Rotary Tube Furnaces

ROTARY TUBE FURNACES – FAQ

WHAT MATERIALS ARE SUITABLE FOR A ROTARY TUBE FURNACE?

It is ideal for heat treating materials that stay fluid at high temperatures. We can process materials in either air or inert atmospheres. However, materials that become sticky at high temperatures aren’t suitable.

HOW MUCH MATERIAL CAN A ROTARY TUBULAR FURNACE HANDLE?

They operate as either batch or continuous processing furnaces. For batch processing, the capacity ranges from 620 to 1740 ml. In a continuous furnace, the quantity of material processed depends on the capacity of the feed or collection hopper, for example, up to 5 litres.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING A ROTARY TUBULAR FURNACE?

The continuous movement of the sample in a rotary tubular furnace ensures the whole surface area is exposed to the atmosphere during processing. This leads to improved gas diffusion, less gas consumption, and increased heat treatment efficiency compared to a static process. Moreover, in a continuous processing rotary tubular furnace, the material consistently moves through a heated furnace, ensuring a consistent temperature profile and better product uniformity.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR MATERIAL TO PASS THROUGH A ROTARY TUBE FURNACE?

The time it takes for material to pass through a rotary tube furnace can be widely adjusted. In the continuous rotary tube furnace, the material flow rate can be controlled by both the rotation speed of the work tube and the angle of the work tube inclination. Additionally, the process time is shorter as there is no need to wait for the furnace to heat up and cool down, unlike a batch process.

WHAT TYPE OF ATMOSPHERES CAN BE USED IN A ROTARY TUBE FURNACE?

The atmospheres within the work tube or vessel in both batch and continuous processing rotary tube furnaces can vary. Options include air, inert gases like nitrogen or argon, and reactive gases like hydrogen (with appropriate safety equipment). Steam injection is also an option.