Furnace and method for operating a furnace

A method for operating a furnace including a plurality of heating channels and furnace chambers, the furnace chambers configured to receive carbonaceous bodies and the heating channels configured to control temperature of the furnace chambers, the furnace comprising at least one furnace unit,

• wherein the at least one furnace unit includes a heating zone, a fire zone and a cooling zone, each of which is formed by at least one section comprising the furnace chambers,
• wherein a suction ramp of the at least one furnace unit is disposed in a section of the heating zone, and a burner ramp of the at least one furnace unit is disposed in a section of the fire zone,
• the method comprising:
• heating process air in the heating channels of the fire zone by means of the burner ramp,
• suctioning exhaust gas from the heating channels of the heating zone by means of the suction ramp,
• wherein an operation of the burner ramp and the suction ramp is controlled by means of a control device of the furnace unit,
• and further comprising:
• with the control device,
• determining respective enthalpy flow rates for at least two sections of the furnace unit
• determining a characteristic representing a difference of the respective enthalpy flow rates,
• comparing said characteristic to a presupposed characteristic, and
• defining a status of the furnace based on a result of said comparing.