Furnaces

Radiant flame gas furnace – 3m x 3m

The furnace steel walls are lined with ceramic fibre insulation. Propane gas mixes with the air and produces the required combustion to achieve the target fire time-temperature curve. The fire time-temperature curve of the furnace is monitored and controlled by mineral insulated metal sheathed (MIMS) thermocouples. The furnace is controlled by EUROTHERM 3504, high specification HYBIRD controller, and connected to the computer using infrared clip communication port. The controller was accessed using itools^(R) computer software (version 7-69) to program the target fire time-temperature curves.

• Internal volume – 2.7 m³ (3 m x 3 m x 0.3 m)
• Burners – Six nos of Pyronics model SW3 infrared flat flame gas burners, with ignition pilot burners
• Pump – Centrifugal combustion air fan with the distribution manifold nozzles supplies air to the mixing units with a high velocity of flow

Radiant flame gas furnace – 0.3m x 0.3m

• Internal volume – 0.027 m³ (0.3 m x 0.3 m x 0.3 m).
• Burners – One nos of Pyronics model SW3 infrared flat flame gas burners, with ignition pilot burners.
• Pump – Centrifugal combustion air fan with the distribution manifold nozzles supplies air to the mixing units with a high velocity of flow.

Radiant flame gas furnace – 1m x 1m

• Internal volume – 0.3 m³ (1 m x 1 m x 0.3 m).
• Burners – One nos of Pyronics model SW3 infrared flat flame gas burners, with ignition pilot burners.
• Pump – Centrifugal combustion air fan with the distribution manifold nozzles supplies air to the mixing units with a high velocity of flow.
• Orientation – Both horizontal (floor tests) and vertical (wall tests) directions.

Radiant electric furnace

The electric furnace composed of three 1 m segments can be used to conduct tests up to 3 m height specimens. Electric elements are attached to the furnace walls and they are used as radiative heat sources to achieve the target time-temperature fire curve which is monitored and controlled by EUROTHERM 3504 controller.

• Burners – Heating coils on the three interior walls