Question 1

Blast furnace stove operating principle In furnace technology, the hot-blast stove that heats air for a blast furnace works on which underlying heat-recovery principle?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Blast furnace stoves (often called Cowper stoves) preheat the combustion air (“hot blast”) by cyclically storing and releasing heat. Understanding whether this is regenerative or recuperative heat recovery is foundational in furnace technology and energy efficiency. Given Data / Assumptions: The stove alternates between a “heating” (on-gas) period and a “blowing” (on-blast) period. Checker bricks inside the stove act as a thermal storage medium. We compare regenerative versus recuperative principles. Concept / Approach: A regenerative system stores heat in a solid matrix during one part of the cycle and then releases that stored heat to a different fluid stream during the next part. In contrast, a recuperative system exchanges heat continuously across a separating wall without storage. Blast furnace stoves clearly follow the former: they heat checkerwork with flue gas, then pass cold air through the hot checkerwork to deliver a high-temperature blast. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the action: cyclic heating and cooling of checker bricks.Map to definitions: cyclic storage/release = regenerative; continuous wall exchange = recuperative.Conclude the principle: regenerative heat recovery. Verification / Alternative check: Operating diagrams of Cowper stoves show burner/flue routing in one phase and hot-blast routing in the next, with the same checker pack serving as a temporary heat reservoir, confirming regeneration. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Recuperative: No continuous, simultaneous two-stream exchange across a wall occurs here.Both: The stove is not simultaneously recuperative; it is distinctly regenerative.Neither: Contradicts the textbook description of hot-blast stoves. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “air preheating” in general with recuperation; many air preheaters are recuperative, but the stove’s checkerwork makes it regenerative. Final Answer: regenerative

Question 2

Where is a refractory wall used to isolate the charge from the flame? Identify the furnace in which a refractory barrier separates the stock (work) from direct contact with the heat source.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Many processes require heating without exposing the product to flame or combustion products. Furnaces that provide this separation use a refractory “muffle” or wall to isolate the charge from the burner flame while still transferring heat efficiently. Given Data / Assumptions: The question asks for a furnace featuring a refractory wall between heat source and stock. Charge quality (avoid contamination/oxidation) is important in such applications. Concept / Approach: A muffle furnace places the work inside an enclosed refractory chamber (the muffle). Burners heat the outside of the muffle; heat reaches the stock by radiation and convection through the hot refractory surfaces. This design avoids direct flame impingement and combustion byproducts contacting the product, which is crucial for clean heating and precise treatments. Step-by-Step Solution: List furnace types and their flame/work relationships.Recognize that a muffle furnace uniquely provides a refractory partition.Select “muffle furnace” as the correct option. Verification / Alternative check: Standard diagrams show a separate muffle box or tube heated externally by burners or elements. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Updraft kiln: Direct gas path through ware; no dedicated muffle barrier by default.Continuous furnace: A broad category; most are directly fired unless specified as muffle/indirect designs.None of these: Incorrect because the muffle furnace fits perfectly. Common Pitfalls: Assuming all indirect-fired units are called “continuous furnaces”—“continuous” describes operation mode, not isolation method. Final Answer: muffle furnace

Question 3

Coal loss in carryover ash from boilers The fraction of combustibles escaping with fly ash depends on which group of operating and fuel variables?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In pulverised-coal and other solid-fuel boilers, unburnt carbon can escape with fly ash, reducing efficiency and increasing particulate emissions. Understanding what drives this loss helps optimize combustion and cut fuel waste. Given Data / Assumptions: Carryover loss refers to unburnt carbon in ash leaving the boiler. We consider fuel properties, air/firing conditions, and equipment design. Concept / Approach: Unburnt loss rises when particles are too large (short residence time to burn), when mixing/air distribution is poor, or when burners and chamber geometry do not promote complete burnout. Operating load and excess air affect residence time, temperature, and oxygen availability. Fuel properties (ash content, grind fineness, volatiles) and burner design strongly influence flame stability and burnout. Step-by-Step Solution: Relate coal fineness and ash/fuel nature to burnout kinetics.Relate excess air and boiler load to temperature and residence time.Relate burner/chamber design to mixing, swirl, and flame path, which set burnout effectiveness.Conclude all listed factors matter; choose the combined option. Verification / Alternative check: Heat balance tests correlate loss on ignition (LOI) in fly ash with grind fineness, burner settings, and load—matching the multi-factor dependence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single group omits key drivers (e.g., equipment design or operating setpoints). Common Pitfalls: Over-grinding raises mill power with diminishing returns; better air distribution and burner tuning often give larger reductions in unburnt carbon. Final Answer: all (a), (b) and (c)

