Radiant heat insert

An insert for a radiant tube provided in a furnace for heating a material, the radiant tube comprising a passageway through which hot combustion gases flow and having a first side and a second side, the first side of the radiant tube positioned closest to the material being heated and the second side positioned farthest from the material being heated, the insert being configured for insertion into the passageway of the radiant tube and comprising:

• a first section adapted to absorb heat from combustion gases passing through the radiant tube and transfer the heat to a wall of the radiant tube, the first section comprising a tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end and defining a passageway within the tubular member;
• a projection extending from the exterior surface of the tubular member that acts to provide a gap between the exterior surface of the tubular member and an interior surface of the radiant tube;
• and
• a second section comprising a wing extending from an exterior surface of the tubular member,
• Wherein the wing has a first end corresponding to the first end of the tubular member and a second end corresponding to the second end of the tubular member and an exterior surface of the wing slopes from the first end of the wing to the second end of the wing to non-symmetrically direct heat and gases within the radiant tube, such that the heat and gases flow around the exterior of the tubular member and into the gap, and the first section and the second section of the inserts are together configured to direct heat from combustion gases passing through the radiant tube toward the first side of the first side of the radiant tube.