Materials Research Furnaces, Inc

 

    

 

  LABORATORY FURNACE

General Description:
  • 2500oC in Inert gas, vacuum, Hydrogen or Ammonia
  • Operating Pressure: 1X10-6 TORR to 2 P.S.I.G.
  • PC based control system with Data-acquisition
  • Ergonomic space saving one-enclosure design
  • TC and Pyrometer temperature control
  • Diffusion pumping system
  • Hydrogen burn-off

Laboratory furnace

Laboratory Furnace

A versatile laboratory furnace that will supply you with a tool to research, test or develop multiple materials or processes by simulating numerous atmospheric conditions at different temperatures. It can also be used as a batch furnace, featuring repeatable, accurate and recorded processing.

  1. Chamber and Hot zone
  2. Gas system
  3. Vacuum System
  4. Power Supply
  5. Controls
  6. Water system
  7. Utilities

 

CHAMBER AND HOT ZONE

The Top Loading Hot Zone chamber is cylindrical in shape and is manufactured from double-walled stainless steel. The whole chamber is welded and polished for vacuum integrity and an ergonomic appearance.
There are instrumentation feed through ports (for thermocouples) and a gas ported quartz sight window for viewing or pyrometer temperature measurement. The hot zone is made from Tungsten and Molybdenum (different zones available), with a minimum of 7 shield layers to reduce power loss. The specimen will rest on a tungsten hearth.
Power connections to the heating elements are secluded on the bottom of the chamber and are water cooled. The water-cooled flexible power cables will be attached to these copper feed throughs.

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PROCESS GAS SYSTEM

This furnace system was designed to operate in several gas environments and a partial pressure (below atmosphere) of gas, Hydrogen, Dissociated Ammonia, Nitrogen or Argon. The positive pressure is 2 PSIG. A relief valve, 30/30 compound gauge and a H2 burn-off are located on the top chamber of the furnace body.
The inert gas purge line valve will automatically open when any critical alarms activate. This Gas System comes with several solenoid operated inlet valves and two exhaust valves to allow operation to 5 P.S.I.G.. The H2 gas lines and components in this line are fabricated from stainless steel and copper. A Hydrogen Gas Manifold System, explosion-proof pressure switch, hydrogen flow meter, explosion proof solenoid valve, stainless steel gas wetting system, blow off port and a gas igniter system on the gas out line are all standard components and meet NFPA requirements.

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VACUUM SYSTEM:

This pumping system will evacuate the furnace into the 10-6 TORR vacuum range. The purpose of this pumping system is to quickly remove oxygen from the inside of the furnace to backfill with gas or to make a furnace run in a high vacuum atmosphere.

The pumping system consists of the following:

  • A 30 CFM (920 L.P.M.) Rotary Vane Pump with an exhaust filter.
  • A 2" High speed diffusion pump with water cooled baffle(other pumps available)
  • Electropneumatic vacuum valves are provided to operate the vacuum system or to isolate the chamber in case of operation in Process gas.
  • A vacuum relief valve (back to atmosphere) is provided for the purpose of releasing the pressure or to conveniently leak check the system.
  • PC interface screens are provided to monitor and operate the status of the pumping system.
  • Pirani vacuum gauges and an ionization gauge are supplied to monitor vacuum levels

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POWER SUPPLY:

Power to the heating elements is supplied by a three phase, SCR controlled transformer package allowing high ramp-up speeds up to the maximum temperature of 2500C. All of the furnace controls will be mounted on the front face of this power supply thus saving valuable floor space. All circuit breakers, contactors, instruments and wires are mounted in the furnace enclosure. Hot zone power and temperature are controlled by the Honeywell PC based Control system.

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CONTROL INSTRUMENTATION:

The furnace temperature is controlled through a Honeywell PC control system (other control systems available). This instrument controls the gas system, vacuum system as well as temperature. The controller has several segments of programming available with ramp and soak, used to create a temperature profile as required.

The controller will read and display the furnace temperature up to 2500C. At low temperatures a type "C" thermocouple will be used to control the furnace temperature. The pyrometer will read and can control the furnace temperature above 1000C. The instrument will automatically switch between the two sensors at a programmable temperature. The temperature control loop sends a signal to the SCR which will modulate power to the furnace. The Honeywell system also allows control and visualization of your complete furnace process. Data acquisition, alarming, recipe selection and trending are among its common functions.

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WATER SYSTEM:

The water system is designed to adequately cool the furnace components so no exterior surfaces exceed 120F (45C). A water flow switch is installed for visual indication and to interlock power to the heating elements. In the event water flow is interrupted for more than 5 seconds when the furnace hot zone is operating, the power will be disconnected to the heating elements.

The water manifold has several circuits supplying water to the various parts of the furnace. Each one of these can be manually adjusted to allow each circuit just the proper amount of flow to minimize heat and energy losses.

UTILITIES:

Power: 40 KVA, 480V/3/60 Hz (other voltages available)
Water: 8 G.P.M. @ 68oF and 50 P.S.I.G.
Process Gas: Ar, N2 & He, 30-60 L.P.M. @ 25 P.S.I.G.
Reducing Gas: H2 or NH3, 30-60 L.P.M. @ 25 P.S.I.G.
Compressed Air: 60 P.S.I.G. filtered.

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