CASE STUDY: Efficient Firing Solution
September 1, 2008
Kromschröder burners and controls are meeting the expanding needs of a fused silica crucible manufacturer.
A division of Ceradyne, Inc., Ceradyne Thermo Materials, located in Clarkston, Ga., is a world leader in providing fused silica products for high-tech industries. A recent facility expansion was undertaken in response to the solar energy industry’s demand for photovoltaic silicon solar cells, which represent an important energy source for the future. The facility manufactures fused silica crucibles used in the photovoltaics process.
Kromschröder UK provided high-velocity BIC burners and combustion controls used to create the fused silica casting crucibles. The kiln was designed by Drayton Beaumont, Staffordshire, England, and the combustion solution includes a complete feature set of components manufactured by Elster/Kromschröder of Osnabrück, Germany. (Kromschröder products are represented in North America by Hauck Manufacturing Co., Lebanon, Pa.)
During the manufacturing process, the silicon is first melted in a crucible. A graphite material surrounds the crucible and induction heating is used to melt the silicon in the crucible, transforming it into silicon crystals. The unique properties and the ultra-high-purity of the fused silica crucibles eliminate the possibility of silicon contamination inside the crucible. Once the process is complete, the crucible is destroyed and the silicon ingot is removed.
High-quality fused silica is essential to the manufacture of the crucibles. The silica is processed and mixed into a slip/slurry. The crucibles are slip-cast into molds, which are also manufactured by Ceradyne, and the green crucibles are then dried, fired and cooled in periodic kilns.
Each kiln is equipped with 24 high-velocity Kromschröder BIC burners arranged in 12 two-burner zones. The burners are pulse-fired in pairs. Pulse-fire control utilizes the high-velocity burner at its maximum velocity by operating the individual burners on/off. The timing between each burner cycle is determined by the temperature demand and pulse algorithm in the PLC. The burners are fired in a random pattern to increase the circulation within the kiln. Pulse firing provides the highest fuel efficiency and greatest degree of temperature uniformity, and is the ideal type of control system for many industrial heating applications.
Features incorporated in the Kromschröder components provide operational advantages not available from other combustion equipment and ensure an economical solution for the crucible firing process. Each burner features a continuous internal pilot with a spark-and-sense electrode, which serves the dual purpose of spark ignition and flame sensing of the pilot flame. The pilot air and gas are regulated to provide accurate flows and allow high burner turndown. An ionization rod is included with the burner and is used to detect the main flame.
A Kromschröder air butterfly valve with a direct-coupled electronic IC40 actuator at each burner is cycled on and off during the firing cycle. The butterfly valve design, in conjunction with the actuator, provides a very low leakage rate and almost zero hysteresis.
Operating settings were programmed into the actuator via BCSOFT, a package developed by Kromschröder that allows a PC interface to be used to initialize and exchange settings data between components. Via BCSOFT, the settings were duplicated and loaded into the other actuators, which shortened commissioning time and eliminated the possibility of error or tampering with linkage and desired control settings.
The Drayton Beaumont kiln control system is PLC-based. The touch screens allow kiln operators to closely monitor the combustion system. Start-up screens, kiln overview screens with burner and pulse status, temperature loop tuning screens, first-out annunciation, and other operator screens provide a user-friendly operating system.
Burner control is provided via a Kromschröder BCU 480 burner control unit supplied for each burner. The unit has a built-in ignition transformer and two flame amplifiers. The BCU controls the ignition process and continuously monitors the pilot and main burner flames. A digital input signal from the PLC is provided to the BCU, which controls the IC40 for the on/off pulse firing of the main burner flame.
The closing of the gas valve is delayed until the air valve has reached its low position, assuring complete combustion. The BCUs are mounted at each burner to reduce installation costs and simplify installation, commissioning and troubleshooting efforts. A second pneumatic-actuated main air valve is located at each burner to provide additional air during the cooling cycle.
