Method of operating a continuous ceramic kiln
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsEric K. Riley, Colin D. Smith, Garry J. Yates, Norris W. Shepherd
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Abstract
A method of operating a continuous ceramic kiln having a decarbonization zone characterized in that oxygen or oxygen enriched air is added to the decarbonization zone to maintain the average oxygen concentration in the decarbonization zone at or about a predetermined level. The predetermined level need only be adjusted for different throughputs and need not be adjusted for moderate changes in the amount of organic matter in the clay.
Claims6
A method of decarbonizing shaped ceramic articles in an intermittent push continuous ceramic kiln having a heating and decarbonizing zone, a firing zone and a cooling zone fitted with means to sense the concentration of oxygen in the decarbonizing zone, said means associated with a control fitted to oxygen or oxygen enriched air injection means associated with said decarbonizing zone comprising the steps of:
- progressively heating said shaped ceramic articles to about 900.degree. C. in the decarbonizing zone to oxidize organic matter contained in the articles;
- maintaining the oxygen concentration of the decarbonization zone at a minimum level of 7.5% by volume between pushes as determined by the equation:
- ##EQU3## where C is the predetermined level at a point in the decarbonization zone;
- R.sub.1 is the throughput of clayware articles during satisfactory operation of the kiln without oxygen addition;
- A is the average oxygen concentration at said point during satisfactory operation of the kiln without oxygen addition at throughput rate R.sub.1 ;
- R.sub.2 is the new throughput of clayware articles;
- and
- X is between the limits of .gtoreq.0 and .ltoreq.0.5,
- by adding oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the decarbonization zone;
- continuing heating of said shaped ceramic articles until firing is completed;
- and
- cooling said shaped ceramic articles to ambient temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.