This paper describes efforts performed at Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory (ORNL), in collaboration with industrial refractorymanufacturers, refractory users, and academic institutions, toimprove energy efficiency of U.S. industry through increasedfurnace efficiency brought about by the employment of novelrefractory systems and techniques. Work in furnace applicationsrelated to aluminum, gasification, and lime are discussed. Theenergy savings strategies discussed are achieved throughreduction of chemical reactions, elimination of mechanicaldegradation caused by the service environment, reduction oftemperature limitations of materials, and elimination of costlyinstallation and repair needs. Key results of several case studiesresulting from a US Department of Energy (DOE) fundedresearch program are discussed with emphasis on applicability ofthese results to high temperature furnace applications.
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