A Study Towards Energy Saving In Brick Making Part 3 : Experient Verification and Operation Strategy

Abstract

In a series of studies aiming for the development of an energy-efficient brick kiln, experiment verification of the theoretical simulation reported previously is presented. Three experiments were carried out in a full-scale single chamber kiln loaded with 3500, 2500 and 2250 bricks. It was found that the experimental results agreed well with the theoretical prediction particularly at the small loading capacity. Since the proposed four-chamber kiln requires time matching of the four processes, the operating times and associated temperatures in the four chambers were studied by the computer simulation. It was found that the production cycle consist of two sub cycle of which the durations are alternately long and short and the specific energy consumption depends on the firing temperature, combustion air flow rate and loading capacity. The kiln with a low loading capacity does not only consume less specific energy but also completes the process in a shorter time; hence increases the production rate at low unit cost. In general, the specific energy consumption, under the conditions of this study, is in the range of 1.4 MJ/kg – 2.4 MJ/kg brick.