Rotary kiln is a cylinder device for various materials calcination, it is widely used in every department in the national economy, such as cement, chemical, reduced iron, sponge iron, activated carbon, barium sulfate, and other industries. Rotary kiln has many classifications; indirect fired rotary kiln and direct fired rotary kiln are common. Indirectly fired rotary kilns can deal with highly toxic substances or materials requiring a high concentration of flue gas and purity.
A rotary kiln is used for material calcination processing, through the rotary kiln high temperature heating products can achieve good performance, now rotary kiln can deal with a variety of materials. Different heating methods of rotary kilns can have other effects. In the following, the heating methods of a rotary kiln are introduced.
Fuel oil heating
Under normal circumstances, a rotary kiln with excellent quality will burn diesel oil to generate heat. A rotary kiln using the fuel oil heating method can achieve the characteristics of the rapid combustion reaction and rapid heating, which can make the heating treatment state superior, and this method requires long-term instrument maintenance and repairs. High temperatures may increase a certain operating cost. Usually, the rotary kiln using the oil heating method needs to build the basic equipment of a fuel oil station to ensure a better heating effect.

Oil-fired rotary kilns generally adopt a Light diesel burner, it is usually equipped with 3-4 units, distributed on one side of the kiln body. An advantage of an oil-fired rotary kiln is a rapid reaction of combustion, which can raise the temperature. The disadvantages of oil-fired rotary kilns include the production of corrosive gases, the kiln body being easy to be cracked, and the required maintenance costs. One more thing, individual oil fuel stations should be built.
Gas heating
Gas-fired rotary kiln and oil-fired rotary kiln are basically the same in combustion mode and heat transfer mode, but the difference is that gas-fired rotary kiln needs to use natural gas and artificial gas to burn. Compared to oil-fired heating, gas fuel heating can be smoke-free and cleaner, and using this rotary kiln can reduce investment costs and maintenance problems.

Electric heating
Electric heating rotary kilns usually use heating elements such as silicon carbide rods to thermally process materials, and high-quality rotary kilns use electric heating to ensure a higher degree of control automation and adjustment, making their temperature easy to control. And now the maintenance level of electrified products is deepening, so it is easier to maintain the rotary kiln with the electric heating method in daily use.

Nowadays, high-quality rotary kilns usually use the above three methods for heating treatment. Through comparison, we can see that electric heating methods are cleaner and safer. Therefore, electric heating rotary kilns have become the most efficient and energy-saving equipment at present. In the selection of the heating method of the rotary kiln, different machines and equipment can be selected according to their own needs and prices.