Electrification of industrial furnaces with power controllers

In a constantly changing industrial world, energy efficiency and sustainability are crucial issues. The electrification of industrial furnaces, combined with the use of Fuji Electric power controllers, offers an innovative solution to these challenges.

towards the energy transition of industrial furnaces

Industrial furnaces are essential to many manufacturing processes, their performance being crucial to the quality and efficiency of the production line. Manufacturers, particularly in the metal processing and melting, glass, food and chemical industries, face increasing energy challenges. Historically, these furnaces used fossil fuels such as natural gas, coke or fuel oil, emitting CO2, the main greenhouse gas. Faced with these challenges, the European Union has introduced directives to reduce environmental impact, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and encouraging energy audits.

Decarbonizing industrial furnaces is a major ecological priority, as they consume up to 60% of the energy dedicated to industrial heating, with 90% of this energy coming from fossil fuels. Transforming the way they operate is crucial to combating climate change. What's more, rising energy prices in Europe are prompting companies to reduce their consumption in order to cut costs. This situation is driving many companies to adopt electricity solutions that are more sustainable and economical in the long term.

To meet these growing pressures, the industry is turning to electric heating solutions. The transition from gas to electric heating systems is essential to meet today's environmental and economic demands. Fuji Electric, a leader in industrial instrumentation, offers power controllers that facilitate this transition efficiently and cost-effectively, ensuring optimum performance of industrial furnaces.

understanding the industrial furnace electrification process

The electrification of industrial furnaces involves replacing traditional heating systems, such as those using fossil fuels like natural gas, with electric heating systems. This transition is based on the use of electric resistors to generate heat, rather than on gas combustion. Electrification aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut long-term operating costs.

The process of electrifying industrial furnaces begins with a thorough assessment of the existing equipment and the specific needs of the production process. This assessment determines the types of electric resistors and power controllers needed to achieve the desired performance. Once this analysis has been carried out, gas-fired heating systems are gradually replaced by electric resistors, while power controllers are integrated for optimum control of temperature and energy consumption.

Fuji Electric has introduced a range of power controllers specially designed for the electrification of industrial furnaces.

These controllers enable precise control of heating power, ensuring an optimum temperature control function. This translates into consistent, high-quality production, essential for sensitive needs and applications such as light alloy manufacturing and processing. Thanks to their cutting-edge technology, these controllers continuously adjust the power supplied in line with variations in operating conditions. This maintains a constant, optimum temperature, essential for industrial processes requiring stringent thermal conditions.

What's more, by optimizing energy consumption, these controllers deliver substantial savings in terms of the carbon footprint of industrial operations.

Fuji Electric's power controllers can be adapted to suit different furnace types, models and loads, offering exceptional flexibility that enables manufacturers to modernize their installations without massive investment in new equipment.