Research on computer model of the steel ladles heating

Heating of the ladle is carried out to reduce the heat loss of the molten metal and prevent the destruction of the ladle lining, that arises from the sharp temperature gradient in the initial period of the melt outlet. Thermal preparation of ladles is car-ried out in the plants for drying and high-temperature heating. The temperature conditions and duration of heating are set empirically depending on the physical properties of lining materials. To control the ladle preparation process the operation conditions must provide for predetermined temperature profile across the lining with minimum possible specific expenditure of fuel under the conditions of variable efficiency of the unit. To control thermal preparation of the ladle it is necessary to predict the temperature distribution in the ladle lining. On the strength of the analysis of the heating technology and the design of the 120-ton ladle the computer model of the thermal state based on the finite element method was developed. As a result of the simulation the temperature distribution across the layers of the lining during 24 hours was obtained. The simulation model can be used as a predictor in the development of ACS in the preparation of the ladles. The model of the thermal state of the lining can be used not only for the selection of the optimum heating but also for the evaluation of technical solutions to improve the design of the ladles and other metallurgical units