Continuous conveyor ovens are widely used in a variety of industrial processes including composite curing and heat treating. The entrance and exit points of these ovens represent significant areas for potential heat loss and energy inefficiencies. Without a proper heat barrier system these openings can be the culprit for thousands of dollars in wasted energy cost. In addition, regulating and controlling critical process temperatures can become a daunting task with inadequate heat containment.
Utilizing Worbo’s unique high temperature strip curtain system, energy costs may be significantly reduced and process temperatures may be accurately controlled. These strip curtains serve as an effective thermal barrier while allowing for the passage of parts through the oven chamber. Unlike traditional PVC strips that will break down at moderate temperatures the Worbo solution can withstand excessive temperatures and will continue to function effectively up to 1000oF.
Worbo strip curtain
A typical example of a proven and extremely effective Worbo strip curtain design consists of a double layer heat barrier system. In this system the inside face of each strip if fabricated from Worbo’s exceptional Eko-ThermTM heat reflective material. This unique material serves to retain convective heat with in the oven chamber in addition to preventing radiant heat from escaping through the oven door. The outside face of each strip is fabricated from Worbo’s extreme duty MSA96 (96 oz/yd2) silicone coated fabric offering outstanding durability and abrasion resistance as moving parts are transferred though the oven opening.
Outside face of strip from extreme duty MSA96
Inside face of strip from heat reflective Eko-Therm
In addition to generating significant energy cost savings, Worbo’s high temperature strip curtains offer the following key benefits:
Strips are easy to install and individual strips are simple to replace should they become damaged without the need to replace the entire curtain.
Excellent abrasion resistance and exhibit outstanding durability as parts move in and out of a conveyor oven.
Allows for oven temperatures to be accurately controlled ensuring product consistency and quality is upheld.
Manufacturing cycles are increased as the thermal barrier facilitates faster oven pre-heat time.
Strip curtains may be supplied in a variety of widths and lengths to custom fit virtually any oven opening.
Worbo’s heat resistant strip curtains are tailor made for each specific application in consideration of temperature constraints, environmental conditions, cycle frequency, oven geometry, etc. Contact the design team at Worbo to assist with your continuous conveyor oven application.
Reduce energy cost by 68% with Cool-SkinTM insulation sleeve on hot oil “jumper” hoses.
A typical Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) plants makes use of hundreds of feet of flexible metal “jumper” hoses to transfer hot oil across connection flanges. These hoses are frequently overlooked by insulation contractors as they usually have a tight bend radius and they are difficult to protect. In addition the neglected jumper hoses are often considered unimportant because they represent a small portion of the hot oil system. The reality is that these un-insulated lines result in huge inefficiencies and cost thousands of dollars in wasted energy. This would is similar to leaving a window open all winter long. It just doesn’t make good sense.
Worbo has developed an effective thermal insulation solution that enables HMA plants to recover significant heat losses on small diameter and tight radius hoses with ease. Introducing Cool-SkinTM sleeve!
Unlike traditional methods such as mineral wool and hard aluminum cladding, Cool-SkinTM is easy to install and does not require expensive insulation contractors. A hook and loop self gripping fastener is incorporated into its design allowing operations staff efficient access to process lines while performing maintenance procedures or trouble-shooting system components. Once line interruption is complete, Cool-Skin™ is simply re-installed in a few short seconds.
An additional important and impressive benefit to the Cool-SkinTM technology is that it incorporates a closed cell insulating structure that will not absorb water or moisture making it an effective insulator even in wet conditions.
Ongoing field monitoring has proven that insulating a flexible metal hose (1 ½” OD) with Worbo’s Cool-Skin™ sleeve at a typical HMA plants will reduce heating cost an average of $30 for every foot of jumper hose in just one short seven (7) month operating season. In most cases Cool-Skin™ pays for itself within the first four (4) months of installation.
Contact the Worbo team to learn more about how Cool-SkinTM can reduce energy costs at your HMA plant.
In response to a growing demand from our customers, Worbo is excited to announce the release of a new product line of easy to install elbow and tee insulation sleeves for high temperature applications. Introducing Cool-Skin elbows and tee sleeves by Worbo.
