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WO-2026093306-A1 - HEATING ASSEMBLY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL FURNACE

WO2026093306A1WO 2026093306 A1WO2026093306 A1WO 2026093306A1WO-2026093306-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating assembly (16) for an industrial furnace (10) and comprising a radiant housing (18) extending along a first main axis (23) in the industrial furnace (10) and supported by a first support (26) and a second support (27), and an electrical heating insert (60) extending along a second main axis (61) and arranged in the radiant housing (18), wherein the radiant housing (18) is configured for operating in a plurality of angular positions relative to the first main axis (23), and wherein the first support (26) and the second support (27) comprise supporting means (30) for allowing a rotation of the radiant housing (18) around the first main axis (23) during a maintenance operation in order to compensate for previous deformation of the radiant housing (18) and therefore extend the service life of the radiant housing (18).

Inventors

  • DI GIOVANNI, Amedeo
  • von der Heide, Christoph
  • DOYEN, DOMINIQUE
  • LHOEST, Alexandre
  • BERTRAND, Fabien

Assignees

  • DREVER INTERNATIONAL S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251028
Priority Date
20241028

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Heating assembly (16) for an industrial furnace (10) and comprising: a first furnace wall portion (21) and a second furnace wall portion (22) facing each other, said wall portions (21 , 22) delimiting an inner volume (20) of the heating assembly (16); a radiant housing (18) for heating the inner volume (20), the radiant housing (18) extending along a first main axis (23) and comprising a first end (181) and a second end (182), the first main axis (23) extending between said wall portions (21, 22); an electrical heating insert (60) extending along a second main axis (61) and arranged in the radiant housing (18); a first support (26) for supporting the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18), said first support (26) being arranged on one of the furnace wall portions (21, 22); a second support (27) for supporting the second end (182) of the radiant housing (18), said second support (27) being arranged on one of the furnace wall portions (21 , 22); wherein the radiant housing (18) is configured for operating in a plurality of angular positions relative to the first main axis (23), and wherein the first support (26) and the second support (27) comprise supporting means (30) for allowing a rotation of the radiant housing (18) around the first main axis (23) during maintenance, with said radiant housing (18) resting on said first and second supports (26, 27).
  2. 2. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one of said first and second supports (26, 27) further comprise blocking means for preventing rotation of the radiant housing (18) around the first main axis (23) during operation.
  3. 3. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supporting means (30) are further configured for allowing a translation of the radiant housing (18) along the first main axis (23).
  4. 4. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first support (26) further comprises a stop (50) for limiting the translation of the radiant housing (18) along the first main axis (23) during maintenance.
  5. 5. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radiant housing (18) is configured to be rotated around the first main axis (23) by an angle comprised - 63 - between 15° and 345°, preferably between 90° and 270°, more preferably between 135° and 225°, even more preferably substantially equal to 180°.
  6. 6. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising a handle mechanically coupled to the radiant housing (18) at least during maintenance for facilitating the rotation of the radiant housing (18) around the first main axis (23).
  7. 7. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support (26) is configured for allowing a local rotation of the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) around a first transverse axis (36) transverse to the first main axis (23).
  8. 8. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support (26) is arranged outside the inner volume (20).
  9. 9. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support (26) further comprises compensating means (34) for allowing a deformed radiant housing (18) to be mechanically coupled to one of the furnace wall portions (21 , 22).
  10. 10. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein said compensating means (34) of the first support (26) comprise a sleeve (35) mechanically coupled to the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) and to the furnace wall portion (21 , 22) on which the first support (26) is arranged.
  11. 11. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) and the sleeve (35) each comprise a flange (40, 42), both flanges (40, 42) being configured to be bolted together for preventing rotation of the radiant housing (18) around the first main axis (23) during operation.
  12. 12. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) is gas-tightly sealed against the furnace wall portion (21 , 22) on which the first support (26) is arranged during operation. - 64 -
  13. 13. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the heating assembly (16) further comprises a gasket (44), and wherein the gas-tight sealing between the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) and the furnace wall portion (21 , 22) on which the first support (26) is arranged is ensured by said gasket (44) being arranged between the flange (40) of the first end (181) of the radiant housing (18) and the flange (42) of the sleeve (35).
  14. 14. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second support (27) is configured for allowing a local rotation of the second end (182) of the radiant housing (18) around a second transverse axis (38) transverse to the first main axis (23).
  15. 15. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second support (27) is arranged inside the inner volume (20) and is mechanically coupled to one of the furnace wall portions (21 , 22) through a socket (46).
  16. 16. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second support (27) is configured for supporting a plurality of radiant housings (18) from said socket (46), wherein each radiant housing (18) in the plurality extends along a respective main axis (23), and wherein each radiant housing (18) in the plurality is rotatable individually around its respective main axis (23).
  17. 17. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of radiant housings (18) are arranged in the inner volume (20) along an axis (28) transverse to their respective main axes (23).
  18. 18. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radiant housing (18) is movable along the first main axis (23) in sliding friction relative to the second support (27).
  19. 19. Heating assembly (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second support (27) further comprises a pad (48) for preventing sticking of the second end (182) of the radiant housing (18) to the second support (27).
  20. 20. Heating assembly (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical heating insert (60) comprises an electrical heating conductor (62) and at least one - 65 - support element (64) for supporting the electrical heating conductor (62), the at least one support element (64) being made of a heat-resistant and electrically insulating material, the electrical heating conductor (62) being electrically insulated from the radiant housing (18).

