Energy Efficiency of Electric Furnaces with Movable Floor in Firing of Vermiculite Concentrates of Different Size Groups

Abstract

Problems that arise when attempting to establish a correlation between the specific energy capacity achieved in firing of vermiculite and the size grades of its raw concentrates are considered and efficient operating regimes of electric furnaces with vibrating bottom platform are identified. The temperature – time relationships are analyzed and the productive capacity and thermal power calculated for firing of vermiculite concentrates of different size groups. Based on empirical data, it is concluded for the first time that the specific energy capacity is independent of the particular size group of one and the same concentrate. It is shown that the quality of swollen product does not change if the furnace is set for a reduced temperature regime, while at the same time an additional 40% energy savings is achieved with this step, leading to the least possible specific energy capacity of the firing process (46 – 48 mJ/m³).