U-type cover plate cylindrical casting with slot openings - heat-resistant steel for cement preheater system - ZHILI foundry
U-Type Cover Plate ISO 9001:2015 SSAB Hardox Authorized

U-Type Cover Plate

Heat-resistant steel U-type cover plates for cement plant preheater dip tubes and meal pipes. Protective sleeve design with inspection windows for high-temperature zones. Temperature rating 900-1050 C

Material ZG35Cr24Ni7SiN / ZG40Cr25Ni12Si2 / ZG30Cr26Ni5
Service Temperature 900-1050 C
Full Compatibility FLSmidth, KHD, Polysius, Sinoma, IKN
Certification ISO 9001:2015 Certified
30+ Years of Manufacturing
500+ Global Clients
15 Days Lead Time
NO MOQ Custom OEM/ODM
U-Type Cover Plate – Material Specifications | ZHILI

U-Type Cover Plate

Material Specifications & Selection Guide

Grade Standard Max Temp Wall Thickness Key Feature Application
ZG35Cr24Ni7SiN GB/T 8492 1050 C 8-20 mm Nitrogen-strengthened, best creep & erosion resistance Stage 4-5 dip tube cover plates, hot zone
ZG40Cr25Ni20Si2 GB/T 8492 1050 C 8-20 mm Superior oxidation resistance, highest Ni Calciner dip tube covers, heavy-duty sleeves
ZG40Cr25Ni12Si2 GB/T 8492 1000 C 8-18 mm Balanced thermal fatigue & cost Stage 3-4 standard cover plates
ZG30Cr26Ni5 GB/T 8492 950 C 6-15 mm Cost-effective, good thermal shock resistance Stage 1-3 cover plates, lighter-duty
ZG30Cr20Ni10 GB/T 8492 900 C 6-12 mm Economical for cooler zones Stage 1-2 cover plates, top-stage
Grade C (%) Cr (%) Ni (%) Si (%) Mn (%) N (%) P/S Max
ZG35Cr24Ni7SiN 0.30-0.40 23.0-26.0 6.0-8.0 1.30-2.00 0.50-1.50 0.15-0.25 0.040
ZG40Cr25Ni20Si2 0.35-0.45 24.0-27.0 19.0-22.0 1.50-2.50 0.50-1.50 0.040
ZG40Cr25Ni12Si2 0.35-0.45 24.0-27.0 11.0-14.0 1.50-2.50 0.50-1.50 0.040
ZG30Cr26Ni5 0.25-0.35 24.0-28.0 4.0-6.0 1.00-2.00 0.50-1.50 0.040
Grade Tensile (MPa) Yield (MPa) Elong. (%) Hardness (HBW) Density
ZG35Cr24Ni7SiN 480 245 8 170-220 7.75
ZG40Cr25Ni20Si2 450 235 8 180-240 7.75
ZG40Cr25Ni12Si2 440 220 6 180-230 7.70
ZG30Cr26Ni5 450 235 10 170-220 7.80

Selection Quick Reference

  • Stage 5 / calciner dip tube (950-1050 C, heavy erosion): ZG35Cr24Ni7SiN — nitrogen-strengthened for maximum creep strength and abrasion resistance in high-velocity gas streams
  • Calciner / tertiary air duct (900-1050 C, oxidative): ZG40Cr25Ni20Si2 — highest Ni content (20%) for sustained oxidation resistance with long service life
  • Stage 3-4 dip tube (800-950 C): ZG40Cr25Ni12Si2 — balanced performance, standard choice for mid-stage preheater protective sleeves
  • Stage 1-2 dip tube (650-850 C): ZG30Cr26Ni5 — cost-effective with good thermal shock resistance for cooler zones
  • All grades supplied with inspection window cutouts per specification, compatible with FLSmidth, KHD, Polysius, Sinoma, IKN preheater designs

Certifications & Authorizations

Quality you can verify. Partners you can trust.

National Invention Patent Certificate — Multi-hammer Sand Mold Casting Process — Luoyang Zhili ZL 2016 1 0056588.5
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certificate — Luoyang Zhili New Materials — GICG UK Certified IAF Accredited Valid until 2027

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U-Type Cover Plate – FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is a U-Type Cover Plate and where is it used in the preheater system?

The U-Type Cover Plate is a cylindrical protective sleeve installed around dip tubes and meal pipes in cement plant suspension preheaters. It serves three critical functions:

  • Thermal protection: Shields the dip tube structure from direct flame and high-temperature gas impingement, reducing metal temperature at the tube surface by 100-150 C.
  • Erosion barrier: Acts as a sacrificial wear layer against abrasive raw meal particles in high-velocity gas streams (15-25 m/s). Cover plates are designed to be replaced independently without changing the entire dip tube.
  • Inspection access: The U-shaped profile with inspection windows allows visual inspection and measurement of internal dip tube condition without removing the entire assembly.
Temperature Shield
-100 to -150 C
Gas Velocity
15-25 m/s
Typical Wall
8-15 mm
Replacement Life
12-24 months

Key advantage: Cover plates are bolted/slip-fit designs that can be replaced during a short maintenance stop, avoiding costly full dip tube replacements. Keep one spare set per preheater stage in inventory.

2 How do I measure and specify a replacement U-Type Cover Plate for my preheater?

Cover plates are custom-fit to your specific dip tube geometry. To ensure a perfect replacement, please provide the following measurements:

  • Dip tube outer diameter (OD): The cover plate ID must match the dip tube OD with a 3-5 mm clearance for thermal expansion and easy installation.
  • Cover plate length: Overall sleeve length from top flange to bottom edge. Also specify the position and dimensions of any inspection windows.
  • Wall thickness: Standard is 8-15 mm. Thicker walls (15-20 mm) are available for high-erosion zones but add weight — verify dip tube support structure can handle the additional load.
  • Mounting method: Bolted flange, slip-fit with retaining lugs, or welded tabs. Include flange bolt pattern (number of bolts, PCD) for bolted designs.
Cover Plate OD
300-3000 mm
Length
500-4000 mm
Wall Thickness
8-20 mm
Max Weight
2000 kg

No drawings? Send us the dip tube model and preheater stage number. Our engineers can reverse-engineer from the cyclone geometry or from photos and measurements of your existing worn cover plate.

3 What is the typical service life and what are the signs that a cover plate needs replacement?

Cover plates are wear components designed to protect the more expensive dip tube structure. Their service life depends on temperature, gas velocity, and raw meal abrasiveness:

Stage 5 (Hottest)
8,000-15,000 hrs
Stage 4
12,000-20,000 hrs
Stage 3
15,000-25,000 hrs
Stage 1-2 (Cooler)
20,000-30,000 hrs

Key replacement triggers — inspect during every annual shutdown:

  • Wall thinning >50%: Measure remaining wall thickness with ultrasonic thickness gauge. When half the original wall is gone, plan for replacement at the next opportunity.
  • Through-wall cracking: Any crack that penetrates more than 60% of the wall thickness is a critical defect. Thermal cycling fatigue cracks are normal, but penetrating cracks require immediate attention.
  • Window edge erosion: The inspection window edges are high-wear points. If the window opening has enlarged by more than 10 mm from original, gas bypass is occurring.
  • Mounting point looseness: Loose flanges or retaining lugs indicate thermal creep deformation. This can lead to cover plate detachment if not addressed.

Life extension tip: Rotate cover plates 180 degrees during annual maintenance if wear is concentrated on one side (typically the gas-on side). This doubles effective service life before replacement is required.

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