Hot Spot Repair – Don’t Cover It
“Hot spots” can be one of the most frustrating items that a maintenance manager has to deal with while operating a high-temperature process. They can seem small but can ultimately lead to costly repairs and production disruptions.
There are many ways to address “hot spots”. On-line and off-line options are usually both available for consideration. However, there are some mistakes that process operators often make that can be devastating for the performance of their equipment.
One rule to follow when addressing this frustrating issue is “DON’T COVER IT!”… Simply covering a hot spot with ceramic fiber blanket does not stop heat from exiting the unit. It simply disperses it to other areas, such as, the unit’s steel structure and possibly critical mechanical components. Dispersing this heat can cause hot spots to grow which can decrease refractory anchor adhesion and strength in furnace roofs or walls. This chain of events can cause a minor repair or a short outage to balloon quickly in size and duration.
When faced with this predicament, it is best to pack, grout, caulk, and/or stuff a hot-spot if accessible from the outside, or consider an online repair such as “hot gunning” from the inside if it is possible to access the area of concern.
In summary, don’t just throw some blanket over it. There are several considerations to make when determining the best way to address this issue.
Please contact Schad today if you are interested in learning more about strategies to help minimize the impact of hot spots.