Simulation and optimization of high power super heater reflectors
usable in electrical furnaces for heat loss reduction
Kourosh Mousavi Takami
TDI (P.O. Box: 13445686, Sharif institute of technology (TDI), Tehran, Iran) researcher and Ph.D. student in
Mälardalen University,
[email protected]
Abstract
Super heater elements concentrated in very high and
clean power at temperature up to 1800 ºc is needed for
aluminium melting, oil drying equipment using for power
transformers and same that material. There fore, always
it is need to minimize power consumption and increase
effectiveness at power reflector customers. This means to
minimize heat losses in the High Power Reflector, and to
optimize heat performance with respect to output power
and temperature distribution. This can be done by
altering the size and form of the insulating ceramic fiber
to have as much power as possible 'reflected' out from
the module. It can also be done by altering the size and
form of the element .It has been done and the task solved
mainly by heat transfer simulations, using COMSOL and
MTLAB software’s. To minimize the number of different
designs (and thus the number of calculations) were
studied; it is also done that statistical methods for
experimental design used to determine which designs
should be used in the calculations. When an optimal
solution has been found, it has been tested at factory’s
facilities, with two reference designs.
Keywords: reflector, simulation, element.
1. Introduction
Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) are resistance type
heating elements made of a dense ceramic-metallic
material which can produce furnace temperatures
approaching 1800°C. Although more expensive than
traditional metallic elements, MoSi2 elements are known
for their longevity due in part to a protective quartz layer
that forms on the surface of the element “hot zone”
during operation.
The MoSi2 elements are made to industry standard
established resistance values, dimensions and
geometries, and therefore are interchangeable with other
manufacturers of molybdenum disilicide elements.
The MoSi2 elements are graded in many maximum
temperature ranges, same 1700°C (3090°F) and 1850°C
(3270°F). Elements are available in many shapes and
forms (see examples shown below).
Benefits of MoSi2 elements include high temperature
operation (in air), long element life and the ability in
some cases to replace any failed elements hot.
Customers of The MoSi2 elements enjoy two key added
benefits – first, unparalleled price and second,
experienced engineering support. Anyone can sell
MoSi2, but knowing how to design the system is where
MoSi2 excels. MoSi2 systems must be engineered for
customer to get the best performance and optimum
service life. The engineers can assist in:
analyzing the relationship between the furnace
temperature, element temperature and the element
surface load selecting the element surface load according
to the furnace construction, atmosphere and operating
temperature choosing the most suitable element size and
style for customer application designing a new furnace
with MoSi2 or converting from gas or oil fired to a
MoSi2 based electric heating system determining if one
of MoSi2 Power Pack systems can work for application.
MoSi2 heating element is used in the high temperature
under oxidizing atmosphere. It will form the SiO2 film
which can keep the element from being melted. During
the oxidizing process, the SiO2 protecting film is formed
again when the element continues to be used. The MoSi2
heating element must not be used in the temperature
between 400ºC and 700ºC for a long time; otherwise the
element will be cremated under the strong oxidizing
function in the low temperature.
The resistance of MoSi2 heating element increases fast
along with the temperature going up. This means that
when the elements are connected to a constant voltage,
the power will be higher at lower temperatures and will
be graduadlly reduce with increasing temperature, thus
shortening the time for the furnace to reach operating
temperature. Furthermore, as the power of the elements
189
decreases, the danger of overheating will be reduced.
Under the normal condition, the elements resistance does
not change along with used time generally. So the old
and the new element can be used together. Element
length, diameter and distance between elements- element
with reflector wall and bottom; depth and dimensions of
reflector, reflector material (material of surface,
insulation and back of reflector), and design of reflector,
power and sealed system are important in temperature
distribution and so losses. Low losses and have high
temperature efficiency in 20 centimeter in top of element
is the aim of this optimization.
2. Problem definition
It’s necessary to create optimum heating solutions for
each power reflectors.
One of manufacturer same as RATH and KANTHAL
many heating solutions is called Superthal, which consist
of vacuum formed ceramic fiber shapes with an
integrated Kanthal Super ceramic (MoSi2) heating
element. The Super ceramic heating elements can be
operated at element temperatures up to 1850°C.
The Superthal High Power Reflector is a compact fiber
insulated modular heater with so-called 'cubic' Kanthal
Super elements, see Fig. 1. It is designed for a power of
up to 110kW/m2 at 1650°C.
Multiple units can easily be joint together in different
configurations e.g. in rows or squares. The Superthal
High Power Reflectors are used wherever a concentrated
high power at temperatures of up to 1650°C is needed,
for instance in single billet heating, aluminum melting
furnaces or ladle heaters.
