Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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An insulated pipe or piping system with an annular end cap and an elastic,
non-metallic cladding element annular end cap
The present invention relates to an insulated pipe or piping system with an
annular
end cap and an elastic, non-metallic cladding element annular end cap.
The endcap forms a gasket and spacer for cladding on tubular systems with
cladding.
Pipes and pipe systems are frequently used in the process industry, on
offshore
and onshore oil and gas facilities etc. Pipe systems include straight
sections, pipe
bends, T-joints, elbows, diameter reducers, flange connections, valves,
attachment portions etc. Such systems must in many cases be insulated for a
number of reasons including reducing heat loss, providing an external surface
with
safe temperatures, reducing heat accumulation in cold systems, reducing
transmitted noise, improving fire resistance in the event of a fire etc. Many
systems are also designed for a long lifespan, perhaps up to 70 years or more,
making it particularly important to prevent corrosion by preventing moisture
for
instance from condensation or precipitation from entering into the insulation.
Insulation tends to accumulate moisture, and thus present an increased risk of
rust/corrosion on the covered pipe or elements attached to the pipe such as
valves, flanges, attachment brackets, diameter reducers and so on. Moisture
can
also affect the insulating properties negatively, may result in premature
deterioration of the materials, and may cause growth of unwanted organisms.
Cladding elements for insulated pipe systems of the above described type are
typically installed using pop rivets and / or self-tapping screws or metal
bands to
align the drilled holes.
DE20218097 describes a pipe passage for a pipe with a pipe insulation
shrouding
within a mantle, having a closure as an end disk. The disk is separated from
the
pipe surface by a closure profile of an elastic material. The pipe passes
through
the disk opening.
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The development of new and more efficient insulating materials reduces the
insulation thickness requirements. Insulation systems can therefore be made
considerably less bulky and cumbersome with weight and material reductions and
the possibility of designing less space consuming systems. Weight saving is
particularly advantageous on floating installations. An example of a new and
more
efficient insulating material include insulating materials derived from
aerogel such
as a mat sold under the trade name of Pyrogel XT-E. Pyrogel XT-E mats are
typically lOmm thick or less as greater thicknesses become difficult bend and
form
into shape, and greater thicknesses are in most situations superfluous.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cladding
system
including an end cap gasket and spacer that allows the cladding to be
installed
without drilling, using an awl or self-tapping screws. Pop rivets and screws
also
have the potential of beginning to leak over time even if sealing compounds
are
used, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system where
this
additional risk is eliminated. Pop rivets and screws may also induce high
stresses
in the area of the pop rivet or screw, in particular in off design conditions,
and it is
an object of the present invention to eliminate such high stresses that
potentially
can cause leaking and in extreme cases tearing of the cladding material or
shearing / stripping of the pop rivet or screw. Off design conditions may
typically
result from impacts with foreign objects such as vehicles, cranes etc.
Traditional
end caps for cladding include sheet metal end caps that typically requires in
situ
adjustments and installation that is time consuming and the risk for problems
during installation that result in leaks is high. The installation also
requires a
certain skill, and the risk of faulty installation is high as the number of
such
elements on a plant is high. It is therefore essential to provide a solution
that is
easy and quick to install and where the risk of a faulty installation is low.
A sealing compound is normally used to form a joint seal and to provide
redundancy in the sealing of the joints.
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It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide cladding elements
with a
sufficient integrity and rigidity to be self-supporting. The cladding elements
are
thus independent of the underlying structure and will not expose the
underlying
structure to pressure against the insulation.
It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a cladding element
and end
cap gasket that is installed predictably as the alignment of the two parts of
the
seam of the element are ensured by a bead.
The cladding elements and end cap of the invention can be installed around a
pipe
system without being thread onto the pipes from an end. It is also a purpose
of the
present invention to provide a cladding element and an end cap gasket that can
be
designed with joints and seams that will guide liquids from the top to the
bottom of
the cladding elements without seeping to the inside of the cladding elements.
Accordingly, the present invention includes an insulated pipe or piping system
with
a pipe covered by at least one layer of insulation on top of a surface to be
protected comprising. A first sheet metal cladding element surrounds the
insulation
covered pipe and an end cap gasket at the end of the cladding element. The
sheet
metal cladding element has a circular cross section, a circumference, a first
end
portion and a second end portion. At least one band surrounds the first sheet
metal cladding element. At least one longitudinal seam has a first edge and a
second edge.
The at least one layer of insulation may be equal to or less than lOmm.
The at least one layer of insulation may be equal to or less than 5mm.
Furthermore, the present invention concerns a sheet metal cladding element
with
a substantially circular cross section, where the sheet metal cladding element
defines a circumference.