These products offer a fantastic complement to our extremely popular line ofCool-SkinTM sleeves. They are a perfect solution for insulating hoses and process lines that contain a tight bend radius or for lines that have tee intersections. Traditionally it has been a challenge for plant engineers and insulation contractors to provide a satisfactory and effective thermal barrier in these areas. Worbo’s wonderfully simple solution enables our customers to quickly and easily install these removable Cool-SkinTM insulation components around elbows (from 45’s to 90’s) and at tee junctions. They offer a very precise fit around a wide variety of diameters to maximize insulation coverage to minimize heat loss and to prevent burn injuries at these tricky locations.
Cool-Skin 90 elbow
Cool-Skin 90 elbow
Cool-Skin Tee
Cool-Skin 45 elbow
Cool-SkinTM elbows and tees are fabricated from the same tried and tested materials that make up our existing Cool-SkinTM sleeve products. They are equipped with a durable abrasion resistant jacketing system that encapsulates a clean non-fibrous insulation medium exhibiting an extremely low thermal conductivity to provide a very efficient thermal barrier. As with many of our Cool-SkinTM products our elbows and tees are supplied with a hook and loop closure for easy installation and removal.
For applications where radiant heat is a concern our Eko-ThermTM jacketing system may be supplied as an alternative to the standard yellow jacket. The combination of our shiny aluminized Eko-ThermTM material coupled with our non-fibrous insulation medium offers an effective barrier from conductive heat sources as well as from radiant heat sources. Up to 90% of radiant heat will be reflected away from the low emissivity and shiny surface of the insulation component. This doubly effective technology will ensure that the process temperatures can be accurately maintained with a minimal insulation wall thickness.
Eko-Therm elbow
This new exciting line of products is yet another example of the how the Worbo research and product development team has demonstrated out of the box thinking to create cost effective and innovative thermal protection solutions.
Here at Worbo Inc. we pride ourselves on providing top quality custom fabricated high temperature insulation components for process lines and equipment. In our view, an essential characteristic of a successful insulation cover is that it must be user friendly. It should be easy to install and easy to remove and reinstall for maintenance. This eliminates the need for expensive insulation contractors and minimizes the loss of valuable production time. Ease of installation is often achieved through the implementation of simple and effective mechanical closures. At Worbo we offer a wide range of fastening systems to create easy to install insulation components that are suitable for thousands of high temperatures applications. Here’s how we “hold it together”.
Grommets and Wire Ties
This method for securing a Worbo insulation component in place employs the use of high temperature grommets in combinations with wire ties. It often consists of a series of grommets (ranging in diameter from ¼” ID up to 1” ID or larger) placed around the perimeter of an insulation component. Grommet holes on one side of an insulation cover will line up with adjacent grommet holes on the opposite side of the cover and will be joined together with a wire tie or metal banding. In many cases this is can be the most cost effective solution.
grommets on Worbo high temp curtaingrommet and wire tie closure on high temperature festoon cable protection system
Grommets and Carabiners
In the case of a high temperature insulation curtain application, grommets may be used in combination with spring snap carabiners. This mechanism will enable a curtain to be suspended from a supporting rod or structure and it will allow for the curtain to slide back and forth creating an access opening when the curtain is not in use. A simple “S” hook also works well for this application as a substitute for the carabiners.
carabiners on high temperature insulated curtainhigh temperature curtain
Hook and Loop
This is one of our favorites and it comes standard on our Cool-SkinTMsleeve line of products. High temperature hook and loop (Velcro®) is a fantastic closure option that may be exploited on a huge assortment of insulation components. It’s simple and dynamic. We offer hook and loop in a broad array of widths from as narrow as a ½ inch wide up to six inches wide and beyond. It is available in various profiles that can maximize gripping strength or maximize opening and closing cycles depending on the application. A hook and loop closure provides a very good seal to allow for maximum heat retention and it can be incorporated into virtually any configuration of insulation cover. Thanks for the invention George de Mestral, great idea!