A reflector dimension that has been used for simulation
is: 600×600mm in wide and so 230mm in depth, voltage
and current are 66v and 605 Amp. at 1650 ºC
respectively; power density is 110 w/m2 and finally
element type is 12/24mm.
2.1 Description of task
There is always a need to minimize power consumption
and increase effectiveness at customers. In this case it
means to minimize heat losses in the Power Reflector,
and to optimize heat performance with respect to output
power and temperature distribution. This can be done by
altering the size and form of the insulating ceramic fiber
to have as much power as possible 'reflected' out from
the module. It can also be done by altering the size and
form of the element.
It is suggested that the task is solved mainly by heat
transfer simulations, using e.g. some FEM software and
so COMSOL and MTLAB software’s.
To minimize the number of different designs (and thus
the number of calculations) that need to be studied, it is
also suggested that statistical methods for experimental
design are used to determine which designs should be
used in the calculations.
When an optimal solution is reached, this will be tested
at Kanthal's facilities, together with one or two reference
designs.
3. Material properties
Thermal conductivity (W/m K), heat capacity (J/kg K)
and resistivity (Ωm) are shown in figures 2,3 and 4 and
so in this element emissivity is ε = 0.7
Figure 2. Thermal conductivity (W/m K)versus temperature
Figure 1. A Kanthal Superthal High Power Reflector
190
Figure 5. Element
3.1 1600°C VACUUM FORMED CERAMIC
FIBER PRODUCTS
Figure 3. Heat capacity (J/kg K) versus temperature
Vacuum formed reflector exhibit excellent thermal
conductivity, good compressive strength and exceptional
thermal stability. This combination of physical properties
allows reflector products to be used in hot face
applications at temperatures up to 1500°C (2732°F) as
well as efficient back-up insulation. By surfacerigidizing, heating elements are able to be effectively
mounted on the board or shape.
Table 2. Technical data of reflectors
Figure 4. resistivity (Ωm) versus temperature
Classification/Service Temperature
Table 1. Element for 12mm hot zone diameter and fiber
panel characterizes
1600°C/1500°C
Chemical Composition
Min Max
Element
Number of shanks
Hot zone length, Le (mm)
4
25
100
300
Terminal length, Lu (mm)
65% Al2O3
4, 6, 12, 16, 20, 25
150 mm for 12 mm hot zone.
Center-to-center distance,
Depends on the diameter of
a (mm)
35/45 60/80 the hot zone (9 or 12 mm).
Hot zone diameter, d (mm)
12
12mm
18
24
For 12 mm hot zone, the
terminal is 24 mm.
Surface load (W/cm )
10
40
Current (A)
200
700
Terminal diameter, c (mm)
2
9
1400
1700 1700
600*600*230mm
Shape
To be determined by sim.
Emissivity
Coefficient of radiation
300 kg/m3
18.6 lb/ft3
LOI (@1000°C, 6h)
KVS 161 4%
KVS 164 0%
Linear Thermal Shrinkage (KVS 161) 24 hours:
@ 1300°C (2372°F) - 0.5%
@ 1400°C (2552°F) -1.0%
[“-“ = shrinkage “+” = expansion]
Size
Heat transfer coefficient
Density
34% SiO2
@ 1500°C (2722°F) -1.5%
605
Plug and Fiber panel
Material quality
2912°F/2732°F
2 4
100w/m k
Compressive Strength
0.15 MPa
(@ 10 % compression)
21.9 lb/in2
Cold Bending Strength (MOR)
1 Mpa
(3 Point Bend)
146 lb/in2
Specific Heat
0.7
2
5.67w/m ºC
191
0.92 J/g·°C
0.22 BTU/lb·°F
Where u is the velocity field, this field can either be
provided as a mathematical expression of the
independent variables or calculated by a coupling to a
momentum balance application mode such as
Incompressible Navier-Stokes or Non-Isothermal Flow.
The heat flux vector is defined by the expression within
the parentheses in the equation above. For transport
through conduction and convection this equation yields:
q = − K∇T + ρC p Tu
Where: q is the heat flux vector. If the heat transfer is by
conduction
only,
q
is
determined
by:
q = − K∇T
4. The Heat Equation
Heat capacity refers to the quantity that represents the
amount of heat required to change one unit of mass of a
substance by one degree. It has units of energy per mass
per degree. This quantity is also called specific heat or
specific heat capacity.
The mathematical model for heat transfer by conduction
is the heat equation:
4.1- Boundary Conditions
Figure 6. Thermal conductivity of ceramic reflectors
ρC
∂T
∂t
+ ∇ ⋅ ( − K∇T ) = Q
Quickly review the variables and quantities in this
equation:
We use two different types of boundary conditions, the
Dirichlet type and the Neumann type. The Dirichlet type
boundary condition is used to set a temperature on the
boundary:
T is the temperature.
T = T0
ρ is the density.
