Types of Heat Treatment Furnaces & Ovens

What is a Heat Treatment Oven/Furnace?

A heat treatment furnace/oven are designed to regulate atmospheric temperatures to which materials, such as steel, aluminum, and assemblies are soaked into, based on specific heat requirements. These requirements include heating, holding (soaking), and cooling conditions. By processing metals within a heat treatment furnace and oven under controlled conditions, desired properties like moisture content, hardness, & toughness can be achieved.

Types of Heating Furnaces & Ovens

Batch-type Furnace & Ovens
This furnace type uses a conveying device to load and unload products. Materials are placed in trays or baskets, managed by residence time, and then transported. Batch furnaces are ideal for producing small quantities of varied products. The BH-HTO-05 bogie-hearth oven below is used for the batch-type normalizing treatment to various industrial pumps.

Continuous-type Furnaces & Ovens
A continuous furnace uses a conveyor system, such as a mesh belt or tray pusher, to move products through the heating chamber. It is suited for mass production of uniform products. The continuous drying oven below is used in the drying (curing) process of car stator assembly

Heating Source Equipment

Furnaces & ovens can both rely on heaters (electric types) or burners (combustion types) as the heat source. Commonly, our products uses electric heaters or LNG burner as an input. Heat output is calculated based on the required heating speed, heat loss, and the material being heated. Over- or under-designed systems can either increase costs or cause production delays.

Heating Chamber

The heating chamber raises materials to a specific temperature. Fans circulate air to ensure uniform heating, while insulation materials, such as refractory bricks and fiber insulations for furnaces, or stainless steel with insulation for ovens. All this is designed minimize heat loss and reduce energy costs. Sensors are often installed to detect equipment malfunctions and avoid significant losses.

Types and Characteristics of Heating Furnaces

Electric Furnace
Electric furnaces are valued for their precise temperature control, achieved through methods like direct heating. These furnaces are ideal for treatments such as annealing, tempering, & baking.

Combustion Furnace
Combustion furnaces generally uses LNG-based burner systems for both direct or indirect heating. They are suitable for processing large quantities but require safety measures like flame and gas detectors to prevent hazards.

Cooling Methods

Cooling processes after heat treatment/drying process varies. Medium used for cooling may impact final properties.

• Air Cooling (May be enhanced with forced circulation)
• Water Cooling (Quenching)
• Oil Cooling (Quenching)
• Other Methods

Common Questions about Heating Furnaces & Ovens

1. How are heat-treated products inspected?
   Inspections involve destructive tests (e.g., hardness testing, microstructure analysis) and non-destructive tests (e.g., X-rays, ultrasonic waves) to ensure desired properties.

2. How is furnace temperature measured?
   Thermocouples, such as K-type or N-type, are commonly used. Temperature control is often achieved using PID systems integrated with the furnace’s control panel.

3. How to know which type of furnaces/ovens I need?
   Identify whether a continuous or batch process is required, define your operating temperature and size specifications, then consult with us!

At PT Suhatherm Manufacturing Indonesia, we specialize in designing and manufacturing industrial heating furnaces tailored to your specific needs.

Contact us at cs@smindo.co.id to learn more!