Possibilities and limitations of energy saving in tunnel kilns

Over the past years energy saving and reduction of emissions have become more and more important in the brick industry, in particular with regard to the ­rising costs for energy and the trade in emission certificates. Thus plant manufacturers are currently concentrating their activities in the energetic optimization of the large-scale consumers of fossil fuels – the dryers and kilns. In this respect the potential for optimization is still far from having been exhausted. In addition, the continuous increase in energy costs will even lead to the realization of projects which previously have been rejected as economically less efficient. Simulating calculations are increasingly utilized in the design of new plants as well as for the optimization of existing dryers and kilns. The Lingl-developed software for tunnel kiln process simulations enables the detection of the customers‘ individual energetic saving potentials. Selected examples shall show that the success of the individual saving measures strongly depends on the conditions in the factory and that the measures result in varying amounts of potential savings. One of the examples was taken to compare the potential savings with the required investments and their profitability.

1 Introduction

During the recent decades main focus was laid on the investment costs when planning the erection of new plants or the modification of existing factories. The operating costs were only considered to a minor degree. Some of the reasons ­stated were that future increases in energy costs were not assessable in advance or additional investments would exceed the available budget.

The costs for energy and raw material are continuously rising and increase the operational costs of plants. This trend leads to a process of economical reconsideration. Current developments show that already...

Related articles:

Issue 03/2013 Ceric Technologies

Clean energy and lower consumption

Energy is now the primary focus of the research efforts made by Ceric Technologies with the aim of developing new technologies for the clay brick and tile industry. These research activities cover...

more

Concept of a new low-energy tunnel kiln for energy saving and production efficiency

Direxa Engineering, LLC, an engineering company based in Colorado, USA, and specializing in heat treatment for various industries, and its R&D projects partners Ceritherm and Seipia, both French...

more
Issue 7/2015

Concept of a new low-energy tunnel kiln for energy saving and production efficiency

Direxa Engineering, LLC, an engineering company based in Colorado, USA, and specializing in heat treatment for various industries, and its R&D projects partners Ceritherm and Seipia, both French...

more
Issue 1-2/2012

New tunnel kiln with energy-saving high-efficiency burner system for ­Indonesian plant in Surabaya

In 2008, Pabrik Genteng Keramik “Good Year” in Surabaya, Indonesia, decided to build a tunnel kiln in cooperation with Keller HCW GmbH. Pabrik Genteng Keramik, a medium-sized enterprise, has been...

more
Issue 6/2020 Eckard Rimpel, Anne Giese, Tim Nowakowski, Tim Schneider, Markus Martl, Christian Siefke, Florian Scherer, Tobias Bem

Improving energy efficiency with the use of hot cooling air in a new combustion concept

1 Starting situation and background In the clay brick and tile industry, modern tunnel kilns achieve the process control necessary to handle high capacities and obtain consistent product qualities...

more