Pusher Furnace Alignment Mechanism for Thermal Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Long pusher furnaces used for high-temperature applications face challenges in maintaining thermal expansion and contraction of insulation and susceptor structures, leading to potential jamming and degradation, especially when formed in multiple sections for precise temperature control and continuous movement of pusher plates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an alignment mechanism with adjustment assemblies and the use of graphite felt expansion joints to manage thermal expansion and contraction, along with a low-friction graphoil support system to prevent degradation and ensure smooth movement, addresses the issue of maintaining seals and preventing damage during heating and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the furnace is made lengthy to incorporate necessary heating and cooling zones for precise temperature control, then the temperature profile control is improved, but the alignment tolerance of slide rails and furnace sections becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The furnace is divided into multiple modular sections that can be assembled in sequence. Each section contains its own slide rail segments, susceptor sections, and insulation components. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining overall alignment through precise modular interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adjustable alignment mechanisms that can modify the positional parameters of slide rail segments relative to each other. This allows for compensation of cumulative alignment errors that occur over the lengthy furnace structure, ensuring continuous smooth movement of pusher plates throughout the entire furnace length.
2Temperature
If the furnace is formed in multiple sections to achieve the necessary length, then the temperature zone control is improved, but the potential for jamming of slide plates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide rail system incorporates dynamic alignment adjustment capabilities that allow the rail segments to adapt to thermal expansion and contraction of the furnace sections. This dynamic adjustment prevents misalignment that would cause jamming of slide plates as they move through the furnace sections during heating and cooling cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism is pre-configured with adjustment assemblies that can be set before operation to account for expected thermal expansion. This preliminary setup ensures that the slide plates will move smoothly through all furnace sections without encountering binding conditions during the heating process.
3Temperature
If multiple furnace sections are used, then the necessary heating and cooling zones are achieved, but the thermal expansion and contraction of insulation and susceptor structures causes degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention explicitly accounts for thermal expansion by designing the furnace sections with expansion joints and adjustable alignment mechanisms. These features allow the insulation and susceptor structures to expand and contract freely during heating and cooling cycles without generating damaging stresses that would lead to degradation over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism includes cushioning elements that absorb the stresses generated by thermal expansion and contraction. This beforehand cushioning protects the insulation and susceptor structures from damage during repeated heating and cooling cycles, extending the service life of these critical furnace components.
4Length of stationary object
If multiple furnace sections are joined together, then the necessary furnace length is achieved, but maintaining thermal seals during expansion and contraction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses flexible sealing elements at the joints between furnace sections that can accommodate thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining continuous thermal seals. These flexible seals allow the sections to move relative to each other during temperature changes without breaking the seal, ensuring continuous operation without damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for continuous, damage-free operation of pusher furnaces by maintaining thermal seals and preventing expansion pressures that could damage insulation and structures, ensuring consistent temperature profiles across multiple sections.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the thermal expansion and contraction of an inductively heated susceptor over the length of the furnace sections
Implementation Method 2
control the expansion of insulation and other structures within each furnace section
Implementation Method 3
maintain these seals during cooling of the furnace, which causes contraction of these various structures
Implementation Method 4
inductively heated susceptor
Implementation Method 5
inductively heated susceptor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pusher furnace includes furnace sections having respective susceptors, a slide rail extending through the furnace sections for sliding pusher plates thereon and an alignment assembly for aligning the susceptors and slide rails of adjacent furnace sections. A support structure spaces the susceptors from insulation therebelow to protect the insulation from degradation from contact with the susceptors. The susceptors are slidably mounted on the support structure to accommodate thermal expansion and shrinkage of the susceptor. The upstream end of the slide rails have beveled upper edges to help prevent the pusher plates from catching thereon. The upstream ends are also laterally tapered to reduce the degree of force encountered should a pusher plate catch thereon. Adjacent insulation members have expansion joints filled with a refractory felt. The susceptors slidably and sealingly engage exhaust ports to allow for thermal expansion and shrinkage of the susceptor without damaging the exhaust port.