Identifying a periodic (batch) furnace Which of the following industrial furnaces operates on a periodic/batch heating cycle rather than continuous flow?

Introduction / Context:
Furnaces are broadly classified as continuous or periodic (batch). In periodic units, the charge is heated in place for a defined soak time and then removed, whereas continuous units move material steadily through hot zones.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Standard industrial definitions of kiln and furnace types.
• “Periodic” means heat, soak, and cool cycles on discrete charges.

Concept / Approach:
Soaking pits are classic batch furnaces used in steelmaking to equalize billet/ingot temperature before rolling. Tunnel kilns and rotary kilns are continuous: the load passes through successive zones. Many reheating furnaces are continuous (pusher/walking-beam types) though some small car-bottom units can be batch; the representative continuous example is listed in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Process flow diagrams and scheduling methods differ: soaking pits require batch handling and crane charging, consistent with periodic operation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Tunnel kiln/Rotary kiln/Belt furnace/Continuous reheating: All operate with continuous material transport.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming all “reheating furnaces” are batch; many modern steel reheats are continuous walking-beam types.

Final Answer:
Soaking pit