Fast And Sufficient Optimization Of The Load Temperature Distribution In High Temperature Sinter Furnaces

Sinter furnaces should provide uniform temperatures for the sintering process. Important parameters are power distribution of the heat sources and gas flow management. In sintering processes for steel, refractory metal or ceramic parts the temperatures range above 1.000°C, so that the individual sinter part temperatures are affected much more by radiation than convection. This complex situation leads to non-uniform temperatures within each sinter part and particularly between the sinter parts within the complete furnace load.

This contribution introduces an optimization method for flat temperature gradients within each sinter part and uniform temperatures between the sinter parts of the furnace load. Particular focus is on an efficient radiation model allowing the determination of the heat exchange in whole furnace, and the transient and stationary part of the sintering process. This will provide an excellent base for the optimization of heat balances during sintering in an industrial scale.