RX® Endothermic Atmosphere Gas Generator
Surface® generators produce consistent and reliable protective atmospheres
RX® Gas Generators produce a highly reducing product gas for controlled furnace atmospheres used in metallurgical heat treatments.
RX® endothermic gas is the most suitable base atmosphere for carburizing, carbonitriding, carbon restoration, clean hardening, and annealing of steel. Typical enriching gases added at the furnace for these processes are natural gas, air and ammonia.
RX® Endothermic Atmosphere Gas Generator
RX Gas Generators produce atmospheres used in metallurgical heat treatments.
Surface Solutions:
Surface Combustion originally developed RX®
endothermic atmosphere gas generators for use with controlled atmosphere furnaces. We have the largest installed base of RX generators in North America. The modular style RX Gas Generators provide efficient, low cost, and reliable production of an endothermic gas atmosphere. RX Endothermic gas is nominally comprised of 20% CO, 40% H2 and 40% N2 with trace amounts of CO2, CH4 and H2O. It is produced when an air/gas mixture of proper proportions is passed through a heated bed of catalyst.
Surface RX Generators utilize a modular design that improves energy efficiency. The design also decreases maintenance “down time” by allowing each reaction tube to operate independently.
Multiple reaction tube generator designs allow individual reaction tubes to be taken out of production when atmosphere demands are reduced or when the reaction tube requires burnout. The balance of the reaction tubes continue production of endothermic gas. This flexibility allows for 6:1 turndown while still producing high quality gas composition and maintaining the dew point level.
Processes Include
- Annealing
- Brazing
- Carbonitriding
- Carbon restoration
- Carburizing
- Ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC)
- Neutral hardening
- Sintering
Optional Systems
- Advanced diagnostics – dew point, temperature, flow
- Air cooling
- Back-up mixture pump
- Expansion ready
- On-line burnout feature
- Short and tall tubes
- Side removable tubes
Ideal Companion Component with:
Allcase® Furnace, Mesh Belt Furnace, Batch and Pusher Tray Furnaces
Surface Atmosphere Generator System Detail
A. Main Generator Construction
- Consists of individual (or multiple) vertically-oriented cylindrical casings
- Internally insulated casing with an alloy reaction tube assembly
- Mounted on a common, raised steel frame which allows for access to the reaction tube inlet assembly and gas-fired ring burner assemblies
B. Reaction Tube Assembly
- Each reaction tube assembly consists of a heavy wall, heat resistant cast alloy tube
- The tubes are filled with special catalyst to promote the endothermic reaction as the heated gas mixture flows up through the tube
- Each reaction tube is easily removed through the top of the generator assembly
C. Reaction Gas Mixing System
- Surface gas generators utilize a proven air/gas ratio and flow control system to ensure the proper mixture
- The system controls air and natural gas flows throughout the turndown range of the generator and provides the required outlet pressure of the product gas
- The reaction gas mixing system includes a positive displacement mixture pump
- An oil recirculating system extends the life of the oil and reduces maintenance required by frequent oil changes.
- The mixture pump is equipped with a three phase motor with controls and V-belt guard
D. Heating System
All RX Gas Generators are equipped with an extremely reliable and trouble-free heating system to raise and maintain the temperature of the reaction gas mixture inside each reaction tube assembly- Each tube assembly is provided with an atmospheric ring burner assembly mounted at the bottom, concentric with the tube, so the hot gases flow vertically along the tube’s periphery
- Each burner is electronically ignited and equipped with flame supervision
- The flue gases are exhausted through the top of the generator unit
- One main gas train feeding individual gas trains for each reaction tube is provided as a standard design
E. Product Gas Cooler
- Product gas reactions are “frozen” with high performance water or ENDOQUENCH air coolers located at the top of each reaction tube provided
- They quench the product gas as it is discharged from the reaction tube
Generator Capacities:
| Model Number | Reaction Tube(s) | Max. Capacity (cfh) | Max. Capacity (m3/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RX-1S RX-1T | 1 | 2,000 3,000 | 57 85 |
| RX-2S RX-2T | 2 | 4,000 6,000 | 114 170 |
| RX-3S RX-3T | 3 | 6,000 9,000 | 170 255 |
| RX-4S RX-4T | 4 | 8,000 12,000 | 227 340 |
| RX-5T | 5 | 12,000 | 340 |
Advanced DiagnosticsTM –optional electronic process parameter monitoring by the control system that aids in predictive maintenance.
- Dew point of each retort’s RX® gas
- Secondary dew point instrument for cross-checking ESA® dew point sensor.
- Outlet gas temperature per retort
- Individual retort flow
- Reaction air flow
Contact our Aftermarket Parts Specialists for Surface Genuine Replacement Parts such as:
- Air Cooler Piping
- Retorts
- Burner Piping
- Electrical Components
- Instrumentation
- Mixture Pumps
- Outlet and Vent Piping
- Reaction Piping
Available Sensors and Controls:
ESA® – Dew Point Sensor with Surface Combustion’s patented design is CQI-9 capable, and offers a low-cost alternative to in-situ probes.
ESA® 8200 – Capable and user friendly: CLX PLC with digital communications and Large HMI with On-Line Help Screens. Control and Trend temperature and dew point; maintenance scheduling; redundant Oxygen probe monitoring.
C6TM E – Micro PLC and economic HMI with temperature and dew point control and alarming.
ESA® 3200 – Micro PLC with Single loop controllers and temperature hi-limits control dew point and RX® flow.
Ready to Get Started?
Please call us when you are ready to discuss a new furnace or maintain, upgrade or replace your furnace or any part of your furnace. At Surface, we look forward to helping you with any thermal processing needs.
Call Surface with the following information ready to initiate your furnace solution.
cycle
operation
hours per year
available space
operating temperature range
heat source
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