The main gas train includes Kromschröder’s latest modular safeguard control unit, the Valvario. The VCS, an FM- and CSA-approved double shutoff valve, is equipped with tightness control in lieu of a proof-of-closure switch. Also known as valve-proving controls, the TC module, upon startup of the gas train, verifies if the two solenoid safety shutoff valves have an acceptable leakage rate as determined by the appropriate approving authority.
If an unacceptable leakage rate is detected by the valve-proving controls, the TC activates an alarm and locks out the combustion system until the problem is resolved. Low and high gas pressure switches are flange-mounted to the side of the valve body to complete the safeguard control package. A relief valve is located directly downstream to vent trapped gas between leak tests.
The increasing demand for crucibles has required Ceradyne Thermo Materials to procure more kilns. The performance of the first kiln resulted in a contract for two more Drayton Beaumont kilns equipped with Kromschröder burners and controls to meet ever-rising production demand.
For more information, contact Hauck Mfg. Co. at Box 90, Lebanon, PA 17042; (717) 272- 3051; e-mail hauck@hauckburner.com; or visit www.hauckburner.com. Ceradyne Thermo Materials can be reached via e-mail at sales@ceradyne-thermo.com or online at www.ceradyne-thermo.com.
The kiln is equipped with Kromschröder high-performance burners and control components.
A division of Ceradyne, Inc., Ceradyne Thermo Materials, located in Clarkston, Ga., is a world leader in providing fused silica products for high-tech industries. A recent facility expansion was undertaken in response to the solar energy industry’s demand for photovoltaic silicon solar cells, which represent an important energy source for the future. The facility manufactures fused silica crucibles used in the photovoltaics process.
Kromschröder UK provided high-velocity BIC burners and combustion controls used to create the fused silica casting crucibles. The kiln was designed by Drayton Beaumont, Staffordshire, England, and the combustion solution includes a complete feature set of components manufactured by Elster/Kromschröder of Osnabrück, Germany. (Kromschröder products are represented in North America by Hauck Manufacturing Co., Lebanon, Pa.)
During the manufacturing process, the silicon is first melted in a crucible. A graphite material surrounds the crucible and induction heating is used to melt the silicon in the crucible, transforming it into silicon crystals. The unique properties and the ultra-high-purity of the fused silica crucibles eliminate the possibility of silicon contamination inside the crucible. Once the process is complete, the crucible is destroyed and the silicon ingot is removed.
High-quality fused silica is essential to the manufacture of the crucibles. The silica is processed and mixed into a slip/slurry. The crucibles are slip-cast into molds, which are also manufactured by Ceradyne, and the green crucibles are then dried, fired and cooled in periodic kilns.
Firing Details
The kilns are equipped with Kromschröder high-performance burners and control components. High-cycle-duty valves and regulators, along with burners with high turndown capability, are essential to providing a fuel-efficient pulse-fired combustion system, particularly one that is required to perform multiple functions. Accurate temperature control (± 1ºC) and superior temperature uniformity allow the kilns to be used for cycles that include drying, firing and cooling.Each kiln is equipped with 24 high-velocity Kromschröder BIC burners arranged in 12 two-burner zones. The burners are pulse-fired in pairs. Pulse-fire control utilizes the high-velocity burner at its maximum velocity by operating the individual burners on/off. The timing between each burner cycle is determined by the temperature demand and pulse algorithm in the PLC. The burners are fired in a random pattern to increase the circulation within the kiln. Pulse firing provides the highest fuel efficiency and greatest degree of temperature uniformity, and is the ideal type of control system for many industrial heating applications.
Features incorporated in the Kromschröder components provide operational advantages not available from other combustion equipment and ensure an economical solution for the crucible firing process. Each burner features a continuous internal pilot with a spark-and-sense electrode, which serves the dual purpose of spark ignition and flame sensing of the pilot flame. The pilot air and gas are regulated to provide accurate flows and allow high burner turndown. An ionization rod is included with the burner and is used to detect the main flame.
A Kromschröder air butterfly valve with a direct-coupled electronic IC40 actuator at each burner is cycled on and off during the firing cycle. The butterfly valve design, in conjunction with the actuator, provides a very low leakage rate and almost zero hysteresis.