Question 4

Identify the furnace that is not typically induced-draught Which of the following is not generally operated with induced-draught (ID) fans drawing flue gases?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Draught systems move combustion gases through furnaces. Many modern units use induced-draught (ID) fans to pull flue gases, stabilizing furnace pressure and improving control. Some traditional furnaces, however, often rely primarily on natural draught via a stack. Given Data / Assumptions: We compare typical practice, not every customized installation. “Induced draught” means a fan downstream of the combustion zone pulls gases to the stack. Concept / Approach: High-pressure boilers commonly use ID fans for tight pressure control and heat-recovery train performance. Sintering furnaces likewise use strong suction for gas flow through the bed. Blast furnace stoves, in classical layouts, frequently depend on chimney natural draught and cycling valves; while fans can be present in modern plants, they are not the textbook example of induced-draught operation. Step-by-Step Solution: Review typical equipment: boilers and sinter plants normally have ID fans.Stoves operate regeneratively with valve cycles; traditional designs rely largely on stack effect.Thus select “Blast furnace stove” as not typically induced-draught. Verification / Alternative check: Process schematics show ID fans on boilers and sinter strands. Stove diagrams focus on checkerwork, burners, and chimneys rather than obligatory ID fans. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Sintering furnace: Needs strong suction through bed—classic ID application.High pressure boiler: Standard ID/FD fan arrangements are common.None of these: Incorrect because at least one listed item (stove) is not typically ID-driven. Common Pitfalls: Assuming every modern furnace has ID; some legacy or specific regenerators rely on natural draught. Final Answer: Blast furnace stove

Question 5

Effect of oxygen-enriched combustion air in furnaces When fuel is burned with oxygen-enriched air, which key performance variable definitely increases?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Oxygen enrichment raises the oxygen fraction in combustion air above ambient. This decreases inert nitrogen in the flame zone, alters flame structure, and can significantly improve thermal performance if managed correctly. Given Data / Assumptions: Fuel composition and firing rate are otherwise comparable. We focus on direct cause-and-effect of oxygen enrichment. Concept / Approach: With higher oxygen content, less nitrogen dilutes the flame, increasing adiabatic flame temperature. Often, total flue-gas volume decreases (less N2), and for the same duty, fuel consumption can drop rather than increase. Stack losses can also decrease if excess air is optimized and heat recovery is effective. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify primary thermodynamic change: reduced inert dilution raises flame temperature.Assess other variables: flue gas volume usually falls; fuel consumption can fall for same duty; stack loss is not inherently increased.Choose “flame temperature” as the certain increase. Verification / Alternative check: Adiabatic flame temperature calculations show higher values as oxygen fraction rises, confirming the direct correlation. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Flue gas volume: Typically decreases due to less N2.Fuel consumption: Usually decreases for the same heat to stock.Stack loss: Can decline with lower excess air and better recovery; not necessarily higher. Common Pitfalls: Ignoring increased NOx potential with very hot flames; staged firing or dilution may be necessary. Final Answer: flame temperature

