Metallurgical heat treating system with heat recovery

Abstract

A metallurgical heat treating system with heat recovery is disclosed herein. The metallurgical heat treating system includes a conveyor, a first furnace, a second furnace, a cooling section, a preheating section, and a heat recovery duct. The conveyor conveys material in a conveying direction. The first furnace, the second furnace, the cooling section, and the preheating section are in thermal communication with the conveyor. The second furnace is disposed downstream of the first furnace in the conveying direction. The cooling section is disposed downstream of the second furnace in the conveying direction. The preheating section is disposed upstream of the first furnace in the conveying direction. The heat recovery duct is in fluid communication with the cooling section and the preheating section for a convective transfer of heat therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metallurgical heat treating system comprising:
 a conveyor configured to convey material in a conveying direction;   a first furnace in thermal communication with the conveyor;   a second furnace in thermal communication with the conveyor, the second furnace being disposed downstream of the first furnace in the conveying direction;   a cooling section in thermal communication with the conveyor, the cooling section being disposed downstream of the second furnace in the conveying direction;   a preheating section in thermal communication with the conveyor, the preheating section being disposed upstream of the first furnace in the conveying direction; and   a heat recovery duct in fluid communication with the cooling section and the preheating section for a convective transfer of heat therebetween.