The invention relates to an insulated pipe or piping system with a pipe
covered by at least one layer of insulation, a first sheet metal cladding
element
surrounding said insulation covered pipe, said sheet metal cladding element
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having a circular cross section, a circumference, a first end portion. At
least one
band surrounds the first sheet metal cladding element. An elastic, non-
metallic,
annular end cap with a rectangular cross section has a thickness Ti of at
least
15mm and at least one slit extending from an outside of the annular end cap to
an
inside of the annular end cap. The annular end cap is located and forms a
sealing
spacer between the insulation covered pipe and the first sheet metal cladding
element at the first end portion.
A bead may extend along a circumference of the sheet metal cladding element
surrounding the first end portion.
The rectangular cross section has a ratio of height (D1-D2) to thickness Ti of
less
than 6:1.
The at least one band surrounding the first sheet metal cladding element may
also
surround the end cap, holding the cladding element between the end cap and the
band.
A front face of the end cap may extends past an edge of the cladding element.
The end cap may be made of a silicone material.
The end cap may be made of polydimethylsiloxane with vinyl groups, fillers and
pigments.
Furthermore, the invention relates to an elastic, non-metallic, cladding
element
annular end cap. The end cap has a rectangular cross section with a height and
a
thickness Ti of at least 15mm and at least one slit extending from an outside
of
the annular end cap to an inside of the annular end cap.
The rectangular cross section has a ratio of height (D1-D2) to thickness Ti of
less
than 6:1.
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The rectangular cross section may have a ratio of height (D1-D2) to thickness
Ti
of less than 3:1.
The end cap may be made is made of a silicone material.
5 The end cap may be made of polydimethylsiloxane with vinyl groups,
fillers and
pigments.
Short description of the enclosed drawings:
Fig. 1 shows steel pipe or tubular with a cladding and an insulating system of
the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows the invention in perspective view;
Fig. 3 is a front view of an end cap gasket;
Fig. 4 shows an end cap gasket installed around a pipe with a cable running
along
the pipe in perspective view; and
Fig. 5 is perspective view of an end cap gasket with an outer diameter D1, an
inner diameter D2 and a thickness Ti.
Fig. 1 is a cross section and a detail of a steel pipe or tubular 3 with a
cladding 2,
insulation 4 and a seal or end cap gasket 1 in the form of a flexible spacer
of the
invention. The pipe 3 is insulated by layers of insulation 4. The insulation
material
can be mat of Pyrogel XT-E. Pyrogel is a trademark for insulating material
made of
aerogel in fibres. The insulating material is held onto the pipe 3 with tape.
A
condensation barrier foil 7 surrounds a second insulation layer to prevent
condensation from building up and cause humidity in the insulation material.
An
outer insulation layer is located between the condensation barrier foil 7 and
straight outer cladding 2 of 0.5mm acid-proof stainless steel, held in place
by acid-
proof stainless steel attachment bands 5. End cap gasket 1 seals around the
pipe
3 to prevent ingress of water / liquid into the insulation 4 from the end of
the
cladding and forms a spacer between the cladding 2 and the pipe 3. A flange is
located at the end of the pipe 3.
The acid-proof stainless steel outer cladding 2 is held in place with acid-
proof
stainless steel attachment bands 5. The flange is welded onto the pipe 1.
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Each cladding element 2 has a substantially circular cross section and a bead
6
along the circumference. The bead 6 is a reinforcement increasing the rigidity
of
each cladding element 2 and forms a stopping element for ensuring that the
joint
with the neighbouring element is located correctly. The bead also and ensures
that
the edges of the longitudinal seam are aligned with each other to ensure that
the
cladding element 2 maintains it intended shape. The bead 6 along the
circumference of the two left cladding elements provides a suitable seat for
the
metal band 5 holding the cladding elements together. The bead 6 also ensures
that the metal band 5 is correctly aligned and remains on the intended
location on
the cladding elements.
The cladding elements 2 include a seam to allow the cladding elements 2 to be
installed over a pipe on an existing assembled pipe system. A longitudinal
bead
may extend along the seam.
The circumferential bead 6 of the cladding element 2 provides a stop element
for a
neighbouring cladding element, serves to maintain the shape of the cladding
element 2 and to provide a guide for the overlapping area of the cladding
element
2 preventing misalignment of edges of the cladding element 2. The
circumferential
bead 6 is typically made with a beading tool / bead roller or a crimping
machine. A
suitable sealing compound can be applied to the overlapping area. The
circumferential bead also serves to locate a steel band 5, ensuring that the
band
not is moved away from the cladding element and that the band is located in
perfect alignment with the cladding without being inclined. An inclined
assembly of
the band will potentially result in an insufficient tightening of the band.
The circle marked detail A is a cross section of the end cap gasket and spacer
1 in
detail. A front face 8 of the gasket 1 extends beyond a front face or edge 9
of the
cladding element 2. The metal band 5 extends somewhat over the end cap gasket
1 to reduce the stress on the cladding element 2.