Question 6

What does “furnace aerodynamics” refer to? Within the context of furnace operation and design, furnace aerodynamics primarily concerns which aspect?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Furnace aerodynamics is a key concept in combustion engineering. It addresses how gases move, mix, and distribute heat inside furnaces, which directly affects flame stability, heat transfer, and emissions. Given Data / Assumptions: Aerodynamics involves flow patterns, recirculation, and jet interactions. We distinguish this from instrumentation (measurement) and control settings. Concept / Approach: The term “aerodynamics” refers to the motion of gases. In furnaces, this includes burner jet momentum, swirl, buoyancy-driven flows, recirculation zones, and leakage paths. Good aerodynamics ensures thorough mixing of fuel and air, uniform temperature fields, and minimized hotspots or cold spots. Step-by-Step Solution: Define: aerodynamics = gas flow behavior.Identify relevance: mixing, residence time, and flame shape depend on flow patterns.Select “movement of gases” as the accurate description. Verification / Alternative check: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of furnaces specifically models gas velocities, turbulence, and recirculation—i.e., aerodynamics. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Measurement of flue gas volume: That is an instrumentation task, not aerodynamics itself.Temperature control / Pressure adjustment: Outcomes influenced by aerodynamics, but not the definition. Common Pitfalls: Equating “aerodynamics” with fan sizing alone; it also involves burner momentum, duct geometry, and chamber design. Final Answer: movement of gases

Question 7

Benefits of using preheated combustion air in furnaces Which combined effects typically result from preheating the combustion air supplied to a furnace?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Preheating combustion air is a classic energy-efficiency measure in furnace practice. By raising the air temperature before it enters the burner, less fuel is required to reach target flame and stock temperatures. Given Data / Assumptions: Air preheat accomplished via regenerators or recuperators. Materials processed are sensitive to oxidation/scale at surface temperature. Concept / Approach: Hotter combustion air increases adiabatic flame temperature and reduces the fuel needed per unit of heat delivered to the stock. Faster heating and shorter time at high temperature can lower oxidation and thus reduce scaling on steel. Overall, preheated air improves thermal efficiency and lowers specific fuel consumption. Step-by-Step Solution: Warmer air + same fuel ⇒ higher flame temperature.Alternatively, for same flame temperature ⇒ less fuel needed ⇒ energy savings.Shorter high-temperature exposure of workpieces ⇒ scale reduction.Therefore, all listed benefits apply. Verification / Alternative check: Energy balances show reduced sensible heating duty for the air stream; industrial data report lower fuel-per-ton and improved productivity with air preheat. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single benefit alone is incomplete; preheated air commonly delivers all three outcomes when properly controlled. Common Pitfalls: Excessive air preheat without control can raise NOx; balancing efficiency with emissions is essential. Final Answer: all (a), (b) and (c).

Question 8

Role of secondary air in pulverised-coal (PC) fired boilers In a PC-fired steam boiler, what is the principal purpose of the secondary air supplied at the burner?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Pulverised-coal combustion uses two air streams: primary air to convey and dry the fuel, and secondary (and sometimes tertiary) air to complete mixing and ensure complete combustion at the burner throat. Given Data / Assumptions: Primary air already carries and partially dries the coal. Secondary air is injected around the burner zone for mixing and burnout. Concept / Approach: The fuel–air mixture leaving the mill needs staged, well-distributed air to achieve flame stability and complete burnout. Secondary air forms the main oxidant envelope that mixes with coal jets, controls flame shape, and sets swirl/recirculation patterns for efficient combustion. Step-by-Step Solution: Assign duties: primary = transport + drying; secondary = combustion/mixing.Identify the key burner zone role of secondary air.Select the option emphasizing combustion around the burner. Verification / Alternative check: Burner manuals depict primary air nozzles carrying fuel and secondary registers shaping the flame with the bulk of oxidant. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Transportation/Drying: Primary air’s job, not secondary.Preheating primary air: Achieved by air preheaters, not via secondary air function. Common Pitfalls: Overlooking tertiary/overfire air used for NOx control; the core purpose of secondary air remains combustion and mixing. Final Answer: combustion of coal by supplying it around the burner.

