English
Created on 10.28
Preparing for the next generation of combustion
The conversation around industrial gases is changing. No longer just a cost centre, oxygen is increasingly seen as a lever for performance, emissions reduction and process innovation. For engineers and plant managers, the decision to move away from delivered oxygen is as much about future-proofing their processes as it is about immediate savings.
Traditionally, operators have relied on bottled or bulk oxygen delivered to the site, stored in cryogenic tanks or high-pressure cylinders, and distributed through permanent or temporary pipework. This approach has been the norm for decades. However, shifting priorities around energy use, emissions compliance and supply stability are prompting manufacturers to reconsider their options. On-site generation is becoming a viable, and in many cases, preferable alternative.
Industrial furnaces, heat treatment lines and oxy-combustion systems are the foundation of modern materials production. Whether hardening steel, melting glass or sintering ceramics, these high-temperature processes depend on consistent thermal control and combustion efficiency. In this context, oxygen is not simply a fuel additive but a critical enabler of performance and throughput.
The core advantage of using oxygen in industrial combustion lies in its ability to displace nitrogen, which makes up roughly 78 per cent of atmospheric air but contributes little to the combustion process. When oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen is used instead of air, flame temperatures rise significantly, heat transfer becomes more efficient, and combustion is cleaner and more effective.
This translates into practical benefits across a wide range of applications. Furnace operators can reduce fuel consumption, increase production throughput and improve temperature uniformity. In oxy-combustion systems, where oxygen replaces air entirely, the absence of nitrogen also reduces the total volume of flue gas. This simplifies emissions treatment, enables improved heat recovery and reduces energy losses associated with exhaust gases.
For example, typical air-fuel flames reach around 1,870 degrees Celsius. Oxy-fuel flames, by contrast, can exceed 2,750 degrees Celsius. This increase in thermal intensity allows for faster heating and more responsive process control. Case studies have recorded fuel savings ranging from 10 to 40 per cent, and exhaust gas volume reductions of up to 60 per cent, depending on the specific setup and type of fuel used. These are not marginal gains. In high-energy environments such as steel mills or glass manufacturing, they can transform both the economics and sustainability of the operation.
With modern oxygen generation systems offering greater flexibility, lower total cost of ownership and minimal disruption to existing infrastructure, the case for onsite production continues to strengthen. In high-temperature industries, where thermal performance and environmental compliance are tightly linked, having oxygen on demand is not just efficient. It is essential.
Shanghai A-Turbo Energy Technology Co., Ltd
Tel: +86 13816886438
Email: zhu@a-turbocn.com
Website: www.a-turbocn.com
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