Patent ID: 10125426

Abstract:
A thermal scavenging system to remove remnant lubricants from interior of bright annealing steel tubes is provided. The system is retrofitted to bright annealing furnace with a conveyer belt and hydrogen gas source and comprises hydrogen-blowing rack, flexible rubber hoses and a lighter. The tubes are placed on the conveyer belt. The hydrogen-blowing rack comprises a hydrogen gas manifold and outlet nozzles connected to tailing ends of the tubes by flexible rubber hoses. At the leading ends of the tubes, a lighter ignites the hydrogen gas to insure all tubes are filled with hydrogen gas, instead of atmospheric air. Then rubber hoses are unplugged from the leading ends and the hydrogen-filled tubes are fed into the furnace for heat treatment. At high annealing temperature, lubricant remnants are burned off the tube's interior surfaces. A negative difference in atmospheric pressure, combustion products of hydrocarbons are scavenged out from the tailing ends.