Power Generation Supplier Orders CAB Furnace Systems for 2 Plants
“SELLACAN has received another order from its long-standing partner AKG for the delivery of two CAB (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) furnace plants equipped with an integrated vacuum/purge system. The new equipment will be installed at AKG’s production sites in Brazil and China.
This order further expands the use of SELLACAN furnace technology within AKG’s international production network. CAB furnace lines supplied by SELLACAN are already in operation at AKG sites in India, Mexico, and Germany. AKG’s products are used in a wide range of demanding applications, including trains, buses and passenger cars, agricultural and construction machinery, high-performance generators, power electronics, wind turbines, and aviation cooling systems. The furnace technology from SELLACAN supports the manufacture of these high-performance cooling solutions and ensures controlled and reproducible conditions during the brazing process.
The CAB tower furnace plants – comprising a degreasing/drying/preheating oven, a preparation/cooling chamber, a CAB brazing chamber, final air cooling, and a telescopic/sliding loading table – are designed to offer maximum flexibility when brazing various types of aluminum heat exchangers. The components can vary in size, weight, and design, and the furnace technology can also handle XXL dimensions..
An operational advantage is that the brazing lines support both vertical and horizontal brazing within the same furnace. This dual capability allows operators to process a wide variety of heat exchanger types and configurations on a single plant, including charge air coolers (CAC), oil coolers, and plate-and-bar (P&B) heat exchangers. Different core types can also be easily interchanged, providing flexibility for a broad spectrum of applications.
The furnace technology is suitable for test series and the development of heat exchangers as well as for large-scale series production. This combination allows manufacturers to use the same furnace technology for development activities and series production, adapting to different production requirements.
Low energy consumption, short heat-up times, and simple standby operation additionally contribute to efficient furnace operations. The automatic brazing rack circulation supports the handling of different heat exchanger batches within the production process. A key feature of the CAB furnace series for AKG is the integrated vacuum/purge system. It is designed to replace the remaining air inside the heat exchanger with a nitrogen atmosphere prior to the brazing process, thereby significantly reducing the oxygen content inside the component.
This additional process step is particularly beneficial for heat exchangers with complex or difficult-to-access internal channel geometries. By reducing the oxygen content in the component before it enters the brazing furnace, the system creates an optimized, controlled, and reproducible atmosphere for the subsequent brazing process, ensuring reliable brazing quality in demanding heat exchanger applications.
Key Benefits
The combination of flexible CAB furnace technology and the vacuum/purge system offer:
· The system allows flexible processing of different heat exchanger types, sizes, and weights.
· The furnace technology is fully suitable for XXL heat exchanger dimensions.
· Both vertical and horizontal brazing can be performed in the same furnace.
· Operators can easily switch between different heat exchanger core types.
· The technology is suitable for both development tasks and large-scale series production.
· Low energy consumption and short heat-up times ensure high efficiency.
· Temperature management features precise control with up to ten heating zones.
· Controlled and repeatable brazing conditions ensure reproducible atmospheres.
· The vacuum/purge system effectively removes ambient air and reduces the oxygen content inside the heat exchanger.
· Reduction of flux consumption
· Enhanced process reliability and repeatability significantly improve overall process safety.
With the two additional furnace lines for Brazil and China, SELLACAN continues to support AKG’s international production capacities for aluminum heat exchangers, complementing the systems already in use in Mexico, India, and Germany.”
