Optimizing the Process of Steel Slab Reheating in Pusher Type Reheat Furnace Prior to Hot Working

Abstract

Steel reheating prior to hot rolling is a process which is necessary to achieve sound mechanical and chemical properties of the finished steel products. Heating of steel works in reheat furnaces takes place gradually and with specific rates in order to avoid the development of structural defects due to the development thermal stresses. A mathematical two dimensional heat transfer model was constructed in order to calculate steel slab heating profile through the reheat furnace with actual temperature set points of the furnace zones being used as an input to this model. Calculated slab temperatures indicated aggressive heating of the steel in the early stages of heating and that slabs remain at temperatures close to rolling temperatures for longer period of time than necessary. This finding necessitates a readjustment of slab heating strategy in order to protect furnace components and steel from overheating.