Use of clean fuels in burner-heated heat treatment furnaces

1 Use of clean fuels in burner-heated heat treatment furnaces 

A basic process-integrated measure for emission reduction in burner-heated heat treatment furnaces is the use of clean fuels i.e. natural gas or low-level sulphur content fuel. 

Additionally, automated furnace operation allows close control of the working regime and temperature and minimises excessive energy consumption. 

In an example foundry in Poland, up to 1998 the heat treatment was performed in 3 coal gas furnaces with manually controlled burners. The coal gas came direct from the coke oven and was of a variable quality (e.g. CO-content up to 15%). This resulted in high emissions and the risk of intoxication, together with a poor control of the temperature profile. 

In 1998, 2 of the 3 furnaces were newly equipped with computer controlled natural gas burners. Additionally the furnace lining was renewed. The results of these changes on the operation were  

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