CLAY-BRICK FIRING IN A HIGH-TEMPERATURE SOLAR FURNACE

• Published in: Ingeniería, investigación y tecnología Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 395 - 408
• Main Authors: Villeda-Munoz, G, Castaneda-Miranda, A, Pless, R C, Vega-Duran, J T, Pineda-Pinon, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Engineering, Multidisciplinary; fossil fuels; energía solar; atmospheric pollution; solar energy; contaminación atmosférica; combustibles fósiles; helióstato; cocción de tabique de arcilla; clay-brick firing; heliostat; high-temperature solar furnace; horno solar de alta temperatura
• ISSN: 1405-7743

The firing of clay bricks in traditional kilns generates atmospheric pollution when industrial and domestic scrap is used as fuel. An alternative method, using solar energy for clay-brick firing, is presented. A system is being developed for firing at temperatures between 900 C and 1050 C; these temperatures are sufficiently high to fire bricks or similar ceramic products. The design and features of the components of a solar furnace for clay-brick firing with inner chamber dimensions of 0.48 x 0.61 x 0.64 m are described. To convey the sunlight to the firing chamber, a heliostat with nine 1 x 1 m mirrors is used to send the rays of the sun to an off-axis parabolic concentrator that focuses the light on the entrance to the firing chamber. The heliostat has a solar-tracking system which makes primary and secondary adjustments to ensure that the reflected solar radiation always arrives at the concentrator. The firing chamber contains a prismatic cavity that absorbs the solar radiation to generate the heat which is needed for baking the bricks inside the firing chamber.