Furnace

A furnace is a heating device usually found in oil refineries and other chemical plants, for extraction of metal from ore or as a heat source for fractional distillation columns. The term furnace generally refers to several metallurgical furnaces worldwide. Different types of furnaces like household furnaces, metallurgical furnaces and industrial furnaces, serve different functions. The design of these furnaces differ depending upon the intended use, heating duty, type of fuel used and the method of introducing combustion air. The most common types include the gas furnace and the electric furnace. Although there are differences in designs, all furnaces have some common features.

Gas furnaces are usually more economic than electric furnaces where gas is readily available. However, they generate too much fumes in the form of carbon monoxide. Electric furnaces are generally expensive; however, they do not generate any carbon monoxide and are cleaner and safer than a gas furnace.

While buying a furnace, one must ensure the quality of the furnace. Choosing a well-known brand can go a long way both in terms of efficiency as well as safety. The blast furnace, casting furnace, electric arc furnace, heat treatment furnace and vacuum furnace are all different types of furnaces.