Continuous Heat Treatment Furnace

Definition
A Continuous Heat Treatment Furnace is an industrial system designed for the thermal processing of materials in a continuous flow This type of furnace is ideal for largescale production where consistent heating controlled atmospheres and efficient throughput are required

Key Features

Continuous Operation

Materials move through the furnace on conveyors rollers or belts ensuring steady uninterrupted production

Ideal for highvolume manufacturing

Zoned Temperature Control

Divided into multiple heating and cooling zones for precise temperature profiles

Zones include preheating heating soaking and controlled cooling areas

Atmosphere Control

Equipped with systems to create specific environments eg inert gases vacuum or controlled air to prevent oxidation or achieve desired material properties

Flexible Configurations

Horizontal or vertical designs depending on space and process requirements

Modular systems allow scalability and customization

High Automation

Integrated control systems ensure accurate process parameters and reduce human intervention

Applications

Automotive

Heat treatment of gears shafts and engine components to improve strength wear resistance and fatigue life

Aerospace

Processing of structural components turbine blades and fasteners for high temperature and mechanical stress resistance

Steel Industry

Continuous annealing hardening and tempering of sheets strips and wires

Electronics

Annealing and tempering of conductive materials like copper and aluminum for improved electrical properties

Tool Manufacturing

Heat treatment of cutting tools saw blades and dies for enhanced durability and performance

Types of Continuous Furnace

AHT Make Pusher Type Furnaces

Components are pushed through the furnace on trays

Often used for heavy duty applications like forging and casting

Advantages

High Throughput : Continuous design ensures maximum productivity making it suitable for mass production

Uniform Heating : Precise temperature control and zoned heating provide consistent and repeatable results

Energy Efficiency :  Heat recovery systems reduce energy consumption by utilizing exhaust heat

Reduced Handling : Automated material movement minimizes human intervention and handling errors

Scalability : Modular designs allow for future expansion to meet growing production demands

Customizable Atmospheres :  Enables specific treatments such as carburizing annealing or nitriding in controlled conditions

Common Materials Treated

Carbon and Alloy Steels Stainless Steels Copper and Aluminum Alloys NickelBased Superalloys Titanium Alloys

Key Technical Parameters

Operating Temperatures : Typically ranges from 500C to 1300C depending on the material and treatment process

Conveyor Speed :  Adjustable to control residence time for specific treatments

Atmosphere Options : Vacuum inert gases eg nitrogen argon or reactive gases eg hydrogen for annealing

Capacity : Can handle 500 Kg material per hour size 450x400 x1200 mm

Control Systems : Equipped with advanced sensors and PLCs for precise temperature atmosphere and speed control

Industries and Use Cases

Automotive Industry :  Continuous hardening and tempering of transmission components Case hardening of gears via carburizing furnaces

Steel and Metal Industry :  Continuous annealing of steel strips in a controlled atmosphere to improve ductility and surface finish

Tool Manufacturing :  Heat treatment of cutting tools and dies for improved hardness and wear resistance

Electronics : Processing of conductive materials like copper wires for high conductivity and mechanical strength