RESEARCH INTO ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF ELECTRIC VIBRATION HEARTH FURNACE USED FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF MINERAL RAW MATERIALS
The PURPOSE of the article is to obtain the results of experimental studies of the physical model to evaluate the energy efficiency of an electric vibration hearth furnace. METHODS. The research is based on the experimental method of studying a physical model of the object under investigation. RESEARCH RESULTS. The conducted experiments prove that the electric vibration hearth furnace enables to achieve the energy intensity of 60-65 mJ/m<sup>3 </sup>under vermiculite concentrate roasting. Besides, the research has allowed to identify the drawbacks to be eliminated under designing of an industrial furnace. CONCLUSION. The characteristics of the new design of the furnace are considerably superior to flame furnaces used for vermiculite roasting: the energy intensity of roasting is reduced more than four times.