level exposure and closely spaced mechanical components.

“We didn’t use any steam on the exterior of the lines all winter, which is great!”

-PQ Corporation Representative