DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF GAS TEST KILN FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS USING FIBREGLASS

Abstract

A gas test kiln was designed and constructed for analytical purposes and high temperature (1000 to 1200 0C) applications. The kiln was developed using materials and technologies sourced locally and it consists mainly of heating chamber made of fibre glass and refractory cement at the base. The fibre glass replaces the insulating bricks used in a conventional kiln for the side lining while the refractory cement formed the hearth. By using fibreglass and refractory cement as thermal insulating materials in this work, a light weight test kiln with reduced thermal shock effect and cost effective when compared to conventional kilns was constructed. The production cost is approximately fifty-nine thousand, seven-hundred-naira, N59,700 ($143.17) while an imported test kiln of similar capacity costs between eighty –three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine-naira, N83,399 ($200) and one hundred and four thousand, two hundred and fifty-nine-naira, N104,249 ($250) excluding importation and transportation charges. Therefore, the fabricated test kiln is as good as the foreign based (imported) ones. Because the constructed test kiln is enhanced and cost effective too, its mass production will be a welcomed development and a boost to our economy. Keywords: Design, test kiln, fibreglass, refractory cement, thermal shock.