The heat transfer analysis of an acting-type heat retention panel used in a hot rolling process

In the hot strip rolling process, improvement of the mechanical properties of the strip steel has been a focus for a long time. After rough rolling, high temperature transfer bars are transported by conveyors through the heat retention panel in order to decrease the temperature difference between the head and the tail of the transfer bars. During the heat retention process, the temperature distribution of the transfer bars have a great influence on the mechanical properties of strip steel. A three-dimensional numerical model of a traditional passive heat retention panel is developed to investigate the temperature difference between the head and the tail of the transfer bars. A comparison with the in-situ data from a steel company in Taiwan shows that the present model works well for the prediction of temperature values of the head and the tail and temperature differences of the transfer bars. Based on the developed model, a three-dimensional numerical model of the acting-type heat retention panel is constructed in order to predict whether the temperature difference decreases during the heat retention process.