Indirect Fired Flat Radiant Panels

During the last two decades, global energy and market conditions have motivated the thermal processing industry to improve energy utilization in order to remain competitive. To meet these demands, research in the thermal processing industry has been directed toward one or more of the following: 1) improving process productivity, 2) improving process temperature uniformity, 3) improving product quality, 4) improving thermal efficiency, and 5) reducing air toxic emissions. The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT), Gaz de France (GDF) and the Gas Institute (GI) of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have joined to demonstrate and commercialize a technology developed by GI - an indirect gas-fired, low-inertia/high-efficiency furnace - which is consistent with and meets all five of the criteria above. The base technology has been evaluated for the heat treatment of products in the machine manufacturing industries (for example, gears, bolts, shafts, etc.). The technology, however, might also be feasible for indirect-fired drying applications (for example, powder paint and paper). The unique design of the low-inertia furnace, that utilizes high thermal efficiency indirect-fired flat radiant panels, promotes high heat-up rates, excellent temperature uniformity, high thermal efficiency, and low emissions. Thus by applying this technology, the end user can benefit from increased productivity, improved part quality, reduced fuel consumption, emissions abatement, and reduced capital and operating costs.