Standard thermal processing equipment can be limiting in terms of device architecture and geometry. Specialist equipment manufacturers typically require a bespoke solution to guarantee optimal processing conditions for products and components that are chemically-sensitive or of a difficult scale. Custom industrial furnaces enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to tailor production lines to their unique thermal processing requirements. Improved automation, controlled environments, and unique accessibility features are just a few challenges that Thermcraft has resolved with our custom industrial furnaces.
In a previous blog post, we explored 4 Custom Industrial Furnace Types from Thermcraft. This week, we are exploring two more custom furnaces with unique operational features to overcome distinct processing challenges.
Hydrogen Atmosphere Furnaces
Controlled atmosphere furnaces are used to blanket process conditions with a desirable mixture of inert or catalytic gases. Successful gas integration requires accurate real-time atmospheric controls to ensure uniform gas flows throughout the processing chamber and mitigate the formation of undesirable compounds or hazardous off-gases.
Thermcraft has designed a custom industrial furnace for high temperature, hydrogen (H2) atmosphere processing. This application can be problematic, as the combustive nature of hydrogen represents a significant safety risk for furnace operators. It is also a highly reactive gas that can attack heating elements manufactured from refractory ceramics such as silicon carbide (SiC) or molybdenum discilicide (MoSi2).
We negated these risks by integrating our hydrogen atmosphere custom industrial furnace with a humidity control system that simultaneously introduces humidity to the processing chamber. An intuitive temperature control provides in-situ hydrogen, moisture, and temperature monitoring and control to maintain optimal operating conditions throughout processing, maximising process yield and safety.
Large-Volume Rod Overbend Furnaces
A rod overbend furnace is an electric instrument equipped with serpentine alloy heaters, which can be spaced in extremely versatile configurations. These can be installed into a standard box chamber for total thermal uniformity, providing exceptional batch-to-batch reproducibility and reliable product yields.
Thermcraft has engineered a large-volume custom industrial box furnace equipped with highly efficient rod overbend heating elements. With an electrical power of 150 kW, this large-volume furnace can generate net temperatures of 1093°C (2000°F) across a large internal heating chamber. The expansive volume of this custom industrial furnace was tailored for larger components that must be loaded by forklift. We facilitated this with a side swing door and slots in the base of the processing chamber, enabling easy loading and unloading of products.
Custom Industrial Furnaces from Thermcraft
Thermcraft specializes in the design, manufacture, and supply of custom industrial furnaces for a range of application areas. We have decades of experience in tailoring our outstanding product line to customer specifications, with state-of-the-art design software ensuring full customization from the simplest of components to the full-scale furnace.
If you would like any more information about our manufacturing capabilities or would like to discuss your custom industrial furnace requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.