In tunnel kiln brick firing systems, airflow is not only the carrier of oxygen required for combustion but also the most important medium for heat transfer and moisture removal throughout the entire firing process.
Cold air enters from the discharge end of the kiln and passes through the cooling zone and insulation zone. During this process, it absorbs residual heat from fired bricks, gradually increasing in temperature. This preheated air then enters the firing zone, where it supplies oxygen for coal combustion, ensuring maximum heat release and stable firing conditions.
As the hot airflow continues forward into the preheating zone, it transfers heat to cooler green bricks, raising their temperature evenly. At the same time, it promotes evaporation of internal moisture, which is then carried away as water vapor through exhaust channels in the kiln walls.
In once-fired tunnel kilns, moist hot air also passes through the drying zone, further assisting in uniform dehydration of bricks. Exhaust vents (also known as “air holes”) discharge moisture-laden air into the atmosphere.
Modern tunnel kilns with waste heat recovery systems reuse part of this airflow to preheat and dry green bricks, significantly improving thermal efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Airflow in tunnel kiln operation has several key characteristics:
The moisture-carrying capacity of air depends heavily on temperature. At 100°C, 1 m³ of air can carry about 800.99 g of water, while at 0°C it carries only 4.84 g. This means hot air is over 100 times more effective in moisture transport than cold air.
For stable kiln operation, exhaust gas temperature is typically controlled below 40°C, and relative humidity is kept below 80% to prevent condensation and collapse of brick stacks.
In practice, 30–40 m³ of air is required to remove 1 kg of water safely.
Airflow must maintain close contact with brick surfaces to enable effective heat and mass exchange. However, only a small portion of airflow directly contacts fuel particles, while most serves as a heat and moisture transport medium.
Therefore, the actual air supply in tunnel kilns is far greater than the theoretical combustion requirement. The ratio is called the excess air coefficient, typically 5–6 in tunnel kiln systems.
Proper airflow control is essential. Insufficient air leads to incomplete combustion and higher coal consumption, while excessive air increases heat loss and reduces efficiency.
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1.Strictly control fuel moisture content to improve coal ignition efficiency
Excess water in coal consumes massive heat for water evaporation after entering kiln, delays ignition time; damp coal agglomerates and reduces contact area with air to slow down combustion. Build rainproof coal storage shed to avoid coal soaking in rainy days; coal with excessive moisture must be air-dried or artificially dried before feeding into kiln.2. Screen and crush raw coal to expand fuel contact area with air
All kiln-used coal needs pre-screening; large lump coal shall be fully crushed. Fine granular coal increases oxygen contact area, speeds up burning, and effectively lowers coke accumulation and black brick defects.
3. Standardize stacking layout & coal feeding rules with fixed quantitative parameters
Follow the operation rule: feed frequently with small dosage, add coal according to real-time kiln fire condition.
4. Unify operation specifications of three working shifts to stabilize fire advancing speed
Inconsistent operation among shifts leads to fluctuating kiln temperature and uneven fire travel, resulting in extra fuel waste, unstable brick quality and limited output. Uniform operating standard ensures steady sintering rhythm.
5. Properly increase excess air volume under qualified firing temperature
On the premise of meeting required sinter temperature, raise surplus air reasonably to lift oxygen concentration inside firing zone, accelerate oxidation reaction and shorten sinter cycle.
6. Adopt low-temperature long-time firing technology for internal combustion bricks (especially high-internal-combustion bricks).
Rapid early heating makes green brick surface vitrify prematurely, seals internal pores and blocks oxygen penetration, causing incomplete or even stopped combustion of inner fuel.
Hollow structure reserves holes inside bricks, greatly boosts contact between internal fuel and infiltrated oxygen. Hollow design is highly recommended especially for high internal combustion bricks to speed up inner fuel burning obviously.