It is not uncommon to see well-used ovens and dryers — perhaps 40 or 50 years old, in some cases — in plants throughout the process industries. And, while the principles of heat transfer remain the same as when the systems were designed, little else has. Industrial controls, plant automation technologies and safety regulations have evolved to reflect the new realities of modern manufacturing. Think about it: perhaps 20-some years ago, the concepts of fuzzy logic and autotuning were state of the art. Now it is KPI-driven software optimization accessed via the cloud, with the process and plant engineering teams and the automation technologies service provider able to access data at a moment’s notice. What does that mean for legacy equipment?

With this in mind, I’m proud to bring the readers of Process Heating the opportunity to learn about the latest changes to NFPA 86, the standard for industrial ovens and furnaces, with a no-cost webinar on June 18 at 2 p.m. E.T. Join us live or register in advance and watch the recorded event on demand.

Rick Martin, the president and principal engineer at Martin Thermal Engineering Inc., a consulting firm providing fire and explosion investigations as well as services related to combustion technology, heat and chemical processes, and safety and environmental regulations and standards, will present “Is Your Old Oven Obsolete? Safety and Performance Improvements for Baking and Drying Applications.”

As Dr. Martin notes, decades-old baking and drying ovens — used in food, textile and paper industries for many functions — remain in use because oven users face tight profit margins in the process industries. Although many of these older ovens still function with roughly the same level of consistency, newer technologies can result in reduced operating costs and lower risks to production and personnel due to fewer shutdowns.

During the one-hour webinar, Dr. Martin will highlight developments in oven safety and quality. Becoming aware of such changes may trigger a reassessment of your current systems — or it may help you select the right upgrades to avoid having to replace your system. You will also learn about:

  • New safety guidance for Class A Ovens, as published in the 2019 Edition of NFPA 86.
  • Investigation anecdotes of unsafe practices.
  • Avoiding pitfalls related to OSHA 1910.263 oven inspections.
  • Challenges and solutions for fire detection and suppression in ovens.
  • Research on analytical, computational, and statistical methods for quality control in ovens.
  • A brief history of technology advancements in baking and drying ovens and the nomenclature and features that distinguish ovens, furnaces and dryers.

The webinar also will emphasize safety systems and practices that are addressed in the latest edition of NFPA 86, the standard for ovens and furnaces, and will provide case studies of oven failures that led to product loss and personal injury.