Abstract A method of controlling a heating furnace for steel ingots, particularly a soaking pit for steel ingots, which is charged with a basic fuel quantity for heating the ingots to rolling temperature. The surface temperature of the ingots and thermal data of the furnace are measured and heat balances are established. From the resulting furnace balance temperatures, together with the surface temperature of the ingots, an estimated value for the center temperature of the ingots is determined in an estimating device. The estimated ingot center temperature and the ingot surface temperature as actual temperatures are compared with predetermined ingot core and surface temperatures as nominal temperatures. The resulting difference is used to correct the basic fuel quantity fed to the furnace. The surface temperature of each individual ingot in a furnace may be measured. The correction of the basic fuel quantity may be started after an empirically determined time interval of ingot heating in the furnace, and may be 1/4 to 1/3 of the total required pit time, which is the time between charging and drawing of ingots from the pit. During the pit time, ingots are heated in the soaking pit.
A method of controlling a heating furnace for steel ingots, particularly a soaking pit for steel ingots, comprising the steps of: charging the furnace with a basic fuel quantity for heating the ingots to rolling temperature by conducting fuel together with combustion air to the furnace; measuring ingot surface temperature and thermal data of the furnace; establishing heat balances; determining an estimated value for the ingot center temperature from furnace balance temperatures resulting from said step of establishing heat balances, together with said surface temperature; comparing said estimated ingot core temperature and said measured ingot surface temperature with predetermined wanted ingot center and ingot surface temperatures; and correcting said basic fuel quantity dependent on said comparing step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of controlling a heating furnace for steel ingots, particularly a soaking pit for steel ingots, comprising the steps of: charging the furnace with a basic fuel quantity for heating the ingots to rolling temperature by conducting fuel together with combustion air to the furnace; measuring ingot surface temperature and thermal data of the furnace; establishing heat balances; determining an estimated value for the ingot center temperature from furnace balance temperatures resulting from said step of establishing heat balances, together with said surface temperature; comparing said estimated ingot core temperature and said measured ingot surface temperature with predetermined wanted ingot center and ingot surface temperatures; and correcting said basic fuel quantity dependent on said comparing step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of measuring surface temperature of each individual ingot in said furnace.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of starting correcting of said basic fuel quantity after an empirically determined time interval of ingot heating in said furnace.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step of starting correction of said basic fuel quantity commences after 1/4 and 1/3 of total required ingot heating time in said furnace.