Non-uniform Slab Heating Pattern in a Preheating Furnace to Reduce Fuel Consumption: Burners’ Load Distribution Effects Through Semitransparent Medium via Discreet Ordinates’ Thermal Radiation and k–ε Turbulent Model

Abstract

Due to the extreme use of fossil fuels and increasing environmental problems, the steel industries have been always seeking solutions to decrease energy consumption. These efforts will not only reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) but also decrease the costs of these industries. In this study, we investigated the effects of burners’ heating load distribution in a hot-rolling preheating furnace, by numerical modeling. This study incorporates a three-dimensional model for preheating furnaces with a given geometry and various heating loads’ distribution. Following the determination of boundary conditions, the simulation process will be carried out. This research will be evaluated in four different cases. In one case, the burners’ load distribution is uniform and in the other three cases the burners’ load distribution decreases exponentially along with the furnace. The results of this study indicate that the best scenario from a performance perspective is true, the exponential expression X−0.8 in which the energy consumption decreases up to 44 %, and the slab temperature will be reached to the given desired temperature in the furnace.