Electrical resistance furnaces

In industry, the choice of a heating system to produce or process products is always based on a complete technical and economic assessment, enabling a comparison of the various technical processes available. Too often, simply comparing the energy costs of the heating process is enough to condemn the use of electrical energy. However, the many electrothermal processes adopted by industry continue to develop, thanks to the following factors: high energy efficiency, increased productivity, improved working conditions, high quality and consistency of manufactured products, reduced environmental pollution, competitive cost price...

In the files and , it has been shown that furnaces can be used for a wide range of functions, from heating metals prior to forming, to surface treatments. The forms of energy used in furnaces are very diverse (fuel oil, solid fuels, gas, special fuels, electricity, etc.) and compete for most applications. The power of thermal equipment in industry has a marked influence on the choice of energy sources. Electricity continues to enjoy a virtual monopoly for orders over 100 kW, accounting for 24% of the total market in 2005 (up from 15% in 2004). For other equipment, it maintains its market share between 10 and 20%. It is hot on the heels of natural gas, except in the 200 kW segment.

Electric resistance furnaces are universally used in industry. It is therefore difficult to give an exhaustive overview of their industrial uses. The examples provided in this dossier are therefore necessarily limited: the installations chosen remain conventional and representative of the equipment used to drive current processes in different industrial sectors.

Readers will find economic data on the distribution of electric furnaces by power range and form of energy, as well as by sector of activity.