Furnace leak detection - Fluorescent 'Bomb' 1

[dbooker630]

I've got a batch hardening furnace that is giving me a hard time lately. Actually, a soft time becuase I'm getting some decarb no matter how much natural gas I put in to scavenge oxygen .

Usually in this case we will take the furnace cold and go in to look for bad radiant tubes, etc. Of course with firebrick it takes time, waiting for the furnace to cool down to safe entry levels.

One of our veteran heat treaters recalls using a fluorescent 'bomb' that could be used to check for leaks while still hot. The bomb would be placed in the furnace at 1500F under nitrogen atmosphere, and acts like a dye to quickly point to the source of the problem.

I cannot find any of this material in my plant nor am I able to buy any. If anyone else has experience they can share or is aware of a source that can supply fluorescent bombs I would appreciate the info. I'm in central Ohio. Thanks!

 

[elginIQ71]

I've encountered the same problem looking for these bombs.
I use a propane torch and go over all the weld joints on the furnace (circulation fan housing, burn tube entry points, etc.)and any where else a leak may form. A furnace with endo in it under any pressure will burn from any leak exposed to a flame. It won't help if you have a hole in a burn tube but i hope this helps some.

 

[dbooker630]

Thanks for the response - we have performed the torch routine also and it does help.

 

[elginIQ71]

Hah, found'em

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/c...0-Cubic-Feet-3-Minutes/erm/product_detail.jsp