C/C Composite Hot Zones Improve Vacuum Furnace Productivity
Ningbo VET Energy has upgraded a German vacuum furnace with C/C composite components, reducing weight and increasing load capacity. The changes aim to resolve high-temperature deformation and efficiency issues.
Ningbo VET Energy Technology Co., Ltd. has successfully enhanced the productivity and energy efficiency of a German vacuum furnace by replacing traditional molybdenum and graphite components with carbon-carbon (C/C) composites.
The upgraded furnace, operating at 1350°C and 20 bar, achieved a 62% reduction in hot zone tare weight and a 35% increase in net load capacity. Additionally, single-batch energy consumption decreased by 22%, and component lifespan extended over threefold. The company reports annual cost savings exceeding €22,000.
Traditional vacuum furnaces often face issues with high-temperature creep sagging and frequent breakage of molybdenum or graphite fixtures under severe thermal cycling and high-pressure gas quenching. VET Energy's solution utilizes custom C/C composite bolts and lightweight load-bearing frames designed to resist deformation and breakage at extreme temperatures.
The company also implemented coated graphite heating rods to better withstand high-pressure gas flow and thermal shock. This upgrade improves electrothermal conversion efficiency and extends component service life, further reducing maintenance needs and operational costs.
These improvements address key bottlenecks for heat treatment clients, resolving high-temperature deformation issues and improving energy savings, thereby significantly boosting the efficiency and reliability of their production processes.