The end cap gasket 1 has a rectangular cross section with a thickness Ti of
typically 20mm and is made of a silicone rubber that maintains its shape and
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properties in time. The silicone rubber material of the end cap gasket 1 is
also
sufficiently rigid to maintain the shape of the cladding 2 in shape and to
form a
spacer or distance piece between the cladding 2 and the tubular 3. The end cap
gasket 1 prevents the cladding 2 from collapsing under the tension from the
metal
band 5.
The bead 6 increases the strength and deformation resistance of the cladding
element at the end and reduces the risk of denting of the end of the cladding
element. Denting the end of the cladding element may result in leaks between
the
cladding element 2 and the end cap gasket 1.
A radial slit may be cut in the end cap gasket to allow the gasket 1 to be
slid over
the pipe 3 without any access to the end of the pipe. A sealing compound such
as
a sealing compound under the trade name Nitoseal SC30 can be used to seal the
slit and the transition between the end cap gasket 1, the cladding 2 and the
pipe 3.
Fig. 2 shows the invention in perspective view where the end cap gasket 1
surrounds the pipe 3, and forms a spacer between the pipe 3 and the cladding
2.
The reinforcing bead 6 prevents the metal bands 5 from sliding off the
cladding 2
and increases the stiffness of the cladding to prevent buckling of the
cladding 2.
The reinforcing bead 6 also provides a guide for the cladding 2 in the
overlapping
portion of the cladding 2 to ensure that the overlapping portions of the
cladding are
aligned. This is achieved as the bead on the upper side of the lower portion
of the
overlap extends into the bead on the underside of the upper portion of the
overlap.
Fig. 3 shows an end cap gasket 1 in the form of a spacer with a front face 8
and
an inner face 12 towards a centre of the end cap gasket 1 and an outer face 13
along a circumference of the end cap gasket 1. A cut out 10 provides a space
for a
cable on the outside of a pipe and a slit 11 enables the end cap gasket 1 to
be
installed onto a pipe without accessing the end.
Fig. 4 shows an end cap gasket 1 installed around a pipe 3 with a cable 14
running along the pipe 3. A special tape 15 holds the cable to the pipe 3 and
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protects the cable 14. The radial slit 11 divides the end cap 1 and the cut
out 10
enables the cable 14 to pass the end cap casket 1. The front face 8 of the end
cap
gasket 1 faces upwards.
Fig. 5 shows an end cap gasket 1 with an outer diameter D1, an inner diameter
D2
and a thickness Ti. The thickness Ti is typically 19mm. The diameter D2
depends
on the diameter of the pipe to be covered and the diameter D1 depends on the
diameter D2 of the pipe to be covered and the thickness of the insulation or
the
diameter of the cladding. It is essential that the thickness Ti of the end cap
gasket
1 and thus rigidity is sufficient to allow the end cap gasket 1 to act both as
a
spacer between a pipe and a cladding and to absorb mechanical pressure from
the cladding onto the end cap gasket without any additional elements. The end
cap gasket must also be sufficiently flexible to allow the gasket to be opened
and
installed onto a pipe. The slit must in other words allow the gasket to be
opened at
least an amount corresponding to D2 to enable the gasket to be installed onto
the
pipe.
The end cap gasket should satisfy the fire requirements in FAR 25 / JAR 25 /
CS
25, Appendix F, del 1, (a) (1) (iv) og (a) (1) (v) horizontal fire tests and
Automotive
Standard PART 571FMVSS302. The relative density of the end cap material is
typically: 1,2-1,3 g/cm3. The end cap gasket may be made of
polydimethylsiloxane
with vinylgroups, fillers and pigments. The end cap gasket may be made of
solid
silicone with temperature limits -60 to 270 C and up to 300 C intermittent.
Typical end cap gasket properties are listed below:
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Technical properties:
Property Value Test method
Brittle Point -80 C ASTM D746
r ..........................
Thermal Conductivity 0,24 W/mK VDE 0304
¨ ................................................ ¨ ......................
Dielectric Strength 23kV/mm VDE 0303
Dielectric Constant 2,9 VDE 0303
Dissipation Factor 3x104 VDE 0303
, --------------------------
Electrical (volume)-Resistivity 3x1015(1.cm VDE 0303
.................................................. ,. .....................
Mechanical properties:
, ------------------------------
Property Value
Hardness 60 Shore A
Tensile strength 8,5 Mpa
Elongation to failure 300 %
Tear Strength 18 N/mm
Thermal expansion coefficient 0,7 x 10-4
In the above specification, the band 5 is described as a metal band. Such
bands
are well known within the art and are tightened with a well known tightening
tool
and locked in a tightened position with a metal buckle. Other types of bands,
band
materials buckles and tightening mechanisms may however be used without
departing from the present invention.
