Dick Bennett

Thar's Gold in Thet Thar Stack!

November 29, 2007

With most plants now searching for ways to minimize energy waste, one of the most common questions I hear is whether there’s enough heat in an oven or furnace exhaust stream to make it worth recapturing. Obviously, everything has to be approached on a case-by-case basis, but here are some facts, figures and guidelines that may help you make an informed decision.

Purple Polka Dots and Other Random Thoughts

Dick Bennett

August 1, 2007

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Over the years of writing columns for Process Heating, I’ve had a number of items worth communicating that are just too brief to fill an entire column. This is a collection of those little bits and pieces. Just because something is small doesn’t mean it shouldn’t see the light of day.

What's Needed in the Future?

Dick Bennett

May 8, 2007

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In 2006, as part of its “Save Energy Now” program, the U. S. Department of Energy funded “Energy-Savings Assessments” of process heating applications in many industrial plants. The assessments are conducted by engineering professionals who have completed the DOE’s training to become BestPractices Qualified Specialists.

Understanding Efficiency

Dick Bennett

April 4, 2007

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Efficiency isn’t as clearly understood as many people would like to think.

Global Warming

Dick Bennett

March 2, 2007

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Where does process heating fit in?

Energy Efficiency: A Quick Review

Ways to quickly assess energy efficiency and potential energy savings in process heating equipment

Dick Bennett

February 1, 2007

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Over the last few columns, I’ve beaten the energy conservation drum pretty hard. But energy costs remain fairly high, and many companies are still struggling with their impact on profitability, so please indulge me one more swing of the drumstick.

Just How Efficient Are You?

Dick Bennett

January 1, 2007

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The definition of oven or furnace efficiency is pretty straightforward -- it’s the thermal energy put into the product, divided by the total thermal energy consumed to carry out the process.

When is a Cubic Foot Not a Cubic Foot?

Dick Bennett

November 1, 2006

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We all know that in convection ovens and furnaces, air is heated by a burner or electrical elements and then is pushed or pulled over and through the workload by a circulating fan. Coming into contact with the workpieces, the air transfers some of its heat to the product before going out the exhaust or being recirculated to the heating chamber.

Excess Air: Is it Such a Big Deal?

Setting up combustion systems for too much excess air (or dilution air) wastes fuel. Here's how to know if you are wasting natural gas in your industrial oven.

Dick Bennett

October 9, 2006

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It's a well-established fact that setting up combustion systems for too much excess air (or dilution air) wastes fuel. You can use this relationship to calculate just how much you can save by decreasing excess air:

% Fuel Savings = 100 x [1- (Available Heat, High XS Air/Available Heat, Low XS Air)]