Squeeze-on insulation for reheating furnace water cooled skid systems

A method of insulating a fluidically cooled pipe having an outer circumference for use in a metallurgical reheat furnace comprising the steps of:

• a) applying an anchor band around the outer circumference of the pipe, said anchor band having an ex-tented end and an in-line end, a plurality of radially outwardly projecting prongs disposed between said ends,
• b) biasing the two ends of the anchor band so that the ends slidably receive one another and tensioning the anchor band around the pipe so that the anchor band is in thermal communication with the pipe,
• c) securing the ends of the anchor band together,
• d) applying a preformed insulator laminae comprising an inner ceramic fiber blanket, an outer pliable refractory material and a plastic-like film disposed between and secured to the ceramic fiber and refractory material around the pipe so that the prongs of the anchor band extend through the ceramic fiber blanket and the plastic-like film a sufficient distance into the refractory material to support the insulator laminae around the pipe,
• e) positioning a mold form, having a plurality of mold forms segments, around the applied insulator laminae, and
• f) compressing the mold form radially inwardly a desired distance so that the insulator laminae is compressed radially inwardly and in substantial conformity with the outer circumference of the pipe.

A method of insulating an over-and-under skid pipe having a pair of spaced apart, axially aligned upper and lower pipes each with an outer circumference, connected by an axially aligned connecting bar having opposing exposed sides, said upper pipe having a plurality of axially aligned, spaced apart wear buttons located approximately atop and projecting upwardly from the upper pipe, comprising the steps of:

• a) securing an anchor strap along each exposed side of the wear bar, said anchor straps each having a plurality, of axially spaced apart and aligned cusps,
• b) positioning a pair of circumferentially opposed anchor band segments around the exposed outer circumferences of the upper and lower pipes and between the wear buttons of the upper pipe, each segment having an anchor rod at one end confirmingly aligned with and received by a pair of the adjacent, axially spaced apart cusps, an opposite end slidably received by the other end of the anchor band segment, and a plurality of prongs projecting radially outwardly therefrom,
• c) biasing the opposite ends of each pair of circumferentially opposed anchor band segments together to place both anchor band segments in intimate contact with the corresponding pipe,
• d) securing the opposite ends together,
• e) applying an inner ceramic fiber blanket and an outer pliable refractory material to form an insulator laminae around the exposed portion of the outer circumferences of the upper and lower pipes so that the prongs project through the ceramic fiber blanket and into the pliable refractory material whereby the surfaces of the upper and lower pipes, excluding the wear buttons, and the connecting bars are substantially covered, and
• f) compressing the ceramic fiber blanket and pliable refractory radially inwardly a predetermined distance so that they are substantially and conformingly secured around the pipes.

A method for insulating an outer circumference of a skid pipe for a furnace, which pipe has a plurality of axially aligned and spaced apart wear buttons located approximately atop and projecting from the pipe, the method comprising:

• a) applying an anchor bar, having an ex-tented end and an inline end, around the pipe and between adjacent wear buttons, providing a lug near each end of the anchor band, said anchor band having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting prongs, applying a ceramic fiber blanket around the exposed portion of the pipe so that the prongs project through the blanket, applying a pliable refractory material around the ceramic fiber blanket such that the prongs penetrate into the pliable refractory material wherein the refractory material is secured to said prongs,
• b) applying a cap mold, with holes therethrough for receiving the wear buttons, atop and radially spaced apart from the pipe, the mold cap having a pair of oppositely disposed ends terminating in a pair of cusps,
• c) securing a pair of restraint band segments, each segment having first and second ends, the first ends of each segment secured to the corresponding cusps of the cap mold and the second ends of each end segment secured to one another so that the mold cap and secured restraint band segments substantially surround the pliable refractory material,
• d) providing an expandable pressure tube radially inward of the restraint band segments, said pressure tube having a means of communicating a fluid under pressure for expanding the pressure tube,
• e) disposing a plurality of mold segments substantially between the pressure tube and the adjacent pliable refractory material,
• f) providing a means for delimiting the radially inwardly movement of the mold segments, and
• g) expanding the pressure tube to urge the mold segments radially inwardly thereby substantially conforming the pliable refractory material around the ceramic fiber blanket while compressing the ceramic fiber blanket radially inwardly.