ISSN Online: 2377-424X
International Heat Transfer Conference 12
Comparison of the Predictions from a Range of Multi-Zone Mathematical Models of a Continuously Operated Metal Reheating Furnace
Аннотация
The zone method can provide accurate estimates of thermal radiation heat transfer and as such has been
widely used to determine the performance of industrial combustion systems. This paper compares predictions
from a range of both one-dimensional (the so-called long furnace) and more complex two-dimensional models of
a gas-fired metal reheating furnace. There are substantial differences in the predictions of the two different types
of models with the simpler one-dimensional version over predicting both the load surface temperature and the
temperature differentials in the steel at discharge from the furnace, as well as overestimating the thermal
efficiency. Consequently it may be necessary to use two-dimensional zoning arrangements unless the flow of
combustion products can be represented by a simple plug flow. In addition the effect of the number of zones is
studied for the two-dimensional models.