Continuous walking-beam furnace 3D zonal model and direct thermal-box barrier based temperature measurement

Abstract

Numerical simulation of industrial reheating furnaces belongs to important procedures for an optimization of their design and processing parameters. A 3D numerical model of a continuous gas burners heated walking-beam furnace is introduced in this paper. The main benefit of the model is a compromise between its complexity and computing speed. The model connects numerical procedures and empirical knowledge. It is based on a Hottel zonal method and a compartment based solution of heat transfer process in solids. It allows specifying charge, heating system and furnace parameters. The solution includes convective and radiative heat transfer in the furnace including a participation of a semi-transparent gaseous furnace atmosphere. A direct measurement of charge temperature course in a walking-beam furnace using thermocouples and thermal box-barrier are introduced. Comparisons of the measurement results with results of numerical simulations are presented. Connection between direct measurement in the furnace and the numerical simulation parameters is discussed. A good agreement between the theoretical and measured data shows, that the model includes the most important physical process. Keywords: Furnace, Walking-beam furnace, Radiation heat transfer, Numerical model, Hottel zonal method, Thermal box-barrier, Temperature measurement