The application of expansion joints in the carbon black industry

    In the carbon black industry, the application of expansion joints is mainly reflected in the energy-saving and consumption reduction aspects of carbon black production. Especially at the connection of the hot air pipeline from the outlet of the air preheater to the inlet of the reaction furnace, the expansion joint plays a crucial role.

    Air preheater is one of the main heat exchange equipment in carbon black production. It can preheat the required air from 100 ℃ to around 800 ℃, and at the same time, cool the carbon black flue gas from 950 ℃ to around 660 ℃. This preheating process not only increases the sensible heat value of the air, but also reduces the amount of fuel replenishment required in the carbon black production process, thereby reducing the energy consumption of carbon black production. However, due to changes in the temperature of the flue gas fluid, the thermal expansion coefficient of equipment such as the reactor and hot air pipeline may be inconsistent, which requires the installation of expansion joints at the outlet of the air preheater and the connection between the hot air pipeline and the reactor.

    The main function of expansion joints is to absorb the length and size changes of pipes, containers, and other equipment caused by temperature changes, thereby eliminating thermal stress, reducing cold shrinkage, and avoiding noise or environmental impact caused by pipe vibration. In the production of carbon black, this expansion joint not only ensures the stable operation of equipment, but also effectively reduces heat loss, improves insulation performance, further reduces fuel replenishment, and thus reduces energy consumption in carbon black production.

    Specifically, regarding the structural design of the expansion joint, an energy-saving expansion joint used for carbon black production adopts a design of corrugated pipes and gasket rings. The corrugated protrusions on the corrugated pipe and the inner lining structure inside the corrugated pipe enable energy-saving expansion, while ensuring the existing expansion stress, significantly reducing heat loss and improving insulation performance. At the same time, the gasket rings on both sides of the corrugated pipe form an interference fit with the corrugated pipe, further enhancing the performance of the expansion joint.

    In summary, the application of expansion joints in the carbon black industry is mainly achieved by optimizing the heat exchange and pipeline connection during the carbon black production process, reducing heat loss, improving energy utilization efficiency, and thus achieving energy conservation and consumption reduction in carbon black production.