Abstract
Chemically vapor-deposited rhenium was selected as the muffle material for an 1800 °C high thermal efficiency fuel-processing furnace. The muffle is exposed to high vacuum on the heater-insulation-instrumentation side and to a flowing Ar-8vol.%H 2 gas mixture at a pressure of 1 atm on the load volume side. During operation the muffle cycles from room temperature to 1800 °C and back to room temperature once every 24 h. Its operational life is dependent on its resistance to thermal fatigue during the high temperature exposure. For a prototype furnace the muffle has an inner diameter of approximately 13 cm and is 40 cm in length. A small (about half-size) rhenium closed-end tube overcoated with tungsten was used to evaluate the concept. The fabrication and testing of the composite W-Re tube and prototype rhenium muffle are described.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
