Gas Burners for Industrial Process Heating: Efficiency, Control, and Performance
- Sean Davies
- Jul 14, 2025
- 3 min read
Gas burners are the heart of many industrial heating systems, delivering consistent, controllable heat across a wide range of applications. From drying and curing to melting and heat treatment, a reliable gas burner is critical to the performance, efficiency, and safety of any process heating setup.
At Rapidflame, we design and supply advanced gas burner systems tailored for industrial process heating environments — whether it’s in OEM equipment, integrated plant systems, or retrofit upgrades.
What Is Process Heating?
Industrial process heating refers to the controlled application of thermal energy during manufacturing. It plays a vital role in:
Drying coatings or materials
Curing resins or adhesives
Preheating substrates or tools
Melting metals, glass, or other raw materials
Maintaining specific thermal conditions in ovens, kilns, and furnaces
Because process requirements vary dramatically between industries, burner systems must be adaptable in terms of flame profile, turndown ratio, fuel compatibility, and control integration.
Why Use Gas Burners for Process Heating?
Gas burners — particularly natural gas or LPG types — offer a number of advantages for process heating applications:
High energy efficiency
Fast start-up and response time
Clean combustion with low emissions
Precise control of flame shape and heat distribution
Flexible integration with PLCs or temperature control systems
Our NECO packaged burner system is one such example, offering a compact and modular solution for ovens, dryers, and custom heat processing equipment. It supports automatic ignition, flame safeguarding, and high turndown ratios — all with easy maintenance access.
Customisation Options for Industrial Needs
Each application has its own thermal profile, airflow constraints, and operational pressures. That’s why Rapidflame provides customisable burner assemblies that support:
Premix and nozzle mix configurations
Multi-fuel capabilities (natural gas, LPG, biogas)
Air-gas ratio control for optimal combustion
Horizontal or vertical mounting options
Integration with blowers, valves, and safeties
For clients developing new heat treatment or drying equipment, we also offer engineering consultation to ensure the burner system is matched to the thermal mass, airflow velocity, and cycle time of the process.
Industries Served
Our process heating burner systems are trusted across sectors including:
Food processing (baking, roasting, drying)
Coating and laminating lines
Powder coating and paint curing
Foundries and metal treatment
Chemical and petrochemical process plants
Whether you’re designing new OEM equipment or upgrading ageing plant systems, Rapidflame can supply the right gas burner package — efficiently, reliably, and safely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between direct and indirect gas burners in process heating?
Direct gas burners apply flame and combustion gases directly to the process material, ideal for drying and curing. Indirect gas burners use a heat exchanger to keep combustion gases separate from the product — often used in food or clean-room applications.
Are gas burners suitable for all types of industrial ovens?
Yes, gas burners can be configured for batch or continuous ovens, whether they’re convection, infrared, or conduction-based. Burner output and control options are tailored to the oven’s size, airflow, and temperature requirements.
How do I choose the right gas burner for my process?
Consider factors like required heat load (kW or BTU/hr), temperature profile, fuel type, emission regulations, and integration needs (e.g., PLC or BMS). Rapidflame can help specify and size the correct burner for your system.
Can your gas burners meet emissions regulations?
Yes — our burner systems are designed for clean combustion with low NOₓ and CO emissions. With proper air-fuel ratio control and pre-mixing options, we can help meet European or local compliance standards.
Do your systems include flame safety and ignition controls?
Absolutely. Our burners typically come with automatic ignition, flame monitoring, and shut-off valves that comply with EN 746-2 and NFPA safety standards. Systems can be integrated with your existing control panels or provided turnkey.
Talk to Us About Your Process Heating Requirements
Looking to improve energy efficiency, meet emissions targets, or simply source dependable gas burner systems for industrial heating? Rapidflame offers expert support and a wide range of combustion solutions to suit your exact needs.
Contact us today to discuss your application or request a quote.
