Ovens In The Industrial Sector

How would you describe an industrial oven to someone who has never used one?

A high-temperature industrial oven is a tool for heat treating objects, conditioning metals, and curing metal coatings. Most industrial ovens are either continuous or batch. A batch industrial oven does exactly what its name implies: it bakes a large number of things at once. Continuous industrial ovens, which can both heat and cool, are used in big manufacturing facilities.

It all depends on how industrial ovens are used. Gas, electric, steam, hot water, microwave, or batch or conveyor loading of fuel oil are all options for industrial ovens.

Product loading and airflow patterns are critical to an industrial oven's performance. Different products and loading methods necessitate different airflow configurations. To spread heat, convection is employed.

 

A wide array of industrial ovens are available

The purpose of an industrial oven dictates the kind and description of the appliance. Powder and metallic surfaces react chemically in curing ovens. Drying ovens are used to remove moisture from raw materials. Other industrial ovens are used to remove impurities, prepare metals for further processing, and melt metals in combination.

 

Industrial ovens are available in a wide range of sizes and forms

Due to the constant development of new industrial ovens, it is nearly impossible to include them all. A unique manufacturing process necessitates the development of specialized ovens. Listed below are the most common types of industrial ovens manufactured by companies.

 

The electric industrial ovens

Electric ovens heat up rapidly, have precise temperature controls, and are affordable. Aluminum, for example, which may discolor when heated by gas, is a good candidate for their use.

 

Direct-fired ovens

It is more expensive to build gas industrial ovens, but it is less expensive to run as gas is cheaper than electricity. In comparison to electric or infrared ovens, they are less expensive to run since they heat up faster and maintain temperatures more consistently for longer. Gas industrial ovens are powered by either natural gas or propane gas. Their varied duties include the curing of steel coatings and the manufacture of automotive parts like brake pads and linings.

 

Curing ovens

In industrial ovens, powder or paint adheres to metals. Rubber, plastic, and metal may all be hardened with their help. Various types and sizes of curing industrial ovens are available for a wide range of applications. They are powered by electricity, UV rays, hot oil, steam, or natural gas, and they are made of steel insulated panels and frames with steel frames. There is a wide range of temperature in curing ovens, however most may reach 800° F (426° C).

 

Clothes drying ovens

Heat treating metal for extrusion and sterilizing medical equipment are some of the uses of drying ovens. Powders, grains, and electronic components can be baked in these vacuum ovens that use natural or forced convection. When using an oven to remove moisture, the product's moisture content is taken into consideration.

 

Batch-processing ovens

There are a variety of batch ovens to choose from, ranging in size and shape to fit the task. Electric or gas burners can be used to heat them, and they can be bench-top or walk-in. Batch industrial ovens release trapped gas, preserving the quality of the final product.

 

Conveyorized ovens

For large-scale production, conveyor ovens, also known as continuous ovens, can run at varying speeds. An exhaust hood, a cooling area, and numerous heat zones are all provided. Conveyor ovens are used for drying, curing, annealing, stress relief, bonding, tempering, preheating, and shaping. Simple integration into a production or assembly line makes use of their conveyor belt technology. Automated and adaptable, conveyor industrial ovens provide a significant amount of output.

 

How does a large industrial oven work?

When considering how an industrial oven works, the first thing to examine is the type of fuel utilized to heat the oven, which can include hot water, direct and indirect gas, ultraviolet light, steam, or electricity.

As a second factor, the airflow pattern in industrial ovens is critical.

• For items that are piled or hung from the ceiling, use horizontal racking.
• Ceiling ducts return air both horizontally and vertically.
• In a vertical/horizontal arrangement, return ducts on the walls carry incoming air back to the ceiling.
• According to whether they are vertical/top down or bottom up, parts are hung or arranged on perforated shelves. Air from the ducts is returned to the system through the return supply.
• There must be minimal obstructions and a continuous flow of air in order to maintain a stable oven temperature.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) divides industrial ovens into two categories: Class B ovens that do not treat volatile chemicals or solvents, and Class A ovens that do. Manufacturers of industrial ovens must adhere to the NFPA 86 Code Book's regulations.

 

What are industrial ovens used for?

There are several uses for industrial ovens, from coating minuscule electronic components to baking the final coatings on aircraft and automobile parts. They aid in the removal and confinement of contaminants by reducing humidity in cleanrooms.

 

Industrial ovens can be used in a variety of ways

Industrial ovens are used for a wide variety of tasks. Increasing product performance and reliability have made them a need in all forms of manufacturing. The following is a short list of some of the most widely used programs.

 

Sterilization

Industrial ovens are used to sterilize medical equipment and instruments, as exemplified by the dry heat sterilizer shown below. The medical industry needs equipment with precise temperature control in order to eradicate germs, bacteria, and viruses. Precision controls are included in industrial ovens, which are better adapted to the environment.

 

The conveyor, batch, and laboratory ovens

Because of their large capacity and long lifespan, industrial facilities frequently employ batch or conveyor ovens. When it comes to small-scale testing or treatment, laboratory ovens can meet the same standards as industrial ovens.

While the three types of industrial ovens differ in many ways, it is useful to have a basic grasp of each, especially when determining which oven is best for your production needs.

It is important to know the difference between an industrial oven and an industrial furnace when selecting a kind of production heating, as the two are often confused.

 

Differentiating between industrial ovens based on kind

Research ovens

Forced volume thermal convection is used in laboratory ovens to maintain stable temperatures. Other methods include annealing, die-bond cure, drying, Polyimide bake, and sterilizing. Standard volumes range from one cubic foot up through one hundred and twenty-two cubic feet at temperatures above 350 degrees Celsius.

Laboratory ovens may do drying, heating, thermal testing, and aging, just to name a few. Their versatility makes them useful in testing labs, educational facilities and industrial facilities.

Unlike industrial batch ovens, laboratory ovens include latched doors, pressure release panels and stainless steel interiors, as well as solid-state controls and contactors.

 

Equipment for the production of baked goods

Batch ovens may reach temperatures as high as 1250°F (676°C). There are a wide variety of batch ovens available, ranging in size from a few cubic feet to several cubic feet. There is a digital controller and control panel on the interior of the aluminum-steel structure. The ducting is adjustable and the outside is painted. One of the most important differences between laboratory industrial ovens and batch ovens is that batch ovens can handle much larger quantities at extremely high temperatures.