Description

Heating assembly for an industrial furnace Technical field of the invention [0001] The invention pertains to the field of industrial furnaces for the production of metal products and in particular steel products. Background of the invention [0002] Industrial furnaces are used for the manufacture of metal products. Such furnaces allow the heat treatment of metal strips, preferably steel strips, and in particular the continuous heat treatment of steel strips. In a continuous line for the heat treatment of steel strips, said strips are conveyed past radiant housings. [0003] A radiant housing operated in an industrial furnace may undergo deformation such as bending due to creep and/or fatigue, which may shorten its service life and even ultimately lead to the destruction of the radiant housing. Said deformation may be progressive, for instance when due to creep and/or fatigue, or sudden, for instance in the case of a prevented deformation of a stuck mechanical part. More precisely, a straight radiant housing operated in an industrial furnace may progressively deform due to creep and/or fatigue, which may shorten its service life. [0004] Therefore, there is a need for extending the service life of a radiant housing operated in an industrial furnace. Disclosure of the invention [0005] To this end, the invention provides a heating assembly for an industrial furnace and comprising: a first furnace wall portion and a second furnace wall portion facing each other, said wall portions delimiting an inner volume of the heating assembly; a radiant housing for heating the inner volume, the radiant housing extending along a first main axis and comprising a first end and a second end, the first main axis extending between said wall portions; an electrical heating insert extending along a second main axis and arranged in the radiant housing; a first support for supporting the first end of the radiant housing, said first support being arranged on one of the furnace wall portions; a second support for supporting the second end of the radiant housing, said second support being arranged on one of the furnace wall portions; wherein the radiant housing is configured for operating in a plurality of angular positions relative to the first main axis, and wherein the first support and the second support comprise supporting means for allowing a rotation of the radiant housing around the first main axis during maintenance, with said radiant housing resting on said first and second supports. In an embodiment, at least one of said first and second supports further comprise blocking means for preventing rotation of the radiant housing around the first main axis during operation. In an embodiment, said supporting means are further configured for allowing a translation of the radiant housing along the first main axis. In an embodiment, the first support further comprises a stop for limiting the translation of the radiant housing along the first main axis during maintenance. In an embodiment, the radiant housing is configured to be rotated around the first main axis by an angle comprised between 15° and 345°, preferably between 90° and 270°, more preferably between 135° and 225°, even more preferably substantially equal to 180°. In an embodiment, the heating assembly further comprises a handle mechanically coupled to the radiant housing at least during maintenance for facilitating the rotation of the radiant housing around the first main axis. In an embodiment, the first support is configured for allowing a local rotation of the first end of the radiant housing around a first transverse axis transverse to the first main axis. In an embodiment, the first support is arranged outside the inner volume. In an embodiment, the first support further comprises compensating means for allowing a deformed radiant housing to be mechanically coupled to one of the furnace wall portions. In an embodiment, said compensating means of the first support comprise a sleeve mechanically coupled to the first end of the radiant housing and to the furnace wall portion on which the first support is arranged. In an embodiment, the first end of the radiant housing and the sleeve each comprise a flange, both flanges being configured to be bolted together for preventing rotation of the radiant housing around the first main axis during operation. In an embodiment, the first end of the radiant housing is gas-tightly sealed against the furnace wall portion on which the first support is arranged during operation. In an embodiment, the heating assembly further comprises a gasket, and the gas-tight sealing between the first end of the radiant housing and the furnace wall portion on which the first support is arranged is ensured by said gasket being arranged between the flange of the first end of the radiant housing and the flange of the sleeve. In an embodiment, the second support is configured for allowing a local rotation of the second end of the radiant housing around a