kiln.
civilengineering.blog /2017/09/25/bricks-burning/
September 25, 2017
sanjay sharma
In this Article Learn about: Burning of bricks,Clamp or Pazawah,Bulls trench kiln,Sequence operation of
Bulls trench kiln, Advantages and disadvantages of Bulls trench kiln,Hoffmans Kiln,Advantages and
disadvantages of Hoffmans kiln.
Table of Contents
1 Burning of bricks
Burning of bricks
After the bricks have dried in sun these are burnt in kilns to make them harder, stronger, denser, less
absorbent and consequently more durable. The bricks are burnt either in a (i) Clamp or Pazawah; or (ii) Kiln-(a)
Intermittent, (b) Continuous. Working of each one of them is described below.
1. Clamp or Pazawah.
Basic working remaining the same there are various variations of it in use in different parts of India. Below is
given a description of the one in common use in Northern India:
The shorter end is slightly in excavation while the wider end is raised a little above the ground. The sides in
excavation and opposite to it are parallel, the one in excavation being about half as long as the wider one.
A layer of fuel consisting of grass, cowdung and litter, about 75 cm thick is laid on the floor. On it four or five
courses of bricks are arranged on edge with small spaces all around each one of them. A second layer of fuel
followed by another four to five courses of bricks on edge are laid and so on. The thickness of fuel layer goes on
decreasing towards the top. The clamp is fired at the lower end at bottom when about one-third of it has been
loaded. Further loading continues. It is done so that the lower portion is fired when spaces for upward draught
are still open.
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When the loading is completed the whole of clamp is plastered over with mud so as to check the loss of heat. It
is then left to burn itself and then to cool. Wood or coal dust could also be used as fuel in clamps.
When the clamp has cooled down, it is unloaded and then it is reloaded as before and refired. It thus clearly
gives intermittent supply of bricks. Initial cost as well as the cost of fuel is very low. This method of burning bricks
is well suited for remote country sides where a limited supply of not more than 1,00,000 bricks is needed at a
time. As no supervision is needed after the clamp has been fired there is consequent economy in its operation
too. A large percentage of bricks turned out of clamps is of a poor quality.
Each clamp burns 25,000 to 1,00,000 bricks, and takes about three months to burn and cool.
Clamp or Pazawah
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Sequence operation of bulls trench kiln
Zone 3- Loaded sundried bricks are being heated by hot air from zone 2.
The whole working is so arranged that operations in all the zones are completed simultaneously. At this stage,
the operational cycle shifts by one stage. Instead of in Zone I cooling of burnt bricks starts in Zone 2, burning of
bricks in Zone 3 instead of in Zone 2; heating of loaded sundried bricks in Zone 4 instead of in Zone 3; loading of
fresh sundried bricks in Zone 5 instead of in Zone 4 and unloading of cooled bricks in Zone 1 instead of in Zone
5.
This cycle of operations continues whereby we get regular supply of bricks. While loading, sundried bricks are so
stacked in the kiln as to leave spaces around each brick. Vertical flue holes, to feed fuel to the fire burning at the
bottom, are provided at about one metre intervals. The kiln is loaded in section about 3.5 metre long with a clear
space of 15 cm between the section over which two draught chimneys are provided. After a section of the kiln
has been loaded, it is covered over with earth and ash to prevent the loss of heat. Even the flue holes are closed
after the fuel has been fed to the fire.
Draught of fresh air is admitted to the zone where the bricks are being cooled. In cooling the bricks the air gets
heated. It is this hot air that helps burning of bricks. Hot air from burning zone passes through the next zone
where the bricks to be burnt are heated. In heating the freshly loaded bricks the hot air gets cold when it escapes
through the chimneys.
When the heated bricks are fired then chimneys are shifted to the next zone. The chimneys go on being shifted
as the burning operation progresses. Each section takes one day to burn.
(iii) It saves cost of fuel as the hot gases from the burning zone heat the bricks to be burnt next, before
escaping through the chimneys.
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(iv) Drying space is saved as even raw bricks can be loaded in it which are dried before being burnt by hot air
coming From burning Zone.
3. Hoffmans kiln.
It is a continuous kiln and has a permanent roof as a result of which it can function even during rains. It is
circular in plan and is built above ground. It has a fixed chimney at the centre around which the kiln is divided
into 12 chambers in a ring. Each chamber has a door communicating with the outside and a flue leading to the
chimney. The door could be closed with dry brick wall having sand packing. The flue could be closed or opened
as desired by operating a metal plate known as damper.
Air enters the kiln through doors 1 and 2 as shown in Fig. 2.10.
(ii) Fuel consumption is low as hot gases are utilized to dry and heat raw bricks.
(iii) Percentage of first class bricks obtained from the kiln is fairly high.
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(iv) Space and time are saved in drying as raw bricks are directly loaded into the kiln.
Summary
Article Name
Working of Clamp or Pazawah,Bull's trench kiln,Hoffman's kiln.
Description
The bricks are burnt either in a (i) Clamp or Pazawah; or (ii) Kiln-(a) Intermittent,
(b) Continuous. Working of each one of them is described below.
Author
Sanjay Sharma
Publisher Name
civilengineering.blog
Publisher Logo
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