Ceramic Frits and glazes

In ceramic frit melting furnaces, combustion occurs using natural gas and an oxidizer that can be air or O₂.

In ovens with gas/air burners, good regulation of the burner air and its balance with the internal pressure of the oven can reduce the excess %O₂ in ranges from 1% to 2%, which implies standard savings of 3% to 5% of fuel, in addition to reducing the amount of CO₂ and NO_X emissions produced.

In those furnaces with gas/O₂ burners, controlling the oxidation level of the kiln atmosphere allows for a finer adjustment in O₂ and fuel consumption. Furthermore, in plants with their own O₂ production, variations in its purity (90% – 95%) are common, making continuous control of the combustion atmosphere even more crucial.

In general, a ceramic frit furnace without continuous control of excess O2 in the chamber generates:

• Greater fuel and oxidizer consumption (O₂).
• Structural damage to kiln’s refractory.
• Possible problems in the quality of the final product (bubbling, tones, etc.).
• Greater pollution (CO₂, CO, unburned, etc.).
• Variation in the atmosphere due to changes in the purity of O₂