Thermal performance of annealing line heating furnace

Abstract

In the present study, a stepwise model based on the enclosure concept has been applied to an annealing line heating furnace. The model has been satisfactorily tested using three industrial manufacturing data sets. As temperature measurement inside the furnace is difficult, the model could be used to improve control and to obtain the outlet temperature of the steel strip, the heat transfer rate loss and the strip heat transfer rate throughout the length of the furnace. Variations in the thermodynamic properties included in the model and in the operational conditions, which cannot be accurately known, have been tested to ascertain their effects on the evolution of the strip temperature. It is found that precise knowledge of the heat capacity and heating power introduced in the furnace are important to obtain good results in application of the model.     

Coupled modelling of electric arc furnace and ladle furnace processes

Abstract

In the present investigation, a coupled mass and heat balance model for the analysis of the metallurgical processes that occur in the electric arc furnace and in the ladle furnace processes is proposed. One goal of this work was to create a simple spreadsheet based model to help with the selection of the correct process parameters for a chosen final chemical composition, quality level and production costs. The model proposed in this work was validated with reference to two operating modalities, using actual manufacturing plant data as well as specific data obtained from the literature. It was then used to obtain guidelines for the optimised production of low P steels and the realisation of a dephosphorisation map.     

Effect of exciting current of high frequency electromagnetic field on initial solidification of steel during electromagnetic continuous casting

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite element model of the electromagnetic field and temperature field of electromagnetic continuous casting (EMCC) process was developed. The aim was to investigate the effects of induction heat of high frequency electromagnetic field on the early solidification process of molten steel in mould under various conditions of exciting current parameters. The results show that the induction heat has significant effects on the early solidification process, which appear as increasing the billet surface temperature, thinning the initial solidified shell and lowering the starting point of the initial solidification. The increases in exciting current frequency and density make the effects of induction heat on solidification process increase remarkably. Especially, with the exciting current frequency increase, the early solidification process and shell growth become non-uniform in billet circumferential direction. Furthermore, if the exciting current density exceeds a certain value, there occurs a high temperature region in the top of molten steel column, and then the initial solidification rate is greatly decreased. As a conclusion, the effects of induction heat on initial solidification process must be considered when the exciting current frequency and density are adjusted during the electromagnetic continuous casting process.     

Simulation and application of dynamic heat transfer model for improvement of continuous casting process

Abstract

Numerical simulation is being increasingly used to improve the existing cooling systems. In order to attain highest quality strand, a two-dimensional dynamic mathematical heat transfer model of billet continuous casting of low carbon steel has been presented. This model can be used to compute the billet temperature distribution and shell thickness, especially it can be used to simulate the solidification process which is caused by frequently variational casting conditions. The fluctuation of measured temperature has been reduced to <10°C with thermal imaging system. The online model can monitor surface temperature and shell thickness in the casting process. So it provides the possibility for the online process control. For the validation of the dynamic model, a lot of billet surface temperature and shell thickness measurement were carried out on an actual casting machine. Finally, the dynamic model has been used for adjusting the operating parameters to improve the casting speed.     

Use of titanium and zirconium in centrifugally cast heat resistant steel

Abstract

Low carbon 25Cr–35Ni steel (HP type steel) modified with titanium and zirconium has been produced by centrifugal casting. The different phases present in the as cast and aged conditions were described by light optical and scanning electron microscopy with secondary electron imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Results suggest that the use of titanium as a microalloying element reduces secondary precipitation during aging. Moreover, secondary precipitates in the microalloyed steel are much finer and more evenly distributed. On the other hand, zirconium oxides was found to be potential nucleation sites for primary titanium rich carbides contributing to an optimum distribution of these carbides in the tubes. These differences together with the higher stability of the titanium containing primary carbides are responsible for the improvement on ductility and creep resistance found in the present work.     

