Furnace Equipment and Control Systems

This chapter provides a discussion on nitriding furnace equipment and their control systems. The discussion covers the essential design criteria of the furnace, types of nitriding furnaces, insulation for the reduction of furnace heat losses, and factors influencing furnace configuration and design. It also covers the processes involved in the construction and maintenance of retort and sealing the retort to prevent ammonia leaks as well as safety precautions to be taken while using ammonia. Further, the chapter provides information on the factors for the selection of heating medium and discusses the processes involved in controlling temperature and oxygen probe and monitoring gas dissociation as well as the applications of nitriding sensors.