Self-anchoring expansion gap assembly for a gasifier

A self-anchoring refractory expansion gap assembly comprising,

• a) a substantially annular insulating structure formed of compressible refractory material, said annular insulating structure having an inner periphery, an outer periphery, a first predetermined axial thickness when the insulating structure is uncompressed, and a second reduced axial thickness when the insulating structure is compressed a predetermined amount in an axial direction,
• b) a coil of rope formed of relatively incompressible refractory material positioned proximate the outer periphery of the annular insulating structure such that the coil of rope is within the outer periphery of the annular insulating structure, whereby said coil of rope and said annular insulating structure can receive an axial force such that said coil of rope is directed axially into an annular channel of an expansion gap with said annular insulating structure to lock the annular insulating structure and the coil of rope into the annular channel and thereby prevent vacuum pullout of the expansion gap assembly from the expansion gap,
• c) said annular insulating structure being composed of a plurality of substantially radial sectors of an annulus of substantially equal angle, each said sector being folded around respective portions of the coil of rope, and
• d) the insulating structure of each of said sectors including an inside layer of compressible refractory blanket material folded around a portion of the coil of rope and an outside layer surrounding the inside layer and the portion of rope, said outside layer being selected from the group consisting of compressible ceramic paper and compressible ceramic cloth.

A self-anchoring refractory expansion gap assembly comprising,

• a) a substantially annular insulating structure,
• b) said annular insulating structure being formed of compressible refractory material with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and having a first predetermined axial thickness when the annular insulating structure is uncompressed and a second reduced axial thickness when the annular insulating structure is compressed in an axial direction,
• c) said expansion gap assembly further including a coil of rope formed of relatively incompressible refractory material positioned proximate the outer periphery of the annular insulating structure such that the coil of rope is within the outer periphery of the annular insulating structure, said coil of rope having a cross sectional diameter that provides the annular insulating structure with a peripheral bulge in the axial direction when the insulating blanket is axially compressed, and
• d) said annular insulating structure including an inner layer of compressible refractory blanket material folded around a portion of the coil of rope and an outer layer of ceramic cloth folded around the inner layer.