Question 9

Factors affecting scaling of furnace stock The rate at which oxide scale forms on heated stock is governed by which combination of variables?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Scaling is oxidation of metal surfaces at elevated temperatures. In reheating and heat treatment, minimizing scale is essential to preserve surface quality and reduce material losses. Given Data / Assumptions: Oxidizing environments promote scale formation. Kinetics are temperature and time dependent. Concept / Approach: Oxidation rates typically increase strongly with temperature (Arrhenius-type behavior). Longer exposure time increases total scale thickness. The furnace atmosphere (oxidizing vs reducing, moisture content, CO2/CO ratio) also changes the oxidation rate and type of scale formed. Thus, temperature, time, and atmosphere all matter. Step-by-Step Solution: Relate temperature to reaction rate: higher T ⇒ faster oxidation.Relate time to accumulated growth: longer time ⇒ thicker scale.Relate atmosphere to mechanism: oxidizing species concentration controls driving force.Conclude that all listed variables govern scaling. Verification / Alternative check: Practical data show reduced scaling with shorter cycles and controlled (less oxidizing) atmospheres at a given temperature. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single factor alone cannot explain observed differences when others change. Common Pitfalls: Overheating periods “just to be safe,” which disproportionately increases scale due to strong temperature sensitivity. Final Answer: all (a), (b) and (c)

Question 10

Fuel economy practices in industrial furnaces — identify the exception Which practice below does not contribute to fuel economy in furnace operation?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Furnace fuel economy is achieved by optimizing air supply, improving heat recovery, and reducing losses. Some practices clearly save fuel, while others increase consumption for the same duty. Given Data / Assumptions: We compare standard operational choices. “Fuel economy” means lower fuel per unit of useful heat to stock. Concept / Approach: Using preheated combustion air reduces fuel demand or increases flame temperature for the same fuel. Recuperators recover heat from hot flue gases to warm incoming air, directly saving fuel. Operating at or near stoichiometric air (or judicious excess air) also minimizes stack losses. In contrast, non-preheated air throws away potential heat-recovery gains and leads to higher fuel usage. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify fuel-saving measures: air preheat and heat recovery (recuperators), and correct air–fuel ratio.Recognize the outlier: supplying cold, non-preheated air increases the fuel required.Select “non-preheated combustion air” as not achieving fuel economy. Verification / Alternative check: Energy balances show lower specific fuel consumption with air preheaters; stack losses drop as more heat is recycled to incoming air. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Stoichiometric air: Proper control prevents excess-air losses.Air not enriched with oxygen: Oxygen enrichment can help, but economy is achievable without enrichment; lack of enrichment does not inherently prevent economy.Recuperators: Directly improve economy via heat recovery. Common Pitfalls: Chasing oxygen enrichment before fixing basic losses such as lack of air preheat, infiltration, and poor insulation. Final Answer: non-preheated combustion air.

Question 11

Furnace capacity determinants Which one of the following variables does not influence the productive capacity (throughput per unit time) of an industrial furnace under comparable operating conditions?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Furnace capacity refers to the achievable throughput (mass of stock processed per unit time) while meeting target temperatures and quality. Designers and operators tune several physical and operational variables to deliver heat quickly with acceptable losses. This question probes which listed variables truly matter in determining capacity. Given Data / Assumptions: Comparable firing practice and similar target stock temperatures. Steady operation without unusual constraints (e.g., emission caps beyond normal). Capacity is limited by heat transfer to the stock and allowable losses. Concept / Approach: Capacity is increased by boosting net heat transfer to the work and by reducing parasitic losses. Furnace size (hearth area/volume) sets how much stock can be heated at once. Gas velocity controls the convective coefficient and mixing, strongly affecting heating rate. The ratio of wall area to stock area influences radiant exchange and heat losses; higher wall area can increase losses and reduce net transfer to the charge, thereby affecting capacity. Hence, all three listed variables influence capacity in practice. Step-by-Step Solution: Relate capacity to heat transfer rate to stock and allowed residence time.Note that larger furnaces can process more material simultaneously (size effect).Recognize that higher gas velocity increases convection and mixing, accelerating heat-up.Acknowledge that wall/stock surface ratio affects radiation geometry and heat losses, influencing net heat to the stock. Verification / Alternative check: Empirical capacity charts and heat-balance calculations show measurable impacts from geometry and flow. CFD and radiative view-factor analyses corroborate the sensitivity to gas velocity and wall area exposure. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Size of the furnace / Gas velocity / Wall-to-stock area: Each is a known lever on capacity. Type of fuel alone, regardless of firing rate: Fuel choice impacts flame characteristics but does not set capacity by itself; firing rate and heat-transfer conditions do. Common Pitfalls: Assuming fuel type automatically upgrades capacity without considering burner rating, mixing, and geometry. Ignoring that increased gas velocity can also raise carryover or NOx if poorly managed. Final Answer: None of these.

