Improvement of Operating Conditions in Furnace Drying by Evolutionary Operation

Abstract

This article aimed to improve the operating conditions in drying aluminium holding furnace in which cracks occur by evolutionary operation. The 2² Full Factorial Designs were performed with a center point which was used as the starting point for the experiment at 760°C for a 48-hour holding period, and then gradually changed the factor level while continuing normal production. The results showed that the optimum operating condition was at 780°C with a holding time of 56 h. This was better than that adjusted by the production department at 820°C with a holding time of 24 h because mass of drain water from the furnace increased from 52 kg to 74.8 kg and relative humidity inside the furnace reduced from 10% to 4.20%. Moreover, it was better than the original operating condition before improvement at 700°C with a holding time of 72 h because the holding time was reduced from 72 h to 56 h and no crack problem was found. Mass of drain water was close to the standard at 76 kg and relative humidity inside the furnace was not more than 7%.