High-temperature industrial process heating: Oxygen-gas combustion and plasma-heating systems. Topical report

Direct-fired process heating in the manufacturing sector of industry is one of the largest energy and natural gas consuming markets. The market embraces a wide variety of process heating technologies, temperatures, fuels, and site-specific energy requirements. While natural gas-based technologies are used extensively in low-temperature heating, they account for a smaller share of the high-temperature applications, where coal, electricity, and waste fuels are more widely used. Advanced gas technologies will be required for natural gas to maintain its competitive position in high-temperature heating. The study assessed the future competitive position of various high-temperature heating technologies. Its results help project the potential ability of these technologies to optimize least-cost energy service in key direct-fired heating applications. The market potential of these technologies, along with their current R D status, are reviewed to highlight implications for future R D efforts.