Document 7RZVGnY1e11wgea7x4q6q6g88

FILE NAME: Oil Industry and American Petroleum Institute (API) DATE: 1947 Apr DOC#: API077 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Trade Journal Article - Insulation Technique for OilRefinery Structures  zztm p l r PETROLEUM PUBLISHING-CQM|[ I*: 1 S iC H E Y E ^JV T L ,;J^^ lbl ' \ ,; :^rODMDED ' I Subscrtptfan rate to the pe troleum Jnduitry. United Stete* and toreign. 1 rear, $3.00. Single coplee, 20 eent*. Back coplea, when o ra r a y ear old. SO cent*. Note: Payments from outside the U.S.A. may be in the form of an International money order or cheek on a UXA. bank. I n te n d as second-clam m ail m atter a t Tulsa. Okla~ .under Act of K erch 1, 1179. Copyright 1M7 by The Petro leum Publishing Co.- - t .. .5':c,4r.r,,>). .. s . r \ . VoL 43. N o. 31 , April . 1947 P. C. LAUDOIR President A H .ROURKE B sn seu Maneper A C. MAC DOUGALL Circulation Manager W. L. NELSON Technical Editor a a wnxsoN - Editor KENNETH B. BARNES Engineering Editor ARCH POSTER Refining Editor PAUL REED Pipe-Un* Editor Aatociala Editor LYNN M. NICHOLS NEIL WILLIAMS CHARLES J. DEEGAN R. B. TUTTLE DAHL M. DUFT D. H. STORMONT Diatrict Editor 1 T. M ARMSTRONG TRUMAN P. MOOTE Uim 1. Ill t. Chrreur K. H. SHORT. JR. MM J. Slwlla sie. GEORGE WEBER CARL F. HOOT , DnUaa l. Marearan Ian* lid*. HERNDON DAVID UeAaelM 11. 140 a Qtnorf Are. WARREN W. BURNS Saw Tort 17. til traMeMe TOLBERT R. DIGRAM . 1L M Alcen St. HENRY D. RALPH WntlletM 4. Natl h a u Mde.' VICTOR LAURISTON C ln b o n OaL I t Stonier Are. Q. C. PRESSPRlCH laeinnw, Nwe Side. G DUDLEY JOHNSTON Staff Artist . , Advertiting ~ WAYNE RIVES, Manager MITCHELL TUCKER fattem Manager ev Tech 17, t i l LnUnfM Are. C. A FARMER Chicago Manager 1. IM W. ALFRED MILTON JONES E. S. KLAPPENBACH New York RepTrsmtatioe Chicago RtprtMntativ* a York 17. t i l I n k Are. Chkraf 1 . 10J W . Mailaaa J. HOWARD TINKHAM CHARLES A. WARDLEY California Manager Pituburgh Manager tee A l IS. HOCa Grand Are. ntbbocek. 4U Famth Are. RICHARD P. McXEY California Representative u,AM>iit<ni.sMAn, J, V. PENNINGTON Gulf Coast Manager Bennee i. Hereof My. JOHN D. REILLY * Tulsa Representative Tele* l .l l l HCkaraua Are, A. J. CHAMBERS nUintiara. (M l t n l n l v . SS. fhr S m n J. PARKER HOLLAND Production Manager Tube L 111 f. Charaaaa Are. ns-: - v->: - v* r'V Audit Bureau e t Circult)aas Associated Budaoee Papon . O ' . *7aS/e o Co*tie*U d NEWS DEVELOPMENTS - \ - Ultrahigh Octane Fuels Show 50 Per Cent Savings . . . . . . . . . SS World Demand Taxes Refining Capacity, Bauer Telia N.P.A... SS Airborne Magnetometer Surveys of Bahamas to Start Soon.. -82 Vast Eastern Gas Market Outlined at Pittsburgh Meeting. ... . M O'Mahoney Will Address Director* of I.P.A.A............. . 15 Field Allowables, Producing Day* Increased in Texas ........ 16 Record Capital Outlay Noted in Jersey Report .. ....... . ... 98 Committee Recommends Fund Slash, Affecting OGD ........ 89 Industry Losses High in Texas City Disaster . 89 Industry Presents Case for Curbing FPC -- . . . . . . . ......... 100 `Hanlon Award Conferred on W. K. Warren by N. G. A- A....... 107 Editorial ........................... 87 Pipe-Line News .., ., 199 This Week ............ 91 Natural-Gas News *05 Watching Washington .. 100 Natural-Gasoline New* 105 Refining News.................. 195 Statistics and Trends .. 826 NATURAL-GASOUNE SECTION * Mobile Laboratory for Gas-Condensate Studies .................... 108 Factors Affecting Quality and Supply of Engine Fuels.......... 112 Position of Natural Gasoline and N.G.A.A. ................... .-- 121 Natural-Gasoline Industry Operating at 91 Per Cent -- . .. . 140 Survey of Natural-Gasoline Plants ......................................... 143 Survey of Cycling P la n ts ....................................................... 148 ENGINEERING AND OPERATING SECTION - - Drilling Costslow ered 25 Per Cent in Rangely Field ..... . 