Innovative Wire Conveyor Drive System in Industrial Infrared Furnaces

Alper Keleşoğlu

Sistem Teknik Sanayi Fırınları A.Ş.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7139-6653

Esra Bayır

Sistem Teknik Sanayi Fırınları A.Ş.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5853-3905

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56038/oprd.v1i1.158

Keywords: Infrared, Industrial Furnace, Wire Conveyor, Innovation


Abstract

The main heat transfer mechanism in industrial infrared furnaces is the radiation. Thus, the view factor between the thermal power source infrared resistance and the material exposed to heat treatment is important. In traditional infrared furnaces wire mesh conveyors are preferred, but because the wire mesh conveyor is very frequent, heating can only be applied towards one surface of the material. For this reason, the conveyor speed is slowed down or the useful length of the furnace is increased in order to achieve temperature homogeneity and the desired capacity, especially on thick-section materials. With the innovative independent driven wire conveyor system developed within the scope of the study, different from traditional furnaces, heating can be applied bidirectionally, and thus, it has become possible to manufacture more compact furnaces. In addition, with the spare wires included in the conveyor system, in case of a possible malfunction or breakage, wire replacement is facilitated and maintenance times are reduced to a minimum. The aforementioned wire conveyor system has been protected by a patent application.


References

Brown, K. J., Farrelly, R., O’Shaughnessy, S.M., & Robinson, A.J. (2016). Energy efficiency of electrical infrared heating elements. Applied Energy, 162, 581-588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.064

Ceramicx,. (n.d.) https://ceramicxsolutions.com/heating-solutions/oven-process/conveying/.html

Labeas, G.N., Watiti, C.H., & Katsiropoulos, V. (2008). Thermomechanical Simulation of Infrared Heating Diaphragm Forming Process for Thermoplastic Parts. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 21(4), 353-370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0892705708089480

Monteix, S., Schmidt, F., Le Maoult, Y., Ben Yedder, R., Diraddo, R.W., & Laroche D. (2001). Experimental study and numerical simulation of preform or sheet exposed to infrared radiative heating, 119, 90-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(01)00882-2

Witek, K., Piotrowski, T., & Skwarek, A. (2012). Analysis of polymer foil heaters as infrared radiation sources. Materials Science and Engineering B, 177, 1373-1377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2012.03.046