Revolutionizing Brick and Ceramics Manufacturing Through Hydrogen Innovation
Key Ideas
- The UK's first hydrogen test kiln for ceramics and brick production, developed in partnership with Bürkert, enables precise control of hydrogen, enhancing production quality and supporting the transition to sustainable energy.
- Manufacturers can test their production processes with hydrogen blends up to 40% concentration, preparing for a potential government switch-over and future industrial-scale production lines.
- Integration of a mass flow controller by Bürkert ensures high accuracy and reliability in regulating hydrogen concentration, while plug-and-play connectivity via a communications gateway facilitates seamless communication and remote management.
- Initial testing with 20% hydrogen concentration has shown positive results, paving the way for further testing with higher concentrations and demonstrating the potential for a sustainable future with increased use of hydrogen.
In a groundbreaking development in the UK, a kiln and furnace manufacturer has introduced the country's first hydrogen-fuelled kiln designed for ceramics, pottery, and brick production. Partnering with flow control specialist Bürkert, the manufacturer has created an in-house hydrogen test kiln aimed at supporting businesses in transitioning to hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. This innovation allows for the scaling of operations with a fuel mix of up to 40% hydrogen, offering manufacturers the opportunity to test and optimize their production processes with hydrogen blends.
The government's consideration of blending the gas network supply with 20% hydrogen has prompted this technological advancement to help manufacturers adapt to the potential switch in gas supply. By enabling precise control of the gas mix and facilitating testing of different hydrogen concentrations, the new kiln design ensures that manufacturers can assess the impact on product quality before investing in hydrogen-fuelled production lines.
Key to the success of the hydrogen test kiln is the integration of a mass flow controller (MFC) by Bürkert, which enables accurate regulation of hydrogen concentration with high reliability. The MFC, with its exceptional measuring accuracy and repeatability, ensures that manufacturers can fine-tune their processes with confidence. The seamless integration of the MFC with the kiln's PLC master controller via a Bürkert ME43 gateway allows for plug-and-play connectivity, facilitating easy adjustments to control parameters for different manufacturers.
Initial testing with 20% hydrogen concentration has shown promising results, and further tests with concentrations up to 40% are planned. The widespread adoption of hydrogen in industrial processes could lead to a more sustainable future, potentially driving down gas prices and promoting the use of green hydrogen from renewable sources. This innovation not only enhances production quality and efficiency but also signifies a positive step towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy transition.