C is the heat capacity.
While the Neumann type condition is used to set the heat
flux on the boundary:
Cp is the heat capacity at a constant pressure.
− n ⋅ q = q0
Cv is the heat capacity for a constant volume.
Where:
k is the thermal conductivity.
q is the heat flux vector.
Q is a heat source or heat sink.
n is the normal vector of the boundary.
For a steady-state model, temperature does not change
with time and the first term containing ρ and C
vanishes. If the thermal conductivity is anisotropic, k
becomes the thermal conductivity tensor k:
q0 is inward heat flux, normal to the boundary.
k xx k xy k xz
k = k yx k yy k yz
k zx k zy k zz
∂T
∂t
+ ∇ ⋅ (− K∇T + ρC p Tu ) = Q
The Heat Transfer Module uses the following, more
general and formulation of Equation 2 :
− n ⋅ q = q 0 + h(Tinf − T )
(3)
This formulation allows you to specify the heat flux in
terms of an explicit heat flux q0 and a heat transfer
coefficient, h, relative to a reference temperature, Tinf.
To model heat conduction and convection through a
fluid, the heat equation also includes a convective term.
this formulation in the General Heat Transfer application
mode as:
ρC p
(2)
The thermal insulation condition is obtained by setting q0
= 0. This is also the case for symmetry boundaries.
For heat transfer problems involving radiation, additional
terms are added on the right side of Equation 3 to
(1)
192
represent the radiative heat flux. This is covered in the
next section.
4.2- Radiative Heat Transfer
So far we have considered heat transfer by means of
conduction and convection. The third mechanism for
heat transfer is radiation. Thermal radiation denotes the
stream of electromagnetic waves emitted by a body that
has a certain temperature. Here we will study the theory
behind the radiative heat transfer process that occurs on
the surface of a body.
The radiosity is the sum of the reflected radiation and the
emitted radiation:
J = ρG + εσT
4
(6)
Besides the assumption that the surface is opaque, we
also assume that the surface is diffusive-gray. For
diffusive-gray surfaces, we can assume the following for
the reflectivity and the emissivity:
α = 1− γ = ε
(7)
By inserting Equation 7 into Equation 6 we eliminate the
reflectivity from Equation 6 and express the net radiative
heat flux q in the inward direction as:
q = ε (G − σT 4 )
These assumptions allow us to explicitly express the
irradiation on the surface as:
4
G = σTamb
(9)
By inserting Equation 9 into Equation 8 we obtain the net
inward heat flux for surface-to-ambient radiation:
4
q = εσ (Tamb
−T 4)
(10)
4.6- Electromagnetic equations:
To derive the equation system this mode solves, start
with Ampère’s law,
∇×H = J +
(5)
Using Equation 4 and Equation 5 , we eliminate J and
obtain the following expression for the net inward heat
flux into the body:
q = (1 − γ )G − εσT 4
The ambient surroundings have the properties of a black
body, that is, emissivity and absorptivity equal to 1 and
reflectivity equal to zero.
(4)
The net radiative heat flux into the body is obtained by
computing the difference between the irradiation and the
radiosity:
q=G−J
The ambient surroundings in view of the surface have a
constant temperature Tamb.
(8)
The expression above denotes the net radiative heat flux
into a boundary.
We distinguish between two different types of radiative
heat transfer: surface-to-ambient radiation and surfaceto-surface radiation. Equation 8 holds for both radiation
types. However, the irradiation term, G, is different for
surface-to-ambient and surface-to-surface radiation. The
irradiation term and the resulting radiative heat flux for
both radiation types are derived in the sections below.
∂D
∂t
= σE + σV × B + J e +
For surface-to-ambient radiation, assume the following:
(11)
Now assume time-harmonic fields and use the definitions
B = ∇ × A , E = −∇ V −
of the potentials,
combine
them
with
µ
B
=
(
H
+
M )
0
relationships
the
∂A
∂t
, and
constitutive
and D = ε 0 E + P
to
rewrite Ampère’s law as:
( j ωσ
− ω 2ε 0 ) A + ∇ × (µ
−1
0
− σ V × ( ∇ × A ) + ( σ + j ωε
∇ × A − M )
0
(12)
)∇ V = J
In the 2D in-plane case there are no variations in the zdirection, and the electric field is parallel to the z-axis.
Therefore you can write ∇ V as −∆V/L where ∆V is the
potential difference over the distance L.
Now simplify these equations to:
− M y
− ∇ .( µ 0− 1 ∇ A z −
) + σ V .∇ A z
M x
+ ( j ωσ − ω 2 ε 0 ) A z = σ ∇LV + J ϕe + j ω Pϕ
(13)
Where: σ electrical conductivity, V loop loop potential,
J ϕe
external current density, P ϕ electric polarization,
A z magnetic potential z component and v is velocity.