150 Practical Aspects of Water Flooding -- .................. ...... -,.v 152 Insulation Technique for Oil-Refinery Structures ISO - Progress in Metals . . . ..................: .................. ........ . . . . . . . 184 Pipe-Line Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i .........171 Book Reviews ....... ..................................179 Modem Rotary, Drilling--No. 17 in a S eries........-..v...;.- 181 The Refiner's Notebook--No.*141 in a Series . . . / V - 183 OEnilgainnederGinags EFuqnudipammeennttaDlsi--geNsto. 283 in a Series . . . . . ^V, i. .V^ 11S957 > 1 d r illin g a n d 'e x pl o r a tio n , Heavy Rigs Moved into Mississippi Reports by Areas Start on-Page -.v.c-.i: ! Summary of March'Completions J'-l- -.W>r`t ggQ . .Daily Average Production for Week . , . .. ;z~C.SA-: 228 - Daily .Well-Completion Record ,. .'.-j-, . i . -- ' ? y i ADDITIONAL FEATURES \^' Personals 103 Equipment Men in News. . 229 - ^ Deaths Jh the Industry 107 , Classified Advertising .1^230 t,-Drilling Contractors 'rvg*22S:T 'Calendar of Events '-SM-' arket S--um:mv a"ry* . ^ 2 2 8 ^ . A d v e rtis e rs '^ Index_' . .i,-!?* ns y til' TecnIniicgye < loi Op Wl ob nc fir For Oil-Refinery Structures tv. bl su w ch b y 8m S. P a r k e r * tti tr -v bl tpO be of optimum value, insulation w for refinery equipment must pos St sess a combination of characteristics. ir. Obviously, to be effective, an insu lating material must have a low "k" b. cl factor, to minimize heat transmission. ui Of nearly as great significance, in ap V plying insulation to such large irreg V\ ular surfaces, is the ease with which si it may be applied to conform closely b to the surfaces. Initial efficiency of any insulation is of small significance Kl; unless the installed material retains its initial properties over long periods of time in unfavorable environments. The ease with which insulation may be protected from moisture, vibra tion, corrosive fumes, and other harm ful influences, and the facility with which the insulation lends itself to ready maintenance, are fundamental to successful application and long- range operating value. Application methods vary from re finery to refinery, each having great This recently built group of road-oil-mlxJng lank* I* insulated with 2 In. of blank! min oral wool between til lanir w all and an outer moisiure-iealing ib n l-m tla / shell er or lesser success with various in sulating materials. According to Ash land Oil & Refining Co., Ashland, Ky., great success, over a 10-year period, has been obtained from the artificial silicate fibers which in their various forms are grouped generally as min eral wool. The specific advantages and experiences which Ashland has found through the use of the mineralwool materials, should be interesting 'Design engineer, Ashland Refining Co. to all petroleum and chemical indus trial consumers of insulation. Compared with some forms of in sulation, the blanket form materially decreases the time and expense of ap plication. In addition it has lower unit area costs for equivalent insulating value. Maintenance operations may be readily performed by removing unit panels of backed-blanket min eral wool, without disturbing adja cent insulation, and may be imme diately replaced, with the same in sulating value as originally possessed, without extensive construction oper ations. Frequently, quite extensive maintenance operations are under taken and completed in less than a day, where, with ordinary brick-type insulation, several days or weeks would be required to scaffold, cut. fit, and lay. This rapidity of repair operation permits the maintenance of minor matters without shutting down operating units and without material ly disturbing the efficiency of oper ation. Axphall oxidizing lanka at A thland Oil S fining Co. Noxloux rapor* from the oporatloa a n passed through lb* lumo absorbing lower* risible in the left side of photograph Advantages of Mineral Wool Ease of first application, as well as