28—THE SPECIFIC HEAT OF WOOL CONTAINING AN ADDITIVE AND THE HEAT OF FUSION OF THE ABSORBED WATER

Specific-heat values are presented, in the temperature range from ?70 to 100°C, for a modified wool at various water contents. The modification was analogous to a dyeing process and involved the uptake of 14% of an additive by the wool. As for untreated wool, an endothermic peak resulting from the fusion of absorbed water was found in the range from ?30 to 0°C. The absorbed water exhibits a sub-division into freezable and non-freezable fractions. Heats of fusion of freezable absorbed water are given and compared with corresponding results for untreated wool. The integral heat of fusion at saturation water content is much less for treated than for untreated wool, as is the amount of freezable water. It appears that the treatment causes the exclusion of a considerable quantity of loosely held water. This is in accord with the concept, derived from Flory–Huggins solution theory, that one effect of the additive is to swell the wool fibres and thereby cause a greater resistance to further swelling at a given water content.     

Increase in Regain during Vacuum-steaming

The importance of lateral pressure in the tension and bending behaviour of yarns and fabrics is discussed. To determine the lateral pressure between fibres, a specific model is considered, that of a filament helically wound around a cylinder. The equations governing the equilibrium of the filament are derived and both account for the helical geometry of the filament and allow for the variation of the helix angle. The filament is assumed to possess both bending and torsional rigidities. The special case of constant helix angle yields expressions for the lateral-force intensity as a function of the tension in the filament, bending and torsional rigidities, bending curvature, and torsion. Specific examples are considered to show the relative contributions of the bending and torsional rigidities to the lateral force     

40—SELF-CROSS-LINKING IN HEATED KERATIN

An account is given of an investigation of the influence of dry heat on wool keratin. It is shown by three different chemical techniques that cross-linking occurs up to a temperature at which the amino-acid decomposition becomes marked. Although Iysinoalanine and lanthionine are shown to be formed, these amino acids do not appear to be major contributors to the cross-linking of the heated protein.

The covalent binding of the ?-amino group of lysine was determined quantitatively, and, from the results obtained, it is deduced that this group is involved to a large extent in the formation of cross-links.

On the basis of these findings, it is postulated that amide cross-links are formed through the ?-amino group of lysine by reaction with carboxylic side chains of aspartic or glutamic acids or their amide derivatives.     

Heat resistance and thermomechanical behaviour of ultralow and zero cement castables

Abstract

Knowledge of relative heat resistance as well as thermo-mechanical behaviour of refractory castables is very important for their use as linings in high temperature furnaces and refining vessels in the metallurgical, cement, and petrochemical industries. The present work aims at studying these properties for different types of refractory castable. Two classes of castable were prepared, namely ultralow and zero cement, containing either high alumina cement or hydratable alumina as bonding agent. For each class, two different castable systems were prepared, one containing an alumina-silica mixture in its matrix and the other containing magnesia-alumina. In all castables studied, calcined alumina was used as aggregate. The prepared castable samples were subjected to firing temperatures up to 1500°C. Relative heat resistance, bending strength before and after thermal cycling, hot modulus of rupture, and creep deformation were measured according to international standard specifications. It was concluded that a limited content of cement (ultralow cement castables) is beneficial with the magnesia-alumina mix in the matrix owing to the formation of calcium hexaluminate-magnesium aluminate-corundum (matrix advantage system) that results in excellent relative heat resistance as well as thermome-chanical properties. Zero cement castables on the other hand are recommended for use with the alumina-silica mixture, since the absence of cement improves the chances of mullite formation without glassy phases, thereby enhancing the properties of such refractory castables.     

Effects of TiC additions on as cast and heat treated microstructures and mechanical properties of ZA84 magnesium alloy

Abstract

The effects of TiC additions on the as cast and heat treated microstructures and mechanical properties of ZA84 Mg alloy are investigated. The results indicate that, after adding 0·5 wt-%TiC to ZA84 alloy, the as cast microstructure of the alloy is refined. At the same time, the distribution of second phases in the alloy becomes relatively uniform and the quasi-continuous networked second phases in the alloy become discontinuous. As a result, the as cast tensile properties of the alloy are improved. In addition, after solutionisation at 345°C, parts of the Mg₃₂(Al,Zn)₄₉ phases in the ZA84 alloy without TiC modification still exhibit quasi-continuous distribution. The Mg₃₂(Al,Zn)₄₉ phases in the ZA84 alloy treated with 0·5 wt-%TiC change to disconnected particles with an angular morphology and gradually spheroidise. Under the optimum heat treated conditions, the ZA84 alloy treated with 0·5 wt-%TiC exhibits higher heat treated tensile properties than the ZA84 alloy without TiC modification.