Modern industrial furnaces with reduced energy consumption

The world wide increase of the energy prices in the year 2001 initiated a new evaluation of the primary energy consumption of heat treatment parts. Particularly in North America a huge modernisation potential is evident. By application of well proven technologies, new heat treatment plants may operate at 45% lower energy consumption. Recuperative air preheating, improved wall insulation and reduced protective gas consumption by new sluice technologies contribute mainly to the savings. Assuming a further increase of the gas price, there may be additional 15% of energy savings gained within the next decade. An economic comparison shows, that investments in energy saving technologies make the heat treatment industry less vulnerable, to changes in the energy prices.