ease of maintenance, would be of-no real value if insulation had to be sub jected to constnnt attention to keep it in good condition. Experience has shown Ashland that mineral-wool blankets, properly applied, have the ability to retain both structure and thermal coefficients in service. Free dom from packing, sifting, powder ing, cracking, and other defects so frequently encountered with some in sulating mediums commonly used in refinery practice, eliminates expen sive Insulation maintenance and re pair, and insures continuous opera- THE O IL AND OAS JOURNAL tion under controlled conditions for long periods of time. The ability to operate and maintain equipment without interruption of function is obviously most important in the eco nomics of refinery management. Asphalt oxidizing at Ashland's re finery is performed in four tanks, two with 1,500 and two with 5,000 bbl. capacity. These oxidizers are iosulated with 2 in. of blanket mineral wool which is supported between a chicken-wire mesh (in contact with the Vi-in. steel plate inner tank) and expanded metal lath outside. The blankets are held in place by heavy wires which were butt welded to the steel plate prior to application of the insulation. The wires pierce the blanket and their ends are securely clinched to the lath backing. All joints of adjacent blankets are securely wired together at the lath edges. Weather protection and moisture sealing are simultaneously obtained by the application of a corrugated galvanized sheet metal outer shell. Riveted seams of the 20-gage gal- Thli battery oI olectric Maid precipitators Is insulated with 2 In. of b la n ks mineral wool A plastic scaling coat and two outer coats oI brushed asphalt protect the Insulation ! 4 iI 1 four Inches oi blanket mineral wool is two staggered layers eileettrely control stage temperature variations oi approximately JU * f , along the height el this slx-lracOoe unit vanized iron prevent penetration of water or other harmful atmosphere constituents and make a strong outer structure. Exhaust gases and s m o t h e r i n g steam from the asphalt tanks are withdrawn and passed through two fume-absorbing towers. Coke is used in these towers to absorb the noxious, corrosive waste gases for health pro tection and the remaining 'non-con densed steam is allowed to vent to the .atmosphere. The use of insula tion on these units yields additional advantages, beyond reduced fuel con sumption and protection against tem perature variations. The optimum ox idizing temperature can be held con stant, giving the oxidation cycle more opportunity to convert the bases, and thus materially reduce cycle time. Mixing and Blending Tanka Road-oil mixing and blending tanks are another volume heating operation in which Ashland has found blanket insulation particularly effective and easy to apply. At present five units are in operation, two 1,000 and three 1,500-bbl. vessels. The construction of these tanks is quite similar to that employed in the asphalt processors. Two inches of mineral wool blanket is used, applied identically as in the insulation of the above units, except that, in the absence of corrugated galvanized iron, 20-gage flat roofing sheet was used with edges raised and rib-crimped between adjacent sheets. Such assembly provides both weath er sealing and stiffening. In all of these process tanks the heat control is so effective that the external tank surface is only moderately warm to the touch. Around B0* to 100* F. (when tiie ambient temperature is 70* F.) is the usual range. The primary purposes of heat con- servation and uniformity of temper ature throughout the tank are effec tively accomplished. Furthermore, when enlargement of units, or re moval and re-erection is called for, the mineral-wool blankets are easily removed, in such a manner that they are completely reusable without loss of effectiveness. A new vacuum fractionating col umn built in 1942 is run under 28-in. Hg. vacuum at