“A long-term test of high-efficiency and ultra-low-emission burner technology from WS Wärmeprozesstechnik at Waelzholz demonstrated that hydrogen can be used very well as a fuel gas to heat silicon strip lines.

Energy-efficient and low-emission heating of silicon strip lines using hydrogen as a fuel was the focus of an extensive test C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG successfully completed together with WS Wärmeprozesstechnik in 2022.

As early as summer 2021, WS delivered several patented FLOX® burners for the installation in an existing silicon strip line. This line uses SiSiC radiant tubes to heat the furnace to a temperature of approx. 1,050 °C. After commissioning, the WS burners were successfully operated with 100% hydrogen for one year. The knowledge gained in this process is being directly incorporated into the further development of energy-efficient and extremely low-emission industrial burners by WS.

The long-term test showed that a switch to hydrogen as a fuel is very well possible for the furnace under investigation. Mr. Peter Höfinghoff, expert for thermal process engineering in the technical office at Waelzholz, happily concluded: “Even after a year of operation, the burners are running very well and without faults. We were able to sufficiently demonstrate that by using WS burners, a conversion to hydrogen is technically feasible without any problems.”

Energy efficiency and sustainability of all products and processes are at the heart of the sustainability strategy at C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG. With the findings from the test operation, the company is laying an important foundation stone for the future hydrogen strategy at its headquarters in Hagen. After using the patented products from WS Wärmeprozesstechnik over a long time already, Waelzholz and WS can look back on decades of positive experience in their cooperation.”

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