Cool-Skin cover with hook and loop closureHigh temperature sleeve with hook and loopWorbo MSA curtain
¼ Turn Fasteners
Another great option is the ¼ Turn or Common Sense fasteners. These are great for creating a strong mechanical union between two mating surfaces. They are particularly effective in situations where ease of installation and maximum connections strength are critical. Here’s how it works….a small turnbutton post is secured to the perimeter edge along one side of an insulation cover. This post is then inserted through an oval eyelet mounted on the opposite side of the cover and then it is simply rotated 90 degrees to lock it in place creating a mechanically positive attachment. The photo below illustrates how this closure works on a trolley skirt installed on an overhead crane festoon protection system.
quarter turn fasteners on high temp trolley skirt
D-rings and Straps
D-rings and straps are a fantastic option for providing a very snug fit between an insulation sleeve and a hot process line to ensure that heat retention is maximized. This mechanism works in a similar fashion to a chin strap on a standard motorcycle helmet. A high temperature tension strap is inserted through two d-rings that are secured to an insulation component. The strap is then fed back between the two d-rings and pulled tightly. By drawing the strap firmly, this mechanism ensures that the insulation component will fit tightly around the process line. This system also allows for some flexibility with respect to the size of the components being insulated and often a single insulation part may be used for multiple process lines. In this scenario an insulation sleeve is overbuilt to accommodate a largest possible shape and then it may be drawn in with the straps and d-ring arrangement to fit snugly around a smaller line. In many cases this is a one size fits all solution.
d-rings and strap on high temp coverhigh temp cover for plastic extrusion line
Lacing
This is another great low tech option that offers an effective and inexpensive solution for securing an insulation component in place. As with the d-rings and strap method the lacing option will provide a forgiving range of adjustment to allow for a tight fit around various sizes and shapes of equipment.
lacing on a Worbo insulation coverlacing on an MSA cover
Zippers
A high temperature zipper is yet another option for securing an insulation component in place. Below is a photo of a zipper that has been effectively utilized in a bellows style insulation boot. The boot has been designed to protect a hydraulic cylinder from molten splash and it is easily installed without disassembling any of the heavy equipment. Notice that the zipper has been secured to the boot in a spiral fashion along its length. This allows for the zipper to be offset between each the corrugations of the bellows to ensure that when the bellows is collapsed it occupies the minimum amount of space.
Worbo high temp bellows with zipper
Combination of Different Closure Mechanisms
When one type of closure just won’t do to the trick we can easily incorporate multiple closure mechanisms into a custom fabricated high temperature insulation component for maximum thermal protection and minimum heat loss.
grommets, quarter turn fasteners and hook and loopdraw string and d-rings with strapzipper and hook and loop
At Worbo one of our primary business objectives is customer satisfaction. We believe we can achieve this through providing high quality and cost effective insulation components that are easy to install. Our expertise and experience with a large assortment of closure mechanisms and fastening systems allows us to provide easy to install components that satisfy our customers.
Here at Worbo Inc., we are often asked by our customers to design and supply insulation components for unusual or unique high temperature applications. We pride ourselves on our ability undertake these unique challenges and to deliver effective thermal barrier solutions.
A critical step to determining the most effective type of thermal barrier system is to understand the mode of heat transfer within the application. It is generally recognized that heat travels from areas of higher temperatures to areas of lower temperatures but it is important to also understand the mechanism for this heat flow. Heat may be transferred by one of three (3) possible modes: thermal radiation, convection or conduction. Depending on the application it is often feasible that heat transfer will occur through more than one of these modes.
Our engineering team must review each application individually to gain an understanding of the modes of heat transfer and how they relate to the required thermal objectives. Once armed with this information, our engineers will begin the detailed design phase to determine the appropriate material construction, thickness and type of thermal barrier that will produce the desired outcome.
Thermal Radiation (Electromagnetic Radiation)
All objects or materials that have a temperature greater than absolute zero will emit electromagnetic waves through a process called thermal radiation. Here’s how it works à all matter (above absolute zero) contains kinetic thermal energy that is produced by atoms and molecules interacting with each other. The continuous interaction between charged particles within these atoms leads to the emission of protons radiating energy away from the boundary surface in the form of electromagnetic radiation. It is important to note that this electromagnetic radiation can travel through an air space and it does not require the presence of matter for its propagation.
Examples of thermal radiation would include the heat that can be felt from a racing car exhaust even a few feet away or the intense heat that radiates from a molten iron blast furnace.
Hot exhaust
Radiant heat from a blast furnace
An effective way to inhibit the transfer of heat by thermal radiation is with a reflective insulation barrier that reflects electromagnetic radiation away from its surface. The property of a material that characterizes its ability to prevent radiation heat transfer is called surface emissivity. The lower the surface emissivity the more effective a barrier is at reflecting radiant heat. Worbo’s Eko-ThermTM blanket material is an excellent example of a very good reflective insulation barrier. It is supplied with a shiny aluminized surface that has a very low emissivity and is capable of reflecting up to 90% of radiant heat away from its surface.
