A regenerative furnace uses a network of brick checkerwork to capture waste heat from exhaust gases. The airflow is periodically reversed, passing cold incoming combustion air over the hot bricks to preheat it before it mixes with the fuel. This historic design drastically increases thermal efficiency and allows the furnace to reach the extreme temperatures needed to melt steel.
Heard on the job
The regenerative furnace needs its checker bricks replaced during the next shutdown; they're clogged with slag dust.
Also heard as
- Siemens furnace
- open-hearth furnace