Special furnace heats aero-engine components

Citation

(2002), "Special furnace heats aero-engine components", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774bad.011

Special furnace heats aero-engine components

Keywords: Aircraft, Engines, Furnaces

We are informed that a special Carbolite furnace has upgraded facilities for the production of aircraft engine components at the Waterford plant of Honeywell Engines and Systems in the Irish Republic (Plate 5).

Plate 5 Feeding components into the Carbolite rotating hearth furnace at Honeywell's factory in the Irish Republic

The furnace was required to ensure particularly accurate control of temperature and atmospheres when heating stainless steel and titanium blanks before forging, as well as convenient and economical operation.

The Carbolke equipment can reportedly heat up to 40 kg of components an hour to a maximum 1200°C, before they are forged to shape. Temperature uniformity is 13°C maximum – more precise than the usual industry standard. Stainless steel parts are generally heated to 1160°C and titanium items to 940°C, with the stainless steel components protected by a nitrogen atmosphere and titanium items by compressed air.

The furnace incorporates a circular hearth, 1200mm in diameter, which can rotate continuously or be indexed, depending on production requirements. Rotation speed is adjustable between three minutes and 20 minutes for one continuous revolution.

Carbolite asserts that low thermal mass insulation enables the equipment to heat up quickly and reduces running costs. The temperature control and atmosphere supply systems are said to be both easy to calibrate, and good access has been provided to the hearth drive system and elements for maintenance.

Details available from: Carbolite. Tel: +44 (0) 1433 620011; Fax: +44 (0) 1433 621198; E-mail: enquiry@carbolite.co.uk