Ceramic Fiber Board | Hot Blast Stove Backup Insulation Solution | Metallurgical Industry | CCEWOOL®

A hot blast stove is an essential part of a blast furnace ironmaking system, used to preheat the combustion air supplied to the blast furnace. High-temperature flue gas first transfers heat to the checker bricks, which store the heat. During the subsequent blowing cycle, cold air is heated to approximately 2000–2400°F (1090–1315°C) and then delivered to the blast furnace through the hot blast outlet, hot blast main, and bustle pipe.

Because the dome, combustion chamber, regenerator, and hot blast delivery system operate under different temperatures and structural conditions, hot blast stove linings normally require a zoned design:
Refractory Working Lining + Backup Insulation Layer + Flexible Sealing and Expansion Compensation
Refractory bricks and castables provide hot-face refractoriness, mechanical strength, and resistance to gas erosion. CCEWOOL® Ceramic Fiber Board, Blanket, Paper, Rope, Tape, and Bulk are used for backup insulation, gap filling, and sealing at complex connection points.

Dome: High-Temperature Backup Insulation and Curved-Structure Adaptation

The dome is one of the high-temperature areas of a hot blast stove. The hot face is commonly lined with silica brick, high-alumina brick, mullite brick, or other refractory products suited to the operating conditions.

Behind the refractory lining, the following product can be selected according to the actual interface temperature:
CCEWOOL® 1430°C Ceramic Fiber Board

The board can be fabricated into curved, segmented, or transition components to better match the dome structure. This helps reduce heat loss through the stove roof and control the steel shell temperature. Ceramic Fiber Blanket or Paper can also be used at joints and transition areas.

Combustion Chamber: Reducing Heat Transfer Through the Stove Wall

The combustion chamber is continuously exposed to high-temperature flue gas and cyclic thermal loading. Its hot face is normally constructed with refractory brick or castable.

The backup area can use:
CCEWOOL® 1400°C Ceramic Fiber Board
Its main functions are to reduce outward heat transfer through the stove wall, minimize heat loss, and help control the steel shell temperature. Ceramic Fiber Blanket or Bulk can be used to fill wall joints and localized gaps.

Checker Chamber: Zoned Product Selection by Temperature Area

The checker chamber stores and releases heat, with temperatures generally decreasing from the upper section to the lower section. Backup insulation should therefore be selected by temperature zone:
Upper High-Temperature Zone: 1400°C Ceramic Fiber Board
Localized Higher-Temperature Areas: 1430°C Ceramic Fiber Board
Middle and Lower Zones: 1260°C Ceramic Fiber Board

Ceramic Fiber Board does not replace checker bricks. Checker bricks are responsible for heat storage and heat exchange, while the ceramic fiber board is installed as backup insulation behind the surrounding refractory wall to reduce outward heat loss.

Hot Blast Outlet and Piping System: Thermal Insulation Combined with Custom Fabrication

The hot blast outlet, hot blast main, and bustle pipe transport high-temperature air and include complex structures such as circular pipes, elbows, and reducers.

Products can be selected according to the actual operating temperature:
Hot Blast Outlet: 1400°C Ceramic Fiber Board
Hot Blast Main / Bustle Pipe: 1260°C Ceramic Fiber Board

The board can be fabricated into curved, ring-shaped, and segmented components to better match the piping dimensions. Blanket, Paper, or Rope can be used at board joints, flanges, and transition points to maintain insulation continuity and reduce heat loss.

Valves, Flanges, and Expansion Joints: Flexible Sealing and Compensation

Valves, flanges, expansion joints, and movable connections must accommodate thermal movement and mechanical displacement, making flexible fiber products more suitable for these areas.
Ceramic Fiber Blanket
Used for larger gaps and flexible filling;
Ceramic Fiber Paper
Used for thin interfaces and gaskets;
Ceramic Fiber Rope
Used for grooves, annular connections, and compression sealing;
Ceramic Fiber Tape
Used for edges, flanges, and localized wrapping.
These products provide thermal insulation while allowing space for thermal expansion and structural movement.

Inspection Openings and Observation Ports: Shaped Boards and Removable Sealing

Inspection openings, manholes, observation ports, and thermocouple openings usually have complex structures and may require repeated removal during maintenance.

Fixed areas can use 1260°C or 1400°C Ceramic Fiber Board, fabricated according to drawings into boards with openings, ring-shaped components, or other custom shapes.

Ceramic Fiber Paper, Rope, or Tape can be used around movable interfaces and cover edges to provide insulation, sealing, and easier maintenance access.

Zoned Product Configuration for a Complete Hot Blast Stove Insulation System

In hot blast stove projects, CCEWOOL® does not simply use ceramic fiber products to replace all conventional refractory materials. Instead, products are selected according to the actual function of each area:
Refractory Brick / Castable
Provides hot-face refractoriness, mechanical strength, and resistance to gas erosion;
Ceramic Fiber Board
Provides low-thermal-conductivity and stable rigid backup insulation;
Ceramic Fiber Blanket, Paper, and Rope
Provide flexible compensation and sealing for expansion joints, interfaces, and complex connection points.

Through the use of different temperature grades of ceramic fiber board, flexible Fabrication processing, and combinations of multiple fiber products, CCEWOOL® ceramic fiber insulation board can better meet the backup insulation requirements of the dome, combustion chamber, checker chamber, hot blast outlet, and hot blast main, providing a more efficient and stable high-temperature insulation solution for hot blast stove systems.