Operating settings were programmed into the actuator via BCSOFT, a package developed by Kromschröder that allows a PC interface to be used to initialize and exchange settings data between components. Via BCSOFT, the settings were duplicated and loaded into the other actuators, which shortened commissioning time and eliminated the possibility of error or tampering with linkage and desired control settings.
The Drayton Beaumont kiln control system is PLC-based. The touch screens allow kiln operators to closely monitor the combustion system. Start-up screens, kiln overview screens with burner and pulse status, temperature loop tuning screens, first-out annunciation, and other operator screens provide a user-friendly operating system.
Each burner features a continuous internal pilot with a spark-and-sense electrode.
Burner Control
Kromschröder’s VAG combination shutoff valve and ratio regulator control the gas flow to each burner. The ratio regulator is cross-connected downstream of the air butterfly valve. As the air increases with the opening of the butterfly valve to the high position, the gas increases in proportion. A built-in limiting orifice in the burner is used to set high-fire gas flow for optimum fuel air ratio. Low-fire gas flow is adjustable on the front of the regulator housing. The VAG’s long-life, high-cycle-duty solenoid is controlled by the PLC once the pilot flame is established.Burner control is provided via a Kromschröder BCU 480 burner control unit supplied for each burner. The unit has a built-in ignition transformer and two flame amplifiers. The BCU controls the ignition process and continuously monitors the pilot and main burner flames. A digital input signal from the PLC is provided to the BCU, which controls the IC40 for the on/off pulse firing of the main burner flame.
The closing of the gas valve is delayed until the air valve has reached its low position, assuring complete combustion. The BCUs are mounted at each burner to reduce installation costs and simplify installation, commissioning and troubleshooting efforts. A second pneumatic-actuated main air valve is located at each burner to provide additional air during the cooling cycle.
A modular safeguard control unit.
Gas Delivery and Safety
The main gas fuel train is a complete Kromschröder system consisting of components for gas filtration and regulation with overpressure protection, as well as modular safeguard controls and fuel metering. A JSAV overpressure shutoff valve, also known as a slam shut valve, is piped upstream of the VGBF pressure-reducing regulator for protection against high gas pressure to the downstream components.The main gas train includes Kromschröder’s latest modular safeguard control unit, the Valvario. The VCS, an FM- and CSA-approved double shutoff valve, is equipped with tightness control in lieu of a proof-of-closure switch. Also known as valve-proving controls, the TC module, upon startup of the gas train, verifies if the two solenoid safety shutoff valves have an acceptable leakage rate as determined by the appropriate approving authority.
If an unacceptable leakage rate is detected by the valve-proving controls, the TC activates an alarm and locks out the combustion system until the problem is resolved. Low and high gas pressure switches are flange-mounted to the side of the valve body to complete the safeguard control package. A relief valve is located directly downstream to vent trapped gas between leak tests.
The main gas fuel train system consists of components
for gas filtration and regulation with overpressure protection, as well as
modular safeguard controls and fuel metering.
Continued Expansion
Worldwide customers choose Ceradyne Thermo Materials’ crucibles over those of other manufacturers for their high reliability, fully traceable production and purity data availability, and outstanding customer service. The quality workmanship of the new kiln and combustion system, along with expedient installation and trouble-free commissioning, allowed Ceradyne Thermo Materials to bring the kiln online one week after complete installation and start-up commissioning.The increasing demand for crucibles has required Ceradyne Thermo Materials to procure more kilns. The performance of the first kiln resulted in a contract for two more Drayton Beaumont kilns equipped with Kromschröder burners and controls to meet ever-rising production demand.
For more information, contact Hauck Mfg. Co. at Box 90, Lebanon, PA 17042; (717) 272- 3051; e-mail hauck@hauckburner.com; or visit www.hauckburner.com. Ceradyne Thermo Materials can be reached via e-mail at sales@ceradyne-thermo.com or online at www.ceradyne-thermo.com.