Pushing the Boundaries of High-Temperature Process Heat: Demonstration of the First-of-its-kind Ceramic Induction Air Heater

Abstract

Electrification of industrial processes using renewable electricity has emerged as a promising transition path to low-carbon manufacturing. Particularly, substituting high-temperature process heat exceeding 900 °C in gas-circulating furnaces normally used in ceramic industry, offers high potential to significantly mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. However, existing industrial-scale resistance heater solutions are constrained by a maximum process temperature of around 900 °C, aimed at ensuring prolonged service life of the heating wire. Induction heating emerges as a compelling technology for industrial gas heating applications. While its contactless power transmission coupled with its high power density has the capability to surpass the 900 °C temperature boundary, the process efficiency is usually insufficient at such high temperatures beyond the Curie point of iron. Therefore, we propose an induction gas heater concept with a ceramic heating element material that have a sufficient electrical conductivity for efficient and durable induction gas heating, even at temperatures far above the Curie point.