Delivering a Pilot-Scale Rotary Calcination Furnace to a Norwegian Client

Project Background

A leading environmental engineering and sustainable energy company in Norway approached ZYLAB to develop a pilot-scale rotary calcination solution for advanced material research.

The client’s R&D department focuses on clean energy technologies and environmentally sustainable processes, requiring equipment that can simulate industrial conditions while maintaining strict emission standards.

Their existing laboratory systems were insufficient for:

Scaling up batch processing
Achieving uniform calcination
Handling exhaust gas treatment

Customer Requirements

The client defined clear technical and environmental targets:

Batch capacity: 20–30 liters per cycle
Application: Uniform rotary calcination of powder materials
Heating performance: Stable and homogeneous temperature distribution
Gas system: Integrated gas preheater
Environmental compliance:
- Tail gas collection
- Secondary combustion (afterburner)
- Exhaust purification to meet EU emission standards

ZYLAB Customized Solution

ZYLAB engineered a fully integrated Pilot-Scale Rotary Calcination Furnace system tailored to these requirements.

1. Rotary Calcination Furnace Design

Effective volume: ＞30L
Rotary tube material: High-temperature resistant stainless steel (310S)
Adjustable inclination angle: Controls material residence time
Rotation speed: 1–3 rpm for continuous tumbling
Multi-zone heating system: Ensures temperature uniformity

The rotary design enables continuous mixing of materials, ensuring consistent heat exposure and uniform calcination results.

2. Uniform Heating & Process Stability

The rotating mechanism provides:

Continuous material rolling and dispersion
Elimination of localized overheating
Improved reaction consistency

This is critical for applications where material phase transformation depends on precise thermal control.

3. Gas Preheating System

To optimize thermal efficiency, ZYLAB integrated a gas preheating unit:

Preheats incoming process gas
Reduces energy consumption
Stabilizes furnace atmosphere
Enhances process repeatability

4. Tail Gas Treatment System

A complete end-of-line exhaust treatment solution was implemented:

Tail gas collection system
Secondary combustion chamber (afterburner)
Gas purification module

Project Value

This project demonstrates ZYLAB’s capability to deliver customized pilot-scale thermal processing solutions that integrate:

Precision temperature control
Scalable process design
Environmental protection systems

The system now serves as a critical bridge between laboratory research and industrial production for the client.

Conclusion

By combining rotary calcination technology, gas preheating, and advanced exhaust gas treatment, ZYLAB successfully provided a high-performance, environmentally compliant pilot-scale furnace to a Norwegian customer.