NO341212B1

NO341212B1 - An insulated pipe or piping system with an annular end cap and an elastic, non-metallic cladding element annular end cap

Info

Publication number: NO341212B1
Application number: NO20161027A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Sverre Espeseth
Original assignee: Benarx Solution As
Priority date: 2016-06-17
Filing date: 2016-06-17
Publication date: 2017-09-11
Also published as: KR101934631B1; CA3028147A1; KR20180129711A; KR20170032247A; EP3472506A1; NO20161027A1; JP2019518187A; WO2017217867A1; AU2017283977A1; EP3472506A4

Description

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 håving 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.

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 10mm thick or less as greater thicknesses become difficult bend and form into shape, and greater thicknesses are in most situations unnecessary.

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 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.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide cladding elements with a sufficient integrity and rigidity to be self-supporting and thus independent of the underlying structure and that thus not will 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. The insulated pipe or piping system comprises a first sheet metal cladding element surrounding 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 10mm.

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 håving a circular cross section, a circumference, and a first end portion. At least one band surrounds the first sheet metal cladding element. An elastic, non-metallic, annular end cap has a rectangular cross section, a thickness T1 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 between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 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 (D1-D2) and a thickness T1 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 may have a ratio between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 of less than 3:1.

The end cap may be made is made of a silicone material.

Short description of the enclosed drawings:

Fig. 1 shows steel pipe ortubular 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 T1. 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.

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, ensures 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 T1 of typically 20mm and is made of a silicone rubber that maintains its shape and properties in time. The silicone rubber material of the end cap gasket 1 is also sufficiently rigid to hold the cladding 2 in shape and to form a spacer or distance piece between the cladding 2 and the tubular 3, and to prevent 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, an innerface 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 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 T1. The thickness T1 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 T1 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:

Technical properties:

Mechanical properties:

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.

Claims

1. An insulated pipe or piping system with a pipe (3) covered by at least one layer of insulation (4),characterised in: a first sheet metal cladding element (2) surrounding said insulation covered pipe (3), said sheet metal cladding element (2) håving a circular cross section, a circumference, and a first end portion (9); at least one band (5) surrounding the first sheet metal cladding element (2); an elastic, non-metallic, annular end cap (1) with a rectangular cross section with a height (D1-D2) and a thickness T1 of at least 15mm and at least one slit (11) extending from an outside of the annular end cap to an inside of the annular end cap; and wherein said annular end cap (1) is located and forms a sealing spacer between the insulation covered pipe (3) and the first sheet metal cladding element (2) by the first end portion (9).

2. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1 further including a bead (6) along a circumference of the sheet metal cladding element (2) surrounding the first end portion (9).

3. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of insulation (3) is equal to or less than 10mm.

4. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of insulation (3) is equal to or less than 5mm.

5. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the rectangular cross section has a ratio between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 of less than 6:1.

6. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 5, wherein the rectangular cross section has a ratio between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 of less than 3:1.

7. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the at least one band (5) surrounding the first sheet metal cladding element (2) also surrounds the end cap (1), holding the cladding element between the end cap (1) and the band (2).

8. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein a front face (8) of the end cap (1) extends past an edge (9) of the cladding element (2).

9. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the end cap is made of a silicone material.

10. The insulated pipe or piping system of claim 1, wherein the end cap is made of polydimethylsiloxane with vinyl groups, fillers and pigments.

11. An elastic, non-metallic cladding element annular end cap (1), for forming a spacer between an insulated pipe (3) and a cladding element (2), the non-metallic cladding element annular end cap (1) håving a rectangular cross section with a height and a thickness T1 of at least 15mm and at least one slit (11) extending from an outside of the annular end cap to an inside of the annular end cap.

12. The elastic, non-metallic cladding element annular end cap (1) of claim 11, wherein the rectangular cross section has a ratio between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 of less than 6:1.

13. The elastic, non-metallic, cladding element annular end cap (1) of claim 11, wherein the rectangular cross section has a ratio between the height (D1-D2) and the thickness T1 of less than 3:1.

14. The elastic, non-metallic, cladding element annular end cap (1) of any of claims 11-13, wherein the end cap is made of a silicone material.

15. The elastic, non-metallic, cladding element annular end cap (1) of any of claims 11-13, wherein the end cap is made of polydimethylsiloxane with vinyl groups, fillers and pigments.