With using finite element mode performs this
transformation to avoid singularities on the symmetry
axis.
The relevant interface condition is
4.3- SURFACE-TO-AMBIENT RADIATION
∂D
∂t
n2 × (H 1 − H 2 ) = Jϕ
The natural boundary condition fulfills this equation if
the surface current vanishes. We can transform the
Neumann condition of this PDE into:
193
− M y
− M y
−1
− n .[( µ 0− 1 ∇ A z −
)1 − (µ 0 ∇ Az − M
) 2
M
x
x
= − n × ( µ 0− 1 ∇ × A − M ) 1 − ( µ 0− 1 ∇ × A − M ) 2
[
]
Depth[mm]
Element tmp.[ºk]
Simulated tmp.[ºk] on 20cmre
(14)
230
1900
1720
230
1900
1745
230
1900
1795
230
1900
1820
= −n × (H 1 − H 2 ) = 0
Joule Equations:
− ∇.(δ∇V − J e ) = Q
n.( J1 − J 2 ) =
and δ =
1
( ρ 0 (1+α (T −T0 )))
δ (V −Vref )
(15)
d
Where: V is potential is around of 66 volts, δ is
conductivity at reference temperature and d is thickness.
5. Simulation in COMSOL software
The simulations of temperature distribution have done on
base of many cases. Element length, diameter and
distance between elements- element with reflector wall
and bottom; depth and dimensions of reflector, reflector
material (material of surface, insulation and back of
reflector), and design of reflector, power and sealed
system are important in temperature distribution and so
losses. Low losses and have high temperature efficiency
in 20 centimeter in top of element is the aim of this
simulation. Necessary data for simulation has been given
in table 1,2 and figures 2,3,4 and 6.
Figure 8. Simulation of temperature distribution in bowel
form reflector in 605 A
6. Result an discussion
Figure 7. Simulation of temperature distribution in bowel
form reflector in 500A current
Table 3. Simulation results
Parameter
Emistivity
Reflector shape
a[mm]
Le[mm]
Descriptions
0.7
cave
80
200
0.85
Cave
80
200
0.7
circle
80
200
0.85
circle
80
200
Figure 9. Simulation of temperature distribution in circular
194
form reflector in 605 A current and the Temperature
distribution on element is drown in down figure
be increased. Accessible area for element installation,
element dimension and element location has shown that
has a responsible effect on temperature distribution. In
elliptical and circular reflectors, if 20 cm line will have
located in the fireplace, on that’s case, it will have higher
efficiency.
Figure 10. Simulation of temperature distribution in bowl
form reflector in 605 A current at 20 centimeter on the top
of element
In figures 7-10 the temperature distribution in bowl and
circular reflector forms are shown. The summary results
have written in table3. In these results illustrated that
circular reflector on his fireplace has a high efficiency on
temperature profile. And so in figure 11- 13 electrical field
and temperature distribution are shown.
Figure 12. Simulation of Z direction electrical field in Cone
form reflector on 605 A current
Figure 13. Simulation of temperature in Cone form
reflector on 605 A current, 2D of figure 11
Figure 11. Simulation of temperature in Cone form
reflector on 605 A current
References
7. Conclusion
1. KANTHAL super electric heating element hand
book
2. COMSOL Multiphysics version 3.3a software
These simulations indicate that the emissivity of the
work piece has to be considered in addition to its thermal
mass. Necessary distance, between elements, to
counteract the effect of the electromagnetic force on
elements must be kept; in this case, with increasing in the
surface loading and so element length, the distance must
195
3. Dennis, J.E., Jr., and R.B. Schnabel, Numerical
Methods for Unconstrained Optimization and
Nonlinear Equations, Prentice Hall, Englewood
Cliffs, N.J., 1983.
4. Jafar Mahmoudi, Mathematical modelling of
fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification in a
strip continuous casting process``, International
Journal of Cast Metals Research IJC604.3d
20/1/06 13:22:12, The Charles worth Group,
Wakefield +44(0)1924 369598- Rev 7.51n/W
(Jan 20 2003).
Kourosh Mousavi Takami was born in Sari,
Mazandaran,Iran . He received the B.S.c.
degree in electric power engineering from
the Iran University of Science and
Technology (IUST) Tehran, Iran, Oct1995
and the M.Sc. degree in electric power
engineering from the Engineering Faculty of
Mazandaran University, Iran in 2002.
Currently, he is PhD student at Mälardalen
University in Sweden since 2005. He has so over ten years
experience in power system design and installations. His research
interests include Optimization and simulation of heat generation
and transfer in the core and winding of power transformers;
diagnostic testing and condition monitoring of power equipments,
and application of fuzzy and Ants algorithm to condition
monitoring of power equipments.
196