In today's economy, oil and gas are an intrinsic part of manufacturing across all industries. They are the building blocks of many products, such as plastics and chemicals.
Oil and gas are energy sources for several industries, such as steel production. If not used directly in production, oil and gas are necessary for transporting goods and services over road, rail, or air.
A reliable oil and gas supply is vital for any economy, so this industry must employ the most reliable and cost-effective production methods in the marketplace.
The role of ceramic fiber
Converting extracted oil into usable products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, etc., requires processing at high temperatures. This changes the oil's chemical makeup and purifies it for conversion into different product forms.
Conversion typically involves processing the oil via tubes that pass through a high temperature furnace, essentially a sizeable box-shaped structure critical for the process. Due to the refractory/insulation package, these furnaces must minimize heat loss.
Ceramic fiber products (blankets, modules) are not just effective, they are also highly reliable and offer the lowest heat loss and maximum efficiency for this application.
This reliability ensures that throughput can be maximized, and the heat input into the process can be optimized, providing a secure solution for your high-temp needs.
Key features and benefits
Ceramic fiber products are not only versatile, but they also offer significant cost savings. They are offered for various oil and gas applications at temperatures up to 2800°F (1540°C).
Different chemistries are available to meet all design standards. Compared to traditional refractory products such as bricks and castables, ceramic fiber products, on average, have heat loss values that are less than half.
This results in a lower cost to operate the furnace, or the ability to run the furnace harder for increased productivity, giving you confidence that you're making an intelligent investment.
Another benefit is that scheduled maintenance shutdown durations can be shortened; the furnace will require less time to cool down and can be quickly brought up to temperature since ceramic fiber products are immune to thermal shock.
Compared to traditional refractories, ceramic fiber products are lightweight and easily installed, often by unskilled labor. They offer many years of service life and have been used in several oil and gas applications.
Discover how to optimize thermal management in the oil and gas industry here.