Electric resistance furnaces — General presentation

The electric resistance furnace is undoubtedly the best-known electrothermal appliance. Its industrial use dates back to the early 1920s, and its technology has been constantly perfected ever since. The principle behind this type of furnace is extremely simple: it consists of an enclosure heated by electric resistors, and very well insulated to minimize heat loss. The load to be heated is placed inside this enclosure. The resistance furnace is indirectly heated, with the heat generated by the Joule effect of the resistors being transmitted to the load by radiation and convection. In this article, the focus is on the specific characteristics of resistance furnaces, in particular the nature and performance of resistors as heating elements, the use of resistors, heat transfer between the heating elements and the load, and the operation and management of these furnaces. The robustness and reliability of this equipment, its ease of use and maintenance, and its high energy efficiency mean that it is used in a wide range of industrial applications, and there is hardly an industrial sector that does not make use of it.

The complete study of the subject includes the articles :

• D 5 910 — Electric resistance furnaces. General presentation (this article);

• D 5 911 — Electric resistance furnaces. Application technologies ;

• D 5 912 — Electric resistance furnaces. Industrial applications ;

• Doc. D 5 913 — Electric resistance furnaces "Find out more".