Modern design technology requires the installation of large amounts of expensive refractory for high temperature process. Newly installed refractory require a carefully controlled initial heating. If the initial heating is carried out to rapidly and or with local hot spot, then diffrent rates of expansion between adjoining refractory areas may occur, creating stresses which cause severe cracking or worth damages. Residual moisture may be converted to steam too quickly, resulting in a explosion. Both events will naturally have an impact to the efficiency and life time of the refractory. Most conventional process heat sources do not afford the close temperature control in the lower ranges (during which steaming will normally take place) and are less ideally suited to carry out the initial dry out or heat up. Moisture might drive into the refractory and is trapped, even so the refractory hot face may appear dried out.
Some temporary installed heating sources might also create hot spots, uneven temperature distribution and take much more time for the dry out or heat up than usually necessary. In most industries it has become widely accepted, the only truly effective means of drying out and heating up refractory is to deploy a heat source, passing large volume of hot gases over the refractory surface, providing an even temperature distribution and removing all moisture from refractory. This will not only save time and money from fuel consumption, it also protects the initial investment in expensive refractory and enhances the furnace refractory life time.
