Car Bottom Furnaces

Overview

Hornos Tipo Carro are car-bottom furnaces offered in sizes from 1 m³ - 700 m³ (35 ft³ to 24,500 ft³) with a temperature range from 120°C to 1,350°C (250°F to 2460°F). They are designed to meet standards AMS, CQI-9, ASTM, ASME, API and can be configured for natural gas and LP fuel with electrical configurations available. Construction features include a robust steel structure and refractory construction, refractory designs for heavy-duty service with high thermal shock resistance, and sections lined with fiber using the Jointless® system. Perimeter sealing is provided by fiber lift seals actuated by pneumatic cylinders and mechanical means, and door perimeter sealing can be achieved using compressible refractory materials. Control and efficiency features described include design compliance with AMS 2750F (tolerance up to Class 1 if required), an advanced heat-recovery system claiming 10% to 70% energy savings versus a cold-air system, pulse combustion (IMPS™), hermetic sealing options for pressure control to optimize regenerative burners, and car tracking with variable-frequency drives (VFD) for smooth acceleration and deceleration. Capacity and handling options include designs to process loads from less than 1000 lb (450 kg) up to 350 T (320 000 kg), multiple-car and multi-door configurations, various material handling and automation options, high-convection and reverse-flow air systems, and preheater units with gas indirect or electric heating. Explicit process applications listed include aging of extruded aluminum products; aging of forged, cast and other fabricated aluminum parts; tempering/hardening of steel parts; stress-relief (PWHT) of steel components; curing, drying, coatings, and preheating. Preheater applications specified include preheating tools for hot assembly, pressing dies in forging plants, preheating charge before forging or heat treatment, precooking molds for hot coating, and preheating dies for aluminum castings, with non-burner designs that can use external hot-gas sources. Nutec Bickley supplies homogeneization systems for aluminum logs and billets treating diameters 6" to 14" (15 cm to 36 cm) in full lengths or sections, cooling chambers for controlled quench/refrigeration with air or air/water mist options, and heavy-duty car-bottom furnaces intended for PWHT of large welded steel fabrications such as railcar tanks, vessels, large boiler parts, heat-exchanger components and large machinery pieces; processing capacity ranges from under 1000 lb (450 kg) up to 350 T (320 000 kg).