Fundamentals on emissivity and its correlation with the refractory materials, energy saving and the environment

Abstract

For processing industries such as steelmaking, metallurgical, petrochemicals and others, the consumed energy for heating undergoes losses both by the exhaustion gases and the refractory lining of these industrial equipments which work at high temperatures. According to the literature, a high-emissivity paint applied to the inner surface of the refractory lining helps to reclaim the heat in the system, reducing energy losses and costs. This paper presents the fundamentals of the emissivity theory, such as thermal radiation and energy bands, and their correlation with the chemical composition and application of refractory paints in order to minimize the energy consumption costs and result a more sustainable production.