Tubes for heating systems
Tubes for heating systems in the context of galvanizing primarily refers to the specialized steel piping used to maintain the massive volume of molten zinc in the galvanizing kettle.
These are formally known as immersion heating tubes or radiant heating tubes. They are large-diameter tubes, often configured in a U-shape or as radiant panels, placed inside the furnace structure beneath the zinc kettle.
- Heat Transfer: They house the fuel combustion apparatus (burners). Hot combustion gases travel through the inside of these tubes, transferring heat efficiently and evenly through the tube walls to the exterior walls of the kettle, which in turn heats the molten zinc.
- Efficiency and Kettle Life: This method provides excellent thermal efficiency and, crucially, prevents direct flame impingement on the kettle's shell. Direct flame contact would cause excessive localized heating, accelerating the alloying reaction between the kettle steel and the zinc, which drastically shortens the kettle’s service life and increases the formation of undesirable dross (zinc-iron alloy sediment).
The integrity of these tubes is paramount for continuous, safe, and high-quality galvanizing production.