Keller's Rapid Firing Tunnel Kilns for Waalsteenfabriek De Bijlandt

摘要

In the Netherlands the production of soft-mud pavers has been a tradition for centuries. Today, however, the demands on these pavers regarding dimensional accuracy, stability of shape and water absorption are so high that the method of production - and in particular the firing process in the Dutch intermitted kiln giving this paver its typical feature - has to be technically optimized. When developing a new firing method for Waalsteenfabriek De Bijland in Tolkhammer, Keller was faced with the problem of eliminating the disadvantages of Dutch intermitted kilns, viz. 1. varying quality grades obtained from this type of kiln resulting in 2. expensive manual sorting and 3. considerable consumption. As a result of the analyses and tests made by Keller two rapid firing kilns, approx. 100 m in length, with a setting height of only 400 mm were built. Now pavers of permanently good and, above all, uniform quality are fired in 36 hours. The energy consumption has been reduced to a minimum. The change-over of firing to this progressive method required the adaptation of transport of dried and fired products.