temperatures which range, approximately, from 725' F. at the base to 400" F. at the top of the unit The tower was covered with two layers of mineral wool blanket. each two inches thick, faced with wire mesh, backed with metal lath. Each layer was securely wired and clamped in place, and the seams of the two layers were staggered to prevent through joints which might have low insulating value. In this case the ex terior metal lath was smoothly filled and coated with plastic sealing com pound troweled into the lath. The entire surface was then hot mopped with two coats of asphalt mastic, to complete the weather seal. In constructing large units, with multiple layers of insulation, it is most important that the insulation be PIPE PROTEC T IO N AT ITS BEST, UNDER ADVERSE COR ROSION CON DITIONS. YOUR UNINTERRUPTED PIPE LINE SERVICE free from costly shut downs resulting from corrosion, assures sound investments in underground pipe installations. THE HILL, HUBBELL method of heating pipe before mechanically cleaning, priming, coating and wrapping to standord specifications is endorsed by leading corrosion engineers. H ill, HttMvCC M Company TtwiUunH G E N E R A L P A I N T C O R P O R A T IO N i w C L .IV ik .A N D , OHIO. applied while dry, and be protected from water until the weather seal is complete. Water-soaked insulation is a good conductor of heat. When ef fectively vapor proofed, any water which may be trapped in the insu lation before vapor proofing can re main for extended periods, and when converted to steam, it can seriously rupture the weather-sealing coats in its escape. Though silicate, wools are not sub ject to rot or other disintegration due to the action of water, their ef ficiency is greatly reduced if the air voids within the insulation fill with water, and the damage to equipm ent can be severe over extended times. The singular absence of cracking, sagging, and other mechanical weak nesses which is inherent in mineralwool blankets affords a wide margin of safety against failure. When opplied dry and properly, mineral-wool- blanket insulation has an indefinite life. Units at Ashland which have been in operation for more than 10 years are still effectively insulated and protected. Nine large 200-bbl. desalting units, plus a u x i l i a r y surge and con trol tanks, are used at Ashland. The nine electrical units, and all of the feed lines and surge tanks arc insu lated with 2 in. of blanket. Though the control is critical, the low tem perature, 200' F., does not require the application of greater thicknesses. The metal-lath-backed blankets arc filled and smoothed with a plastic sealing coat over which two coats of hot asphalt are brushed to seal the units from moisture. Both engineer ing and laboratory divisions nave closely followed temperature uni formities and product qualities in connection with the desalters and at tribute much of their success to the insulation technique. One insulation trend at Ashland which is worth mentioning is the use of mineral-wool insulating materials on piping. Several large-diameter steam lines are being built, to carryhigh-pressure steam from the origi nal plant to a new addition, a dis tance of more than Vi mile. These lines will be protected with formed blanket mineral wool. Experience at this refinery has indicated that losses will be between 10" and 15" F, in steam being transported at 225 psi. at 550" F. The technical characteristics Ash land has found important in insulat ing materials over the past 10 years include: (1) ease of application and of maintenance; (2) freedom from rot and chemical disintegration; (3) free dom from mechanical failures due to powdering, dusting and cracking; (4) the ability to encase, vapor seal, and moisture-proof after application; (5) freedom from danger of combustion; (6) low initial cost, and (7) complete salvageability--all in addition to low thermal conductivity factors. 1 S2 THE O IL AMD GAS I O U B K A I