Recording of temperatures and heat accumulation in masonry in a continuous kiln used to produce ceramic materials

Abstract

Abstract In Ocaña, Colombia, a traditional ceramic industry has been developed using low efficiency kilns without controls in the combustion processes, which generate large heat losses. As a result, it was necessary to implement a virtual instrument to monitor temperatures in the firing process. For the study, a continuous Hoffman kiln, and the temperature acquisition was carried out in two combustion chambers and lasted twenty-four hours. In the kiln firing process, the energy supplied due to coal combustion was 22198×106 KJ, while the heat accumulated in the kiln roof, walls and floor was 14452.6×106 KJ, 1085.71×106 KJ and 164.72×106 KJ respectively. The total heat stored in the masonry was 15703.03×106 KJ, representing 70.73 % of the energy supplied. Due to the material used in the construction of the kiln, the accumulated heat is high, and it is necessary to implement coatings using ceramic fibers on the kiln walls, keeping the temperature constant in the firing process and leading to a decrease in heat accumulation of about 20 %. Also, air, fuel, temperature, and pressure injection systems should be implemented.