For many years, Metal 7 has been fabricating industrial burners for pellet plant induration furnace.
These burners are known for their effeciency, stability of its flame and low oil consumption. Worldwide, eleven (11) induration furnaces are equipped with Metal 7 burners.

Karlesky Okatysh pellet plant is located about 30 km near the Finland border, in the province of Karelia, Russia. The plant is operating three induration furnace which are the type « straight grate ». The plant management had awarded Metal 7 the first time in 1997 to install a new combustion system on their induration furnaces. However, due to the Economical Crisis at that time, the project was postponed.

In August 2000, a contract was again signed between Karelsky Okatysh and Metal 7 to convert two out of three induration furnaces (furnace no. 2 and 3) with high pressurized Metal 7 automated burners types 400L. The combustion system equipment for the first induration furnace has been delivered within a few months. The No. 3 furnace is operating with the new combustion system since the end of August 2001.

To reduce costs, Metal 7 customers required the installation of new burners without disturbing the previous installations. The project in Russia, required Metal 7 to fabricate the assembly of combustion systems for induration furnaces, in order to increase productivity. Metal 7 has combined its efforts with AWI Technologies Inc. an engineering firm which is a division of MacWood, for electrical components and programming automation control systems. All other components have been assembled in Sept-Iles Metal 7 plant, prior to export to Russia.

The induration oven combustion system consists of:

• All burners required for furnace operation;


• All assembly plates for furnace burners;


• All control valve assemblies, oil and pressurised air security valves (a support assembly with these instruments was included with each burner);


• Flame detectors;


• Control panels for each burner;


• Main control panel (PLC);


• Piping and valve to each burner for cooling air;


• Computer equipment for control station;


• Programming and operation software of the PLC;


• Ultrasonic measuring units for thickness of pellet bed;


• Thermocouples and electrical signal transmitters;


• Security valves and pressure control valves for the main oil line;


• Massive consumption meters at the entry and outlet of the main oil line;


• Replacement parts for these equipments.

The combustion system conforms to the NFPA standards and includes secure pressure gauges for oil, pressurized air and cooling air, complete with flame detectors for each burner.

The installation of this new combustion system has allowed elimination of additional air conduits, which were assuring that each burner receive a considerable amount of cooling air (based on the same technology used in Russian plants). Metal 7 burner’s flame is stable enough that air supply is not required. Oil consumption is 20% more economical since furnace No. 3 is in operation with the new combustion system. Karelsky Okatysh should recuperate its investment in a short period of time.

These results were very satisfying, Karelsky Okatysh management have given the contract to go ahead for the second phase in January 2002. The No. 2 furnace combustion system has been successfully installed during the summer 2002 with start-up in October that same year.