Question 12

Furnace atmosphere and surface reactions in steel heat treatment Pick the wrong statement regarding decarburising, carburising, and nitriding tendencies of common furnace atmospheres.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Heat-treatment quality is tightly linked to furnace atmosphere chemistry. Depending on the ratios of CO, CO2, H2, H2O, CH4, and N2 (sometimes with NH3), the surface of steel can decarburise, carburise, or nitride. The question asks which statement is wrong among several known effects. Given Data / Assumptions: Mild to high-carbon steel at annealing or carburising temperatures. Standard practice atmospheres containing H2, N2, hydrocarbons, and occasionally NH3. Surface reactions governed by carbon potential and nitrogen potential at temperature. Concept / Approach: Hydrocarbon additions such as methane raise the carbon potential (through cracking to CO/H2 and carbon), suppressing net carbon loss (decarburisation). Nitrogen plus steam can be decarburising because H2O raises the oxygen potential, driving C + H2O → CO + H2 at the surface. Hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres at annealing conditions carburise the surface. Ammonia dissociation produces atomic nitrogen that diffuses to form nitrides, boosting hardness (nitriding). Therefore, options (a), (b), and (c) reflect accepted metallurgical behavior; none is wrong. Step-by-Step Solution: Assess (a): CH4 increases carbon potential → reduces hydrogen-driven decarb → correct.Assess (b): N2 with steam raises oxidising tendency; hydrocarbons carburise → correct.Assess (c): NH3 cracking creates active N → nitriding/hardness increase → correct.Conclude: No wrong statement among (a)-(c); choose “none of these.” Verification / Alternative check: Carbon/nitrogen potential charts and Ellingham-type equilibria confirm the qualitative directions for these reactions at typical annealing temperatures. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Methane additions always oxidise the surface: Incorrect; methane increases carbon potential rather than oxidising the surface. Common Pitfalls: Confusing nitrogen’s inert transport role with active nitrogen from NH3 cracking; ignoring steam’s strong influence on decarburisation via H2O/CO2 equilibria. Final Answer: none of these.

Question 13

Open-hearth furnace performance The typical overall thermal efficiency of an open-hearth furnace (with standard regenerative firing) may be approximately what percent under good operation?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Open-hearth furnaces historically produced steel with large refractory chambers and regenerative checkers to preheat air and fuel. Despite regeneration, overall thermal efficiency (useful heat to process / fuel energy in) remained modest compared with modern basic-oxygen or electric arc processes, or with highly recuperated furnaces. Given Data / Assumptions: Typical open-hearth operation using gaseous or liquid fuels with regenerators. Normal flue-gas temperatures and practical excess air levels. Measured efficiency includes stack, wall, and opening losses. Concept / Approach: Even with regenerative preheat, open-hearth furnaces exhibit significant radiant wall losses and high sensible heat in exhaust. Historical performance data place overall efficiency roughly in the 15–25% band for many installations, rising only with exceptional heat recovery and tight operation. Therefore, the representative value closest to standard practice is near 20%. Step-by-Step Solution: Define thermal efficiency as useful heat to metal vs. total fuel energy.Account for major losses: hot flue gases, refractory radiation, infiltration/exfiltration.Select the nearest typical percentage: 20%. Verification / Alternative check: Published heat balances and historical plant reports corroborate that open-hearth efficiency values trail those of modern processes by a wide margin, commonly around the 20% level. Why Other Options Are Wrong: 5%: Too low for regeneratively fired open-hearths under good operation. 50% or 80%: Characteristic of highly recuperated/modern units; unrealistic for classic open-hearth practice. 35%: Higher than typical field averages. Common Pitfalls: Confusing instantaneous burner thermal efficiency with overall process efficiency; ignoring downtime and door-opening losses that depress the measured figure. Final Answer: 20

