Thermal Modeling Using Finite Element Method ? A Review

Approximately 75 % of energy consumption in petrochemical and refining industries is used by furnaces and heaters. Ambient air conditions (pressure, temperature and relative humidity) and operational conditions such as combustion air preheating and using excess air for combustion, can affect the furnace efficiency. If the furnaces are operated at optimized conditions, the huge amounts of savings in energy consumptions would be achieved. By modeling and optimizing of a furnace the optimal operation conditions can be obtained. The aim of this paper is providing a mathematical model which is able to calculate furnace efficiency with change in operating and combustion air conditions.