Oven trip
In the glass , non-ferrous metal and iron processing industry, furnace travel is the operating time of a melting or blast furnace from the initial phase to the end of the combustion . In some cases, the term furnace journey is also used to describe the service life of a glass melting tank .
Metallurgical furnaces
The operating life of the furnaces is limited to a few years in each case, although uninterrupted operation would be economically desirable. Smelting and blast furnaces for iron processing gradually become clogged with ash and other residues from the combustion processes ( slag , blast furnace slag ) during operation. This leads to a reduced performance and increased pollutant emissions. Furthermore, the refractory lining wears out , which must then be replaced.
After each furnace trip, the furnaces must be inspected , repaired and cleaned before they can be put back into operation.
Glass melting tanks
In melting tanks in glass processing, the viscous, hot glass causes wear and tear on the tank lining. The chemically aggressive atmosphere and temperature changes put a strain on the vaults and the smoke gas space (regenerative chambers). The travel time ranges from a few years for special glass tubs, around ten years for hollow glass tubs and up to 15 years for flat glass tubs. With minor repairs, increasing attempts are being made to extend the tub travel.
With the subsequent main repair, the old refractory material is broken out and then bricked up again. In this case, for reasons of cost, an attempt is usually made to obtain as many assemblies as possible. A repair including subsequent careful tempering (glass-to-glass) usually takes 60 (hollow glass) or 90 days (flat glass).