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Ralph Ruark, registered professional engineer and founder of Ruark Engineering Inc., addresses topics surrounding kilns and firing in order to help manufacturers improve their operations.
I’ve been so lucky. More than a decade ago, Ceramic Industry asked me to write the Kiln Connection column, and it has brought me great friendships and a wealth of knowledge.
Upon reviewing kiln data, I often find errors that are either designed into a system or operator induced. Many of these issues can prevent burner setup accuracy.
As discussed in Part 1 (CI, September 2011), internal kiln pressure in a tunnel kiln governs airflow direction and affects temperature uniformity, soaking time, and energy consumption. Management of the kiln pressure profile makes a huge difference in kiln stability.
Figure 1. Kiln temperature data at various locations in the kiln setting. Kilns should be the foundation of the ceramic factory, producing consistent results, creating zero defects and performing efficiently.
Figure 1. The differences in temperature and the relative heating rates in this kiln are completely location-dependent. "Variability is the enemy of quality." This has become the battle cry for
I am flying home as I write this column, having spent the last week working for a small company in the center of Mexico. It was a wonderful trip-great weather,
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