Row of natural gas flames lit across the vestibule door of an atmosphere furnace, burning off escaping combustible atmosphere and blocking air from rushing in during loading and unloading. Its color and steadiness give a quick read on atmosphere condition. A dead pilot or blown-out curtain on an endothermic furnace is a fire and explosion hazard, so it is interlocked with the door.
Flame curtain's lazy and yellow on the back door, check that pilot before anybody opens it.
Also heard as
- door curtain
- flame screen
Related terms
Integral quench furnace
A sealed batch furnace with a heating chamber and an attached oil quench, run under protective atmosphere.
Endothermic gas
A carrier atmosphere of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and nitrogen made by reacting natural gas with air.
Running rich
Shop talk for a furnace atmosphere carrying more carbon than its setpoint and heading toward soot.