OPTIMIZATION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF INDUSTRIAL FURNACES

摘要

Substantial advances in recent years have been made in combustion engineering and the recovery of heat from flue gas for preheating combustion air. Flameless oxidation, direct fuel gas injection (Japan) and the development of ceramic self-recuperative and regenerative burners are examples of innovative developments. These systems allow combustion efficiencies of up to 85%. They have not yet become state-of-the-art in furnace engineering in Germany. The objective of a new R & D project is to develop a new generation of furnaces which differs from state-of-the-art installations by a reduction in size of up to 30%, a decrease in energy consumption of up to 30% and compliance with very strict environmental standards. The new combustion systems will allow a notable increase in heat transfer from the furnace chamber to the load and at the same time a considerable decrease in flue gas losses. Following the completion of the R & D project, the new industrial furnaces will be built and tested in a demonstration project. The resulting data will be available for use in a wide range of industrial sectors. The project will therefore strengthen the competitiveness of gas, because decisions by industry to purchase the new gas-fired high-performance furnaces will help to secure the share of gas in the industrial energy market.