Three Common Problems With Your Furnace and How to Fix Them

Drying or firing a product in a belt furnace is often a very important step in manufacturing cells and packages. If there is a problem with the furnace, it can result in a huge set back in production as well as quality. It can create defective products and even compromise the name and credibility of the company you have worked so hard to build. Here are three common problems that one might face when using a furnace and how to quickly and easily fix them.


1. What do I do if the temperature in one zone increases very slowly or does not reach the set temperature for an extended period of time?
a. Check the temperature control in that zone to make sure if the indicator light on the controller is on or not. If the light is not on, reset the setting in the controller.
b. If the temperature controller is on, check the heating board to see if there are any open circuits. Disconnect the heating broad wiring and use a multi-meter to check if the coils are burnt out. You will easily be able to tell if your coils are burned out by using a multi-meter because it will show a infinite resistance. If the heating board is burn out, replace it. When a new heating board is installed, 1-2 days of drying is needed before the furnace can be set at higher temperatures.
c.If the heating board does not have an open circuit, check the solid state relay for that zone. Replace it with a spare or one from a working zone and see if the problem still exists.


2. What if the temperature in one of the zones climbs over 100C or goes higher than the temperature I had originally set?
a. Check the temperature controller in that zone to see if the controller indicator light is on or off. If the controller light is on, reset the setting in the controller.
b. If the controller light is off, the solid state relay is probably bad. Replace the solid state relay and test it again.


3. The products seem to have oxidized during the process. Why did this happen and how can I prevent this from happening again?
a. Oxidation is caused by high oxygen content in the muffle. This can be checked by the O2 analyzer. Double check for leaks on the nitrogen/hydrogen piping by turning on all of the gas flow meters and by using soapy water to check for bubbles.
b. Next, check for leaks in the gaskets in muffle connections. Tighten all the bolts that hold the muffles together to ensure they are not loose. Also, check the condition of the gasket itself and replace if necessary.


If these nifty tips do not seem to solve the problem, absolutely do not hesitate to call the furnace manufacturer in order to receive more model-specific instructions to fix your furnace. Good luck and merry manufacturing!