The maximum temperature of an electric furnace can vary depending on the type of furnace and its heating elements. Industrial electric arc furnaces can reach temperatures up to 1,800 °C (3,300 °F), while laboratory units can exceed 3,000 °C (5,400 °F) (Reference 1).
Gas furnaces, on the other hand, can reach maximum temperatures depending on the type of gas used and the pressure applied. Furnaces using illuminating gas made from coal and air at 2 or 3 lb. pressure can reach a maximum temperature of about 1,400 °C. When burning natural gas, temperatures 100 °C or 200 °C higher may be attained. With higher air pressures and illuminating gas, temperatures as high as 1,650 °C can be achieved, and in the case of natural gas, temperatures as high as 1,800 °C are possible. The addition of oxygen and other factors can further increase these temperatures (Reference 2).
Muffle furnaces, which are commonly used in laboratories, can have varying maximum temperatures depending on the type of heating elements installed. Metallic wire heating elements have a temperature range of 1,000 °C to 1,200 °C, while molybdenum disilicide heating elements can reach temperatures as high as 1,800 °C (Reference 3).
Tube furnaces, which are designed to heat samples contained within a work tube, can have maximum operating temperatures ranging from 1,100 °C to 2,600 °C, depending on the product range and type of heating elements used in their construction (Reference 4).
It's important to note that the maximum temperature of the heating elements must be safely higher than the required temperature of the furnace or load. The safety range is typically 50 °C to 200 °C higher than the desired temperature (Reference 3).
In summary, the maximum temperature of an electric furnace can range from a few hundred degrees Celsius to several thousand degrees Celsius, depending on the type of furnace and its heating elements.
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