Question 14

Maintaining a neutral (non-oxidising, non-reducing) furnace atmosphere In which furnace operation is a neutral atmosphere typically maintained to protect the product surface?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Furnace atmosphere control (oxidising, reducing, or neutral) is crucial where surface quality, decarburisation, or scale formation must be tightly controlled. Neutral atmospheres are particularly important during annealing of finished steel strip or coils to preserve surface finish and mechanical properties. Given Data / Assumptions: Neutral atmosphere: typically N2/H2 blends adjusted for minimal oxidising or carburising potential. Process of interest: cold-rolled coil annealing in batch or continuous annealing furnaces. Other listed furnaces operate with hot combustion products in direct contact with the charge. Concept / Approach: Cold-rolled steel coils are often annealed in protective atmospheres (e.g., 95% N2 + 5% H2) within sealed shells or continuous annealing lines, maintaining a neutral to slightly reducing potential to prevent oxidation and decarburisation. In contrast, open-hearth, soaking pits, and walking-beam reheats commonly use oxidising or slightly reducing combustion atmospheres and are not intended to be neutral in the strict metallurgical sense for finished surfaces. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify process needing surface protection: cold-rolled coil annealing.Recognize typical protective-gas practice ensuring neutral potential.Exclude high-temperature combustion furnaces where neutral control is not standard. Verification / Alternative check: Industry annealing practices specify dew point and H2 content to tune carbon/oxygen potentials close to neutral, confirming the correct choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Open-hearth / Soaking pit / Walking-beam: Operate with combustion gases; atmospheres are not strictly neutral and often oxidising to control scale/combustion efficiency. Rotary kiln for clinker: Designed for mineral processing; neutral atmosphere is not the objective. Common Pitfalls: Assuming any furnace can be “neutral” because excess air is reduced; true neutrality requires controlled gas composition and sealed chambers. Final Answer: Cold-rolled steel coil annealing

Question 15

Recuperative furnace example Identify which of the following furnaces commonly employs a recuperator (continuous heat exchanger) for air preheating rather than classic regenerators.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Heat recovery in high-temperature furnaces is achieved either by regenerators (cyclic heat storage in checkers) or by recuperators (continuous gas-to-air heat exchangers). Knowing which furnaces typically use which device helps in understanding layouts and efficiency expectations. Given Data / Assumptions: Open-hearth and coke ovens are historical examples well known for regenerative checkerwork. Soaking pits for billets/ingots are frequently equipped with recuperators to preheat combustion air using flue gases. Electric arc furnaces do not rely on combustion-air preheat for the main energy input. Concept / Approach: Regenerators alternate flow through hot checker bricks, while recuperators continuously transfer heat across a wall. Open-hearth and coke ovens are classic regenerative designs; soaking pits often adopt compact metallic or ceramic recuperators for simplicity and continuous preheat. Step-by-Step Solution: Classify each furnace by typical heat-recovery method.Identify soaking pit as commonly recuperative in practice.Exclude open-hearth and coke ovens (regenerative) and EAF (electric, not air-preheat centric). Verification / Alternative check: Plant schematics and vendor literature for soaking pits show inline recuperators feeding preheated air to burners. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Open-hearth / Coke ovens: Use regenerators with flow reversal through checkerwork. None of these: Incorrect because soaking pits are known recuperative applications. Electric arc furnace: Electrical heating; burner air preheat is not the defining energy path. Common Pitfalls: Assuming all large furnaces are regenerative; many medium-duty units prefer recuperators for lower complexity. Final Answer: Soaking pit

