03.07.2009 News: Innovative kiln systems at Ceramitec 2009
Kiln systems are at the very heart of ceramics manufacture, as it is the process of firing that transforms the delicate 'green products' into ones with special and even outstanding characteristics. But because of the high energy consumption involved in firing, this process accounts for a considerable proportion of overall process costs.
The demands placed on kiln systems are as diverse as the different segments of the ceramic industry and its products. In heavy clay ceramics, for example, the focus is on large volumes and the reproducibility of results, whereas in fine ceramics, it’s flexibility that is important, for the diversified product lines and high demands on visual quality of the products. In the broad and growing field of technical ceramics, by contrast, the challenges are new materials and product ideas, high firing temperatures, different atmospheres and the harmful substances that are released. Nevertheless, all segments share the same interest in improving the energy efficiency of the entire firing process.
At Ceramitec in Munich, between 20 and 23 October 2009, the manufacturers of industrial kiln systems will be presenting creative solutions for process-optimised, energy-efficient firing, covering the different requirements of the different fields of ceramics.
The new and improved kiln and firing concepts on display will include, for example, the 3-channel roller kiln, designed to cope with over 20,000 tonnes of porcelain per year, and the new high-temperature vacuum lock from Eisenmann for complex sintering processes in continuous kiln systems at temperatures of up to 1700° C. Riedhammer, Sama, Sacmi and Imerys are presenting a jointly developed technique for producing low-sintering porcelain in a single firing. Not new, but taken up by many plant manufacturers, is the use of heat recovery systems. This enables a certain quantity of energy to be used twice, i.e. returned to the process or utilised in other processes. Energy savings here can be as much as 25 percent.
The use of new-style burners and intelligent measurement, control and regulation systems promises precise, highly flexible firing processes and the highest level of energy efficiency. Sacmi, for example, has developed a firing process for tiles in which through regulation of flame length and intensity even temperatures can be achieved in the tunnel kiln and the atmosphere changed from oxidising to reducing. CTB ceramic technologie berlin combines newly developed 'True Blue' burner with its measurement, control and regulation systems. The critical factor in complex firing processes is the precision and speed with which the controls operate.
Not just in this segment is Ceramitec 2009 offering a broad range of products and innovations, it is also a great place for visitors to find out how to significantly improve flexibility, process accuracy and energy consumption including on existing plant, through the use of modern firing, measurement and control systems, 'light' kiln furniture and by eliminating energy eaters on kilns and kiln cars.
Messe München GmbH
Messegelände I 81823 München I Germany
T +49 (0) 89 94 91 13 78I Fax: +49 (0) 89 94 91 13 79
info@ceramitec.de I www.ceramitec.de
