Heat is recovered from the chimney through a heat exchange jacket surrounding the chimney. Air for combustion is drawn down through the heat exchanger where it is heated and passes under the floor of the kiln into the preheat chamber or firebox.
The target temperature for preheated air is 300oC [570 °F].
Air flow through the heat exchanger is controlled by an adjustable shutter towards the top of the jacket. A second adjustable shutter at the front of the kiln allows cold atmospheric air into the preheat chamber without passing through the heat exchanger. This is intended to provide a way to regulate the preheat air temperature.
- Air enters the heat exchanger near the top of the jacket and is regulated by an adjustable shutter.
- A second shuttered air inlet at front of the kiln allows air to bypass the heat exchanger to regulate temperature.
- The gas burner is located in the preheat chamber at the front of the kiln, with flame directed up and over a bag wall.
My experimental kiln design incorporates this heat recovery system, and a report on the first firing of the kiln to cone 8 is also published on this web site.
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