Eko-Therm sleeve
Eko-Therm Curtain
Conduction
Unlike thermal radiation that occurs through an air space, conductive heat transfer only occurs when two bodies (with different temperatures) come into contact with each other. A body with a high temperature has an abundance of thermal energy that is generated from the rapid collision of particles within the material. Thermal conduction occurs when fast-moving particles of a warmer material collide with slower-moving particles of a colder material. These collisions cause the slower moving particles of the colder material to speed up thus increasing its temperature, and the faster moving particles of the warmer material to slow down resulting in a lower temperature.
An example of conductive heat transfer occurs when an employee sustains a skin burn from accidental contact with a hot process line.
When considering conduction it is important to understand that not all materials are created equal. Some materials are more effective at conducting heat than others. The ability of a material to transfer thermal energy is measured though a property called thermal conductivity. Materials with a low thermal conductivity such as fiberglass or Styrofoam have a lower capacity for heat transfer and therefore these materials are often utilized as thermal insulators. Worbo Inc. offers a wide variety of effective thermal insulators that exhibit very low thermal conductivity including our InsulmatTM and Cool-SkinTM products. What differentiates these Worbo products from residential grade materials is that they are effective at elevated temperatures. Unlike residential insulation materials these products won’t break down when exposed to extreme temperatures.
Insulmat 2300
Cool-Skin Blanket
Convection
The final mode of heat transfer is convection. Convection is a means of transferring thermal energy into or out of an object by the physical movement of a surrounding fluid (liquid or gas). When a fluid is heated it expands and becomes less dense and lighter than the surrounding fluid. The lighter fluid then rises. The cooler fluid rushes in from the sides where it is heated and rises creating a convective column. This process repeats itself, resulting in a continuous convection current in which warmer fluid moves up and away from a heat source and cooler air rushes down toward the heat source.
An example of convective heat transfer occurs when an overhead crane charges a furnace in a steel producing facility. The extreme heat from the charging furnace rises in a convection column toward the crane which can expose the cranes power cables to intense heat.
Overhead crane used to charge furnace at Steel mill
Among one of the most innovative of Worbo’s thermal protection solutions is the development of a unique festoon cable protection system. This system has been implemented in steel mills around the world and has proven to be a very effective solution to prevent damage to overhead crane power cables from extreme convective heat. In addition, this robust system provides an excellent barrier to protect against molten metal splash.
Festoon cable protection
Often a thermal protection system will need to address all three (3) modes of heat transfer to produce the best possible outcome. Worbo Inc. has an extensive array of materials each with its own unique thermal properties, specifically designed to mitigate the potential negative impact of heat transfer. The best possible insulation system will quite often utilize a combination of select Worbo materials to create a successful insulation solution.
The engineers and designers at Worbo Inc. understand the complex nature of high temperature problems and they are very good at analyzing specific applications to develop effective solutions.
It is well known that providing insulation for hot process lines and equipment makes good economical sense by reducing operating costs at a time when energy prices are skyrocketing. A Worbo insulation system could easily pays for itself within a few months of installation. However, often what motivates our customers to implement an insulation system is not simply economics but rather safety concerns. In today’s market place an increasing number of responsible industrial companies are committed to ensuring the safety of their valuable human resources.
Hot process lines and equipment represent a significant safety hazard and when it comes to high-temperature operations “safe touch” conditions are key to establishing a safe work environment.
ASTM C1055 (Standard Guide for Heated System Surface Conditions that Produce Contact Burn Injuries) has determined that the most probable time for a worker to come into contact with a hot surface in an industrial setting is approximately five seconds. ASTM C1055 further states that the average person can touch a hot surface of 140oF for up to five seconds without sustaining irreversible damage. For this reason 140oF is widely recognized to be the “safe touch” condition. However, often in an environment with high ambient temperatures or where there is an increased risk of employee contact, many plant managers and process engineers prefer to implement a “safe touch” temperature of 120oF to further minimize the risk of injury.
Worbo offers several options and thousands of variations of our high temperature “safe touch” insulation covers for virtually any configuration of equipment. Often equipped with straps, velcro® or fasteners for ease of installation and supplied in the proper thickness a Worbo insulation cover is a very effective solution for reducing surface temperatures down to ASTM C1055 recommendations and below.
