- Network Solutions Application Note -

Ceramic Kiln
Summery:

The making of ceramics is one of the oldest forms

of heat-treating known to man. Clay, silica or some
type of high purity alumina is shaped, dried, milled
and then baked at extremely high temperatures.
This high baking process changes the clay material
to stone or glass. Depending on the properties that
are desired from the end product will determine the
material used and the method of firing the work.
The rate and temperature that the piece is fired
determines it outcome. Poor control in ramping the
temperature could have detrimental effects on the
end product especially with technical ceramics and
porcelains.
Despite the caution that needs to be taken with
high-end ceramics, many are making simple staple
items for kilns such as furniture, bricks and other
refractories. This application will go over the simple
pattern control for bricks.

Keywords: kiln, tile, china, porcelain, sanitary ware, refractory,

Application Requirements:

The manufacturing of refractory bricks and kiln furniture requires a two-stage temperature
control process. The first stage is to completely dry out the refractories at a relatively low
temperature, about 400C to 800C. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to a
couple of days, depending upon the specification for the product. The second stage is to
cook them at high temperature for a relatively short period of time.

The diagram illustrates an electric kiln

The kiln temperature is sensed by a high temperature type W thermocouple and controlled
by a Yokogawa UP550 controller.

Depending upon the customer’s requirements, there is a wide selection of profile controllers:

UP150 – Lab Ovens, Tube furnace

UP350 – Brick, Pottery, kiln furniture, refractories
UP550/UP750 – Technical ceramic parts, china, porcelain
CX1000 / 2000 – Medical & Aerospace parts. Where keeping temperature records is
paramount.

NSAN-DX-nnn-01A
LFJ 7/24/2007
 - Network Solutions Application Note -
Ceramic Kiln

High temp type W T/C

Control
DIO

Time proportional voltage

pulse output.

The requirement is to reach the soak temperatures as quickly as possible without damaging
the product in the kiln or the kiln itself. The Yokogawa UP controllers and the CX Network
Control Station have features such as PV events, Wait zones based upon ramp rate
deviation, guaranteed soaks and a selection between time and rate based control. These
features will ensure that you temperature will not only be where you want it, but will ramp at
the precise rate that you set.

Ceramic Profile

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NSAN-DX-nnn-01A
LFJ 7/24/2007