The hydrogen enriched-combustion systems and application for ceramic industry

Many building materials sub-sector has energy-intensive processes. To be dependent on foreign energy (a portion close to 90% of oil, 97% of natural gas and 20% of coal) and Turkey in terms of energy prices to be among the countries using the world's most expensive energy, greatly increase the costs of the sector. The ceramic industry sub-sectors, due to firing and drying process in the production line, are very high energy consuming sectors .The share of energy in the ceramic industry of the production costs are very high, compared to other sectors. One of the sectors with the highest added value, for the overall cost of ceramic production,the energy has a proportion of 30% as energy prices has great importance in the ceramic industry. Basic input costs, which is the main item in this industry that,in Turkey 20% industrial natural gas usage, and 10% industrial electricity usage are belong to ceramic industry.Optimum hydrogen flow rates were determined as 1,0752 kg/h and 1,1592 kg/h for multiple-point and single-point applications respectively. Energy efficiencies were found as 63,13% and 62,63% and exergy efficiencies were reached as 43,12% and 42,74% for multiple-point and single-point applications respectively for 40X40 ceramic tile production at the optimum hydrogen mass flow rate for the minimum natural gas consumption.Optimum hydrogen flow rates were determined as 0,756 kg/h and 0,9576 kg/h for multiple-point and single-point applications respectively. Energy efficiencies were found as 65,08% and 63,53% and exergy efficiencies were reached as 41,72% and 40,55% for multiple-point and single-point applications respectively for 25X40 ceramic tile production at the optimum hydrogen mass flow rate for the minimum natural gas consumption. It is concluded that the hydrogen enrichment system has a short payback time after the first three months of operation in the present study.