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Title: Ceramic tube seals cut heat loss, achieve six month payback

Abstract

The methane reformer at the Celanese Chemical Company's Bishop, TX plant operates at approximately 1900/sup 0/F. The reformer has 32 tubes (9'' diameter) that pass through the firebox. Openings around the tubes measure 11'' in diameter to accommodate horizontal and vertical thermal expansion and movement as well as to facilitate tube removal. The gaps around the tubes permitted cool air to be drawn into the firebox (caused by slight negative pressure) and also allowed radiant heat to escape causing the reformer to operate at a lower than desired level of thermal efficiency. Celanese contracted to retrofit the old rigid firebrick roof in the methane reformer with a 10'' thick ceramic fiber module lining. The gaps around the tubes were sealed by using a special tube seal made from Nextel woven ceramic fiber fabric, a 1984 CHEMICAL PROCESSING Vaaler Award winner (Mid-November 1984, p.52). The Nextel fabric used in this application is a heat resistant textile that has a continuous use temperature of 2200/sup 0/F - well above the 1900/sup 0/F operating temperature of the reformer. The tube seals have been working exactly as intended, verified by observation through inspection ports. Temperatures in the penthouse area above the roof dropped frommore » 240/sup 0/F to 150/sup 0/F. The reduction in heat losses has been attributed to the elimination of the gaps around each tube by the seals and to the improved K-factor of the ceramic module lining. The tube seals have paid for themselves within six months of installation. At that time, the seal boots were inspected and showed no signs of wear. With these results, the improved efficiency of the methane reformer promises to yield additional economic benefits.« less

Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5551489
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 48:13
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; THERMAL INSULATION; PERFORMANCE; CERAMICS; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; FIBERS; HEAT LOSSES; PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS; VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE; CHEMICAL PLANTS; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY LOSSES; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; LOSSES; 320104* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Commercial & Industrial Buildings- (-1987)

Citation Formats

. Ceramic tube seals cut heat loss, achieve six month payback. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
. Ceramic tube seals cut heat loss, achieve six month payback. United States.
. 1985. "Ceramic tube seals cut heat loss, achieve six month payback". United States.
@article{osti_5551489,
title = {Ceramic tube seals cut heat loss, achieve six month payback},
author = {},
abstractNote = {The methane reformer at the Celanese Chemical Company's Bishop, TX plant operates at approximately 1900/sup 0/F. The reformer has 32 tubes (9'' diameter) that pass through the firebox. Openings around the tubes measure 11'' in diameter to accommodate horizontal and vertical thermal expansion and movement as well as to facilitate tube removal. The gaps around the tubes permitted cool air to be drawn into the firebox (caused by slight negative pressure) and also allowed radiant heat to escape causing the reformer to operate at a lower than desired level of thermal efficiency. Celanese contracted to retrofit the old rigid firebrick roof in the methane reformer with a 10'' thick ceramic fiber module lining. The gaps around the tubes were sealed by using a special tube seal made from Nextel woven ceramic fiber fabric, a 1984 CHEMICAL PROCESSING Vaaler Award winner (Mid-November 1984, p.52). The Nextel fabric used in this application is a heat resistant textile that has a continuous use temperature of 2200/sup 0/F - well above the 1900/sup 0/F operating temperature of the reformer. The tube seals have been working exactly as intended, verified by observation through inspection ports. Temperatures in the penthouse area above the roof dropped from 240/sup 0/F to 150/sup 0/F. The reduction in heat losses has been attributed to the elimination of the gaps around each tube by the seals and to the improved K-factor of the ceramic module lining. The tube seals have paid for themselves within six months of installation. At that time, the seal boots were inspected and showed no signs of wear. With these results, the improved efficiency of the methane reformer promises to yield additional economic benefits.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5551489}, journal = {Chem. Process. (Chicago); (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 48:13,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}