The effect of combined radiation and convection on hot dip galvanizing kettle wear

S. G. Blakey*, S. B.M. Beck

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hot dip galvanizing furnaces are designed to maintain a quantity of molten zinc at 450°C in a kettle to allow steelwork to be galvanized. The most common heating medium for such furnaces both in the UK and abroad is natural gas. The alloying reaction between the zinc and the steel kettle wall is temperature dependent. Above a certain rate of heat transfer this forms a non-adherent alloy, which allows molten zinc to erode away the kettle wall, limiting the life span of the kettle and the production rate for the furnace. In order to investigate the causes of high levels of localised wear on kettle walls a model of a hot dip galvanizing furnace has been built using CFD software. This model is compared with measurements taken from an actual furnace in operation and also from wear data of the kettle walls after the serviceable life. In contrast to received wisdom, which is that the high wear is a result of direct flame impingement onto the kettle wall, the modelling suggests that radiation and convection exchange from the flame causes the wear rather than direct contact between the flame and kettle wall.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1301-1319
Number of pages19
JournalApplied Thermal Engineering
Volume24
Issue number8-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2004

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Combustion
  • Galvanizing wear rate
  • Radiation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of combined radiation and convection on hot dip galvanizing kettle wear'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this