HOTSEAL™

Furnace Penetration Seals


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Furnace operators today are under more pressure than ever before to decrease emissions and to increase furnace efficiency. Fuel costs, emission penalties and reduced maintenance budgets demand that unit reliability and efficiency be maximized. Cold “tramp” air requires extra firing fuel to heat, which in-turn adds to the production of NOx and disturbs the heat distribution in the furnace.

The typical industry approach to seal a furnace has been to only consider external factors for external seals. Such options include close fitting sliding metal plates at tube penetrations, bulk ceramic fiber-filled basket arrangements, field fabricated textile boots, and one-size-fits-all, off the shelf seals. None of these approaches optimize furnace sealing and many accomplish nothing.

Optimizing furnace sealing through an engineered approach requires considering the interior lining design as well as the external shell configuration, tube movements, protection of hangers and clevis pins, etc. Inside the furnace, consideration is given to protecting the steel shell and lowering the radiant heat on the seal. Lowering the radiant heat to the seal allows design of a composite seal system using less permeable, lower cost materials. The result is a reliable system (internal and external) designed to accommodate all tube movement and minimize the influx of tramp air.

A properly engineered and installed penetration seal can provide the following benefits:

  • Restrict the influx of ambient air
  • Block radiant heat loss
  • Insulate external portions of hot tubes
  • Internal insulation for external steel
  • Accommodate all tube movement
  • Improved burner operation
  • Increased operating efficiency
  • Reduced emissions
  • Improved personnel protection
  • Allow access for maintenance purposes
  • Exclude rain water

HOTSEAL™ Furnace Penetration Seals are custom engineered, shop fabricated and field installed by Thorpe and include:

  • Custom engineered designs, based on years of proven performance and experience.
  • Composite seals utilize multiple layers of flexible materials and textiles to thermally protect less permeable products providing a positive dynamic seal
  • Shop fabrication to exact specifications
  • Individual boot or gang seals as required
  • Machine sewn edges, hems, seams.
  • Experienced field installation
  • Field measurement (when needed) and design consultation

Call Thorpe for help to seal your furnace and improve your furnace operation.

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