Question 16

Flue-gas removal method Which installation typically uses an induced-draft (I.D.) fan to remove flue gases from the furnace or boiler?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Draft systems move combustion products from the furnace to the stack. Induced-draft (I.D.) fans pull gases, maintaining a slight negative pressure at the furnace exit. The choice between natural draft and I.D. fans depends on pressure drops, emission controls, and heat-recovery equipment downstream. Given Data / Assumptions: High-pressure boilers possess significant gas-side pressure drops across economisers, superheaters, and particulate controls. Traditional coke ovens and beehive ovens historically relied on natural draft or simple draft systems. Blast furnace stoves are pressure-balanced with process gas systems and may not require classic I.D. arrangements like boilers. Concept / Approach: Where high resistance exists in the gas path, an I.D. fan is standard to ensure proper evacuation and control of furnace/boiler pressure. Modern high-pressure boilers almost universally employ I.D. fans (often paired with forced-draft F.D. fans) to manage draft and emissions equipment pressure drop. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify equipment with largest downstream pressure drop: high-pressure boiler.Recall standard boiler draft scheme: F.D. + I.D. fans.Select “High-pressure boiler.” Verification / Alternative check: Boiler P&IDs show I.D. fans downstream of economisers/APC devices maintaining negative furnace pressure. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Coke oven / Beehive: Historically natural or simpler draft; not typical I.D. fan installations. Blast furnace stoves: Operate within the blast furnace gas system; not the archetypal I.D.-fan example. Common Pitfalls: Confusing positive pressure firing with the presence of I.D. fans; many systems mix both F.D. and I.D., but high-pressure boilers are the canonical case. Final Answer: High-pressure boiler.

Question 17

What drives in-furnace gas circulation? Circulation and mixing of gases inside a furnace are caused primarily by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Uniform temperature and rapid heating depend on vigorous internal gas circulation. Understanding the physical drivers of this circulation helps in optimizing burner placement, dampers, and baffles for better heat transfer and product quality. Given Data / Assumptions: Standard fuel-fired furnace with stack/ducting. Natural convection and forced flow both present. No unusual flow constraints beyond typical practice. Concept / Approach: Three effects drive circulation: (1) thermal expansion/contraction changes volume and creates motion; (2) buoyancy from density differences promotes natural convection (hot gases rise, cold gases sink); and (3) imposed pressure gradients from draft fans or stack effect move gases through the enclosure and flues. All three contribute materially to in-furnace flow patterns and mixing. Step-by-Step Solution: Recognise natural convection: density differences create buoyant plumes.Consider thermal expansion: temperature changes alter volume, inducing motion.Account for forced draft/induced draft: pressure gradients drive bulk flow and entrainment. Verification / Alternative check: CFD simulations and flow-visualisation experiments in furnaces show combined buoyancy-driven and pressure-driven recirculation loops, confirming the synergy of mechanisms. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single effect alone: In real furnaces, multiple mechanisms act simultaneously. Chemical composition changes only: While reaction heat release affects temperature, composition alone does not drive flow without associated temperature/pressure differences. Common Pitfalls: Ignoring buoyancy in high-temperature zones; attributing all flow to fans when natural convection can be dominant locally. Final Answer: All (a), (b) and (c).

