Feasible Optimal Design of High Temperature Vacuum Furnace Using Experiences and Thermal Analysis Database

Abstract

A new method using thermal analysis database and optimization technique has been developed to substitute the original method what was based on trial and error. First, an original vacuum furnace was manufactured according to experiences. Modified baseline vacuum furnace which can be used in high temperature was produced from the original one by using experimental data and experiences. The results in 2 different conditions of nearly vacuum and argon ambient gas were investigated in order to define the worse but necessary condition between them. By comparing the analysis results with experimental results, the unknown thermal conductivity of insulator in high temperature has been found out. The calculated thermal conductivity of insulator has been applied to the process of thermal analysis database constructing under the condition of argon ambient gas which is the worse but necessary condition. In order to check the accuracy of constructed thermal analysis database, the interpolated results using constructed thermal analysis database have been compared with computational results. Finally, optimization study has been carried out to design an energy efficient, high temperature vacuum furnace which can fully satisfy user's design requirements by using the new method. Feasible optimal design has been obtained as a final product. With negligible computational cost, a high temperature vacuum furnace which has 31.9% reduction in the total heat was designed by using the new developed method.

Keywords

• furnace
• optimum design
• heat treatments
• computer aided analysis
• heat transfer