FastHeat™ Fluidbed Furnaces

Incorporating the latest in fluidization and combustion technologies, QED’s Fluidbed Furnaces are at the technological edge of furnace design. Our new injected fuel system permits the use of a variety of gases, while eliminating flashback problems. Even fluidization is assured through a specially designed air distribution manifold that replaces the costly and maintenance prone tiles of older designs. 

Our fluidbeds are designed for high wire speeds with optimum air and gas flow rates. Our development of a labyrinth seal threading slot eliminates the maintenance and heat loss costs associated with "curtain" style fluidbed designs. QED’s dedication to quality assures that every operational detail has been considered right down to pneumatic operated doors, designed to save heat energy and operator's time.

   Annealing   
   Austenitizing  
   Quenching 
   Tempering 
   Stress Relieving  
   Diffusion

 
Fluidbed

General  Description  

In the QED FastHeat Fluidbed multiple strands of continuous steel wire are heated by passing horizontally through a bed of fluidized aluminum oxide particles. Air and gas are introduced in the bottom of the bed through a double distribution network. Combustion occurs within the bed providing rapid heat-transfer to the sand particles and wires. The bed is contained between corrugated retort walls of high nickel alloy steel that are specially designed to withstand the stresses of thermal cycling.

We use layers of ceramic fiber material to insulate the outside wall of the Fluidbed,  providing a low skin temperature and efficient operation. The furnace frame is constructed of welded structural steel sections and heavy gauge panels. And, like all our equipment, each QED FastHeat™ Fluidbed is custom designed to suit the your production requirements.

 Environmentally friendly
 Rapid heat-transfer to the wires
 Reliable performance
 High thermal efficiency at full production
 Quick start-up and shut-down
 Ruggedly constructed for a long life 
 Multiple zone control and flow rate control
 Full combustion safeties designed to suit local codes
 Optional computer interface packages (SCADA and MMI)
 Excellent double sand return system

 


Pilots

QED's Special Features

 Injected Gas System
 Interlaced Air/Gas Manifolds
 Labyrinth Seal Threading Slot
 Efficient Eductor & Vortex Stand Return
 Quick Access End Doors
 Corrugated & Curved retort Wall 

 
Combustion Control

 

Advantages of the QED Fluidbed Furnace

  No Tiles – Therefore less maintenance and lower capital cost.  Our interlaced distribution manifolds provides excellent fluidization uniformity without tiles.

 No Curtains – Our “labyrinth seal” threading slot reduces heat loss, lowers maintenance costs and permits fast wire threading.

 Improved combustion with “Gas Injection” – The fuel is injected into the burner manifold directly under the bed.  This eliminates “flashback” problems that are known to damage components.

 Improved shelf design – We build the stainless steel shelf (covering the top of the retort wall) in individual overlapped sections.  This greatly reduces the heat distortion and warping that plague some older designs.

 Rugged wire protection devices – The burner manifolds and thermocouples are fully protected against potential damage by running wires.

 Two Pilots per zone – Adds safety and stops unwanted furnace zone shutdowns. 

 Pilot cooling – Improves flame stability and increases pilot tube life.

 Better Sand Return – Our sand return system uses specifically selected Eductors, Vortex Elbows and Distribution Boxes in conjunction with horizontal and vertical piping.  This greatly improves performance and the life of the system.

 Bottom entry furnace piping – This permits faster burner maintenance without having to disassemble the furnace walls.

 Compact side mounted air & gas racks – This provides easier access to the components and a “cleaner” piping arrangement around the furnace (no large platforms at the ends of the furnace).

 Visual flow indication – We provide a manometer board that gives a continuous readout of both air and gas flows to each zone.  The operators can tell at a glance the fluidizing rates of the furnace. 

 Pneumatic End Doors – Fast opening and closing to permit a quick full view visual check of the inside of the furnace. 

For a list of the advantages of the QED Fast Heat Fluidbed Furnace in printable PDF Format Click here

      

 


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