Furnaces
Fired heaters, or furnaces, are used to heat up raw materials so they can
produce products such as gasoline, oil, kerosene, plastic, and rubber. Furnaces
are used in many processes, including crude distillation, cracking,
and olefins production. The basic components of a fired heater include a
tough metal shell surrounding a firebox, a convection section, and a stack.
The inside of the furnace is lined with a special refractory designed to reflect
heat. A battery of tubes passes through the connection and radiant
sections and into a common insulated header that passes out of the furnace.
Fluid flow is balanced through the tubes to prevent equipment or
product damage. Airflow and oxygen content are controlled through burner
and damper adjustments. Figure 1.19 illustrates the basic layout of a furnace.
The heat released by the burners is transferred through the tubes