Abstract:
The ceramic industry is one of the oldest industrial
exploitation fields of mankind. Pottery,
bricks and tiles have always been in demand. Artisan's
kilns dug into the ground, were the primitive
way of burning the products.
More than 130 years ago, a further step into
industrialization was taken by the design of the
Hofmann Kiln, the first multifuel kiln to be operated
in an industrial way. It is the way that up
to this day smaller brick factories are operated.
Fuel consumption is rather high, and great operational
skill is required since the firing time exactly
determines the burning degree. Still Hofmann
Kilns operate with a considerable rate of
rejects.
