Furnace controls
AssigneeDavy McKee Equipment Corporation
InventorCharles A. Tooch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A furnace control for a reheating furnace or the like is disclosed. Desired material temperature parameters are established for at least one location within the furnace and predetermined heating rates are calculated to provide the desired temperatures. The furnace burners are set in accordance with the predetermined rates. Actual temperature readings of the material are taken in the furnace and compared to the desired temperatures. Revised heating rates are established on the basis of that comparison and the predetermined rates are replaced with the revised rates. The furnace burners are continuously adjusted and updated in accordance with the revised rates thereby increasing furnace efficiency and control.
Claims4
A furnace control for a furnace for heating a material having at least first and second adjacent independently temperature controlled heating zones through which blocks of material to be heated are consecutively transported in series comprising:
- (a) surface temperature sensing means mounted on the furnace in said second zone to directly measure the surface temperature of said material as it enters said second zone from said first zone;
- and
- (b) means responsive to said temperature sensing means for controlling the furnace temperature in said first zone.
The method of heating material in a furnace having at least first and second independently controlled heating zones through which blocks of material are consecutively transported in series comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing predetermined heating rates for said first zone calculated to provide a desired material surface temperature as the material enters said second zone from said first zone,
- (b) adjusting the furnace temperature in said first zone in accordance with said predetermined rates;
- (c) measuring the surface temperature of the material as it enters said second zone;
- and
- (d) adjusting the furnace temperature of said first zone responsive to surface temperature measurements taken in said second zone so as to produce said desired material surface temperature as the material enters said second zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.