Typical Worbo “safe touch” Insulation Covers
Determining the best “safe touch” insulation system
Once a Worbo customer has identified the need for “safe touch” insulation it’s up to the Worbo engineering team to design the best possible system. Choosing an insulation solution will be established in consideration of the following parameters:
Insulation Material– The effectiveness of an insulation solution is greatly dependent on the type of insulation material. All materials have temperature limitations and it is important to select a material that is capable of withstanding the environmental exposure temperatures. In addition it is important to select an insulation material that has a low thermal conductivity to maximize its effectiveness as an insulator.
Ambient Temperature– This is the temperature of the air in the space surrounding the insulation. A higher ambient temperature will lead to a higher temperature on the outer surface of the insulation.
Air Flow– In an area where there is significant air flow this will result in a substantial decrease in the surface temperature of the insulation. Often in the interest of safety the Worbo engineering team will ignore this parameter to ensure that the insulation is effective in providing a “safe touch” conditions in still air environments.
Outer Jacket Material– The outer jacket material of an insulation cover will release absorbed heat through a property called thermal emissivity. Materials that exhibit high emissivity will release more heat away from its surface than materials with lower emissivity and therefore produce a lower surface temperature. Materials such as Worbo’sMSA17have a high emissivity and are a good choice for the outer jacket of an insulation system to produce “safe touch” conditions.
Insulation Thickness– The most significant design parameter in establishing a “safe touch” insulation solution is in most cases is the thickness of the insulation. Intuitively, it makes sense that the thicker the insulation, the more effective it will be a reducing the surface temperature down to “safe touch” conditions. However, it is important to note that the relationship between the thickness of the insulation and the surface temperature is not linear. In other words, doubling the insulation thickness will not double its effectiveness as an insulator.
Below is a simplified calculation to demonstrate how the thickness of a Worbo “safe touch” insulation system may be determined in consideration of the above noted parameters.
If your employees are exposed to a high temperature hazard and you are not sure what the best option is, call the engineering team at Worbo and they will be happy to help you. It’s what they do best!
New developments in deep shale extraction technologies have lead to an increase in the availability of natural gas in the USA with production up over 25% within the past 10 years. The abundance of inexpensive natural gas has created exciting alternatives for steel producers. Specifically direct reduced iron (DRI) fueled by natural gas is being produced on an increasingly larger. Now more than ever DRI is a cost competitive alternative to traditional coal fired blast furnaces. And perhaps even more important is that natural gas powered DRI plants potentially have a much smaller environmental footprint.
However, a DRI plant does present a few unique problems. One such problem occurs in the process gas heater, a key component of a DRI plant that feeds the reduction reactor with makeup gas. Within the process gas heater, radiant coils are situated on the outlet side of the manifold and they are exposed to temperatures up to 1900oF. These elevated temperatures have created some difficulty in the welded U-joints connections of the radiant coils. In some cased the welding has softened to the point where failures have occurred.
Worbo has worked closely with a DRI plant in the USA to develop an extremely high temperate resistant insulation cover to protect the radiant coil U-joints connections from weld failures. These covers have been specially designed to be removable for ease of installation and to minimize shut down time. And they can handle the heat. These covers are capable of withstanding continuous operating temperatures of 2100oF!
With nearly a full year in service and no weld failures we are proud that we have been able to contribute in a positive way to the development of this fiscally and environmentally responsible steel production technology.
Worbo Inc. has recently expanded with an addition that has nearly doubled our size. This new space has lead to:
Implementation of new equipment
Increased warehouse capacity
An increase in production volume
Improved efficiencies
The end result is an improved product quality coupled with higher capacity to accommodate our growing worldwide demand. We have plans for another addition later this year!
Worbo Inc. is pleased to announce that we have successfully earned accreditation with ISO 9001:2008. Since the beginning of 2013, we have formally adopted and have been practicing the procedures outlined in our ISO 9001:2009 Quality Management system. Through the implementation of these ISO systems we are confident that we are providing our customers with top quality products and we have the proof to back it up!
The engineering team at Worbo has played an integral part in the design of extreme temperature insulation systems for a leading aerospace company. Designed to protect essential components from intense exhaust blast, the Worbo insulation systems performed very well in a recent successful launch. We continue to work closely with the aerospace industry as new technologies develop. Next stop….who knows!
