Transient Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Steel Ladle Refractory Linings Using Mechanical Homogenization Approach

Mortarless refractory masonry structures are widely used in the steel industry for the linings of many high-temperature industrial applications including steel ladles. The design and optimization of these components require accurate numerical models that consider the presence of joints, as well as joint closure and opening due to cyclic heating and cooling. The present work reports on the formulation, numerical implementation, validation, and application of homogenized numerical models for the simulation of refractory masonry structures with dry joints. The validated constitutive model has been used to simulate a steel ladle and analyze its transient thermomechanical behavior during a typical thermal cycle of a steel ladle. A 3D solution domain and enhanced thermal and mechanical boundary conditions have been used. Parametric studies to investigate the impact of joint thickness on the thermomechanical response of the ladle have been carried out. The results clearly demonstrate that the thermomechanical behavior of mortarless masonry is orthotropic and nonlinear due to the gradual closure and reopening of the joints with the increase and decrease in temperature. In addition, resulting thermal stresses increase with the increase in temperature and decrease with the increase in joint thickness.

Transient Thermo-mechanical Analysis of Steel Ladle Refractory Linings Using Mechanical Homogenization Approach

Mortarless refractory masonry structures are widely used in the steel industry for the linings of many high-temperature industrial applications including steel ladle. The design and the optimization of these components require accurate numerical models that consider the presence of joints as well as joints closure and opening due to cyclic heating and cooling. The present work reports on the formulation, numerical implementation, validation, and application of homogenized numerical models for simulation of refractory masonry structures with dry joints. The validated constitutive model has been used to simulate a steel ladle and to analyze its transient thermomechanical behavior during a typical thermal cycle of steel ladle. 3D solution domain, enhanced thermal and mechanical boundary conditions have been used. Parametric studies to investigate the impact of joints thickness on the thermomechanical response of the ladle have been carried out. The results clearly demonstrate that the thermomechanical behavior of mortarless masonry is orthotropic nonlinear due to gradual closure and reopening of joints with the increase and decrease of temperature. Also, resulting thermal stresses increase with the increase of temperature and decrease with the increase of joints thickness.

Application of the method determining the pressure of the spreading coal and blends, as a method of extending the life of coke oven batteries

The analysis the state of coke batteries was carried out, with the help of which the main types of masonry wear the coke oven heating walls were established. The dynamics and nature of the damage suggest that for batteries with a long service life an individual approach is needed, both in the choice of the technological mode and in the selection of the raw material base coking, taking into account the pressure magnitude of coking blend. Since, in the process of coking coal blends, one the external manifestations of this process is a development of pressure expansion to the walls of coke oven chambers, when calculating the strength of coke ovens, the pressure of 7 kPa is taken as the critical pressure expansion. Exceeding this value leads to an increase in amperage and drilling of furnaces during the coke delivery of, premature wear of the refractory masonry, which requires more frequent repairs, and in extreme cases, deformation the walls of coking chambers. Therefore, coal blend, it is necessary to compile, taking into account not only the production of coke with the necessary mechanical strength, but also ensuring a bursting pressure not exceeding the standard value. To do this, in a laboratory setting to determine the pressure expansion, it is necessary to classify the incoming coal concentrates according to the indicator of pressure expansion, in order to compile blends with a safe value of pressure expansion.

Some Aspects about Product Management of Electric Arc Furnace Elements

The methodology of establishing an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and technological plant’s best management strategy is based on the “technological process – technological plant” interdependences. The paper presents the best management of a plant and consists of an assembly of operations, measures and decisions, established and applied in order to make the technological process more efficient from the technical – economical point of view. We present constructive and functional description of an Electric Arc Furnace such as: refractory masonry; metallic construction; electric installation. We also present the best management of a plant consisting of an assembly of operations, measures and decisions, established and applied in order to make the technological process more efficient from the technical–economical point of view, Electric Arc Furnace management included.