Smart nitrogen-methanol injection lance for carburizing and hardening atmospheres, a case study

Maximus Akuh, Tim Nitsch, Guido Plicht, Felix Steinbach

Air Products’ innovative Smart Lance and Air Products Process Intelligence (APPI) system in combination is already being used in the field to achieve optimal atmosphere results, process monitoring and visualization including documentation and possible preventive maintenance. In the process, the following advantages were realized in real applications at customers: provision of a reliable protective atmosphere supply to produce components within a tight tolerance range, an increase in productivity due to fewer burnout cycles and shorter forming times, a reduction in rework, a reduction in the cost of the atmosphere, documentation of the atmosphere and process parameters also in line with CQI-9 standards, indication for carrying out preventive maintenance during planned shutdowns, reducing lost time for troubleshooting during furnace failures.