Flame temperature importance

Flame temperature can be used to

   i.  Characterize the quality of fuel. Higher is TMAFT/AFT higher is the quality of fuel.

   ii.  Determine suitability of fuel for an application.

For a given fuel and amount of air TMAFT/AFT must be greater than furnace temperature so that heat transfer between POC and furnace can occur.

   iii.  Determine extent of substitution of a lower quality fuel to conserve high quality fuel.

For example, what % of producer gas can be substituted for natural gas fired furnace.

   iv.  In other processes the reaction temperature is important. In this case we may call adiabatic      reaction temperature. (ART). In thermit welding of steel sections, the ART of a mixture of steel shot.  Fe₂O₃ and aluminum powder governs the extent of heating and size and location of heat affected zone.The  reaction 2Al+ Fe₂O₃ =2 Fe +Al₂O₃ is exothermic and generates high temperature rapidly.

In the operations of blast furnace and shaft furnace with air or air +fuel injection, the reaction temperature or AFT is important