Trial shows Endress+Hauser temperature probes can take the heat!

Endress+Hauser temperature probes with thermowells made from a new alloy that is highly resistant to corrosion at high temperatures have successfully completed a trial measuring 1000ºC in the furnace of an energy-from-waste facility.

Furnace temperature is a critical measurement in energy-from-waste plants as the waste must burn at an optimum temperature to avoid the production of harmful emissions. In order to record the temperature in the furnace, three or more temperature thermowells are inserted into the furnace directly above the flame. Conventional probes are made from Incoly 800HT alloy but, due to the incredibly harsh conditions inside the furnace, they typically fail after three or four months’ service. Changing the probes isn’t entirely straightforward due to their elevated position. In addition, each time the furnace is opened there is the possibility that cooler air will enter or that hot gases will escape, both of which can decrease the efficiency of the process and cause health and safety concerns.

During the 12-month trial, two Endress+Hauser probes made from the new SD75 alloy were used alongside standard thermowells. In a like-for-like comparison, the new probes lasted at least three times longer than their Incoly 800HT counterparts. It is the high chromium and silicon content of the alloy that increases the stability of the instrument. The presence of these elements promotes the formation of a protective oxide scale, making the alloy resistant to attacks from sulphur, vanadium, chlorides and other salt deposits.

Made on-site at Endress+Hauser’s temperature manufacturing facility in Manchester, SD75 alloy thermowell probes are now available for use in similar applications within the renewable energy sector.

For more information contact Endress+Hauser on 0161 286 5000