Test firing with hydrogen is
possible at the CTB Firing Center!
The use of hydrogen as a fuel for kiln systems has a number of advantages. A key driver is the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and use more sustainable energy sources.
Hydrogen is a promising fuel for kiln systems in the ceramics industry because it produces only water and no harmful emissions when burned.
This property could help the ceramics industry meet its environmental and sustainability goals.
In kiln systems that require high firing temperatures, hydrogen offers a calorific value per kilogram that is three times higher than that of natural gas. In addition, hydrogen generates a more uniform heat during combustion due to the high thermal radiation of its combustion products (water vapor), which can improve the product quality. It may also be possible to reduce the sintering temperature, which can lead to further energy savings and potentially a higher production rate.
Another aspect of our burner systems is the ability to integrate hydrogen with natural gas in existing kiln systems. This means that hydrogen does not necessarily have to be used 100 % as a fuel. Instead, a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas can be used, depending on demand and economics. This eliminates the need to overhaul existing systems completely. Instead, our hydrogen-compatible gas burners can be used, which can run on 100 % hydrogen, natural gas, or any mixture of the two.
However, there are challenges to using hydrogen as a fuel. One of these is storage and delivery. Hydrogen is a light, highly flammable gas with special storage and transport requirements. The production of green hydrogen by electrolysis is also very energy-intensive, and hydrogen production is still much more expensive than natural gas.
Overall, however, using hydrogen as a fuel for high-temperature kilns offers significant advantages in terms of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. Despite the challenges that still need to be overcome, the transition to hydrogen is an important step towards more sustainable ceramics production. Research and technological advances are expected to lead to more efficient hydrogen technologies and, therefore, increased use of hydrogen in the coming years.
Tomorrows Kiln Technology Today