Question 18

Why theoretical flue-gas compositions are rarely achieved In practical furnace operation, why is zero O2 (or theoretical maximum CO2) in flue gas seldom attained?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Combustion control targets stoichiometric or slightly lean/rich conditions. In theory, perfect stoichiometry produces zero residual oxygen and a “theoretical” CO2 percentage in dry flue gas. Real-world furnaces rarely hit this because of mixing and leakage limitations. Given Data / Assumptions: Conventional burners and practical furnace seals. Non-ideal mixing at realistic velocities. Some air leakage at doors, joints, and viewports. Concept / Approach: Achieving zero O2 requires perfect instantaneous mixing and zero excess air. In practice, to ensure complete combustion and avoid CO, a margin of excess air is introduced. Additionally, infiltration (air leaking into a negative-pressure furnace) raises stack O2 and lowers CO2 below the theoretical maximum. Hence, imperfect mixing and leakage are the principal reasons for not reaching the theoretical composition. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify need for excess air due to mixing limitations.Recognise infiltration increases measured O2 and dilutes CO2.Conclude that (c) is the dominant cause. Verification / Alternative check: Portable flue-gas analyser trends versus damper settings confirm O2 does not reach zero and CO2 lags theoretical unless sealing and mixing are ideal. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Non-preheated air: Affects efficiency, not whether zero O2 is attainable. Pulverised fuels: Can actually enhance mixing; not the reason for persistent O2. Excessive positive draft: Tends to exfiltrate gases; most furnaces run negative, making infiltration the issue. Refractory heat losses: Influence efficiency, not flue-gas stoichiometry. Common Pitfalls: Assuming CO-free means stoichiometric; typically it means some excess air, which by definition yields non-zero O2. Final Answer: Imperfect fuel–air mixing and infiltration of air.

Question 19

Unit for furnace loading (throughput intensity) Choose the correct engineering unit commonly used to express furnace loading for hearth-type furnaces.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Furnace loading quantifies throughput intensity—how much product is processed per unit hearth area per unit time. This normalisation enables fair comparison among furnaces of different sizes and helps in design/scale-up and performance benchmarking. Given Data / Assumptions: Hearth-type furnaces where floor (hearth) area constrains charge layout. Throughput measured as mass of stock processed per hour. Need to compare furnaces independent of absolute size. Concept / Approach: Normalising throughput by hearth area yields a characteristic loading rate. The standard practice is to use mass flow per time per area. Using only ton/hr hides geometry effects; using ton/m2 omits time. Thus, ton stock/hr/m2 hearth area is the meaningful unit for loading intensity. Step-by-Step Solution: Define throughput = mass/time.Normalise by hearth area to compare furnaces.Select ton stock/hr/m2 hearth area. Verification / Alternative check: Design manuals specify recommended loading ranges (e.g., t/h/m2) depending on product type and heating schedule. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ton stock/hr: Not normalised to area; inadequate for comparison. ton stock/m2: Lacks time dimension; cannot indicate rate. both (b) and (c): Combining two incomplete measures does not make a correct unit. kJ/hr/m3 flue-gas: Not a standard loading metric for hearth furnaces. Common Pitfalls: Confusing burner heat-input density with furnace loading; they are related but distinct metrics. Final Answer: ton stock/hr/m2 hearth area

Question 20

Function of an economiser in a boiler system In a fired boiler with heat-recovery sections, the economiser is specifically intended to preheat which stream?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Heat-recovery sections in boilers—economiser and air preheater—capture sensible heat from flue gases. Knowing which stream each device heats is fundamental to understanding boiler efficiency improvements and stack temperature targets. Given Data / Assumptions: Conventional order: boiler bank → superheater (if any) → economiser → air preheater → stack. Economiser duty is to raise the temperature of boiler feedwater before it enters the steam drum or economiser outlet header. Air preheaters warm combustion air, not water. Concept / Approach: Transferring residual flue-gas heat to feedwater increases the average temperature of water entering the boiler, reducing required fuel for a given steam duty and lowering stack losses. This section is therefore called the economiser, reflecting fuel-economy benefits. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify process stream upstream of boiler drum: feedwater.Locate economiser in gas path: downstream of main generating surfaces, upstream of air preheater.Conclude: economiser preheats feedwater. Verification / Alternative check: Boiler heat-balance sheets assign economiser duty to water heating; separate APH duty to air heating, confirming roles. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Combustion air: Heated in the air preheater, not the economiser. Pulverised coal / Furnace oil: Fuels may be preheated by separate heaters; not the economiser’s function. Cooling water: Not part of the boiler steam-generating path. Common Pitfalls: Confusing economiser and air preheater locations; mixing up feedwater heaters in power plants with lube or fuel oil heaters. Final Answer: Feedwater

Furnace Technology Questions