Summary of Furnaces | Piping Analysis

00:00:00 - 00:35:00

This video discusses how furnaces work, how to start and shut them down, and how to prevent common equipment failures. It also covers how to inspect and test for leaks, and how to use a scanning electron microscope to analyze the furnace's pipework.

• 00:00:00 This program covers the principles of heat transfer and furnace equipment performance. It discusses how heat is produced in a furnace, and discusses how different types of heat transfer affect the rate at which heat is transferred.
• 00:05:00 The furnace is a custom-made device used to control the flow of heat and handle the load needed for the process. It is shaped like a house and is called an a-frame or cabin furnace. The inner walls of the furnace are lined with a material that reduces heat losses and reflects heat back onto the tubes. The burners in this design are located on the floor, and they can also be placed on the walls or the arch of the furnace. The air required for combustion enters the furnace through air registers located directly under the burners. The section directly above the burners is called the firebox. The firebox contains the flames in the furnace and does not let any unwanted air into the combustion zone. The radiant tubes are located in the firebox of the furnace and are in direct line with the burners so they receive most of their heat by radiation. The section of tubes above the burners is called the shock bank. These tubes receive both convection and radiant heat. Above the shock bank is the convection section sometimes called the economizer section because it extracts heat that would be otherwise wasted. The tubes in this area are heated by the hot flue gases before they leave the furnace stack. The process flow is sent through the tubes and is
• 00:10:00 This video discusses how furnaces work and how important certain variables, such as furnace draft, are in order to obtain the best results. It also covers topics such as excess oxygen levels and process flow rates. Finally, it explains how to adjust air registers and peekholes to control these variables.
• 00:15:00 The first step in furnaces startup is to check that the pilot and main fuel systems are blinded. This is done by turning off the power to the furnace and checking that the pilot fires correctly. Once the pilot is working, the furnace can be lit and placed into normal operating mode. Flame stability, draft, and oxygen levels are all important factors to be monitored during startup.
• 00:20:00 The furnace must be cleared of debris and closed, then inspected for readiness for startup. The process flow rate and firing rate are gradually reduced together, and when minimum firing has been reached, the process is shut off and the furnace is purged. The furnace is then blocked and the fuel systems are purged. The process flow is then continued to cool the tubes slowly. Next, the stack damper and air registers are opened to purge the furnace, and the process is then blocked. Finally, the furnace is purged and all burners are isolated.
• 00:25:00 In this video, furnace startup and shutdown procedures are reviewed, along with how to detect and correct common problems. Flame impingement and hot spots are also discussed. If the furnace is burning oil, soot will gradually accumulate on the outside of the convection tubes. A stationary or retractable soot blower can be used to clean the tubes.
• 00:30:00 This video covers the basics of furnace operation, including how heat is transferred and combustion occurs. It also covers common equipment failures, such as fan failures, valve failures, and burner failures. The video concludes with advice on how to prevent furnace shutdowns.
• 00:35:00 In this video, a furnace is inspected and tested for leaks and pipework problems. The furnace's pipework is then analyzed using a scanning electron microscope to determine the cause of the leaks.