Thermomechanical modelling of a torpedo car by considering working lining spalling

ABSTRACT

Lining spalling can occur in metallurgical vessels since their working linings experience intense thermomechanical loads in service. It is necessary to consider the spalling phenomenon in the thermomechanical modelling to better understand the thermomechanical behaviour of refractory linings. The present study introduces a stepwise volumetric loss method to consider spalling during process cycles, to examine the influence of insulating materials on the thermal and thermomechanical behaviour of the refractory lining of a torpedo car. The results reveal that the application of proper insulating materials with strong insulation effect decreases the heat loss, thermal shock intensity, and joint opening at the hot face although the joint opening during refining stages worsens when severe spalling occurs in certain cycles. The application of compliant insulating materials gives rise to mild thermomechanical loads in the steel shell.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermomechanical behaviour
• finite element modelling
• spalling
• stepwise volumetric loss
• torpedo car
• refractory linings
• insulation materials

ORCID

Shengli Jin http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6465-6285

Dietmar Gruber http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6801-4324

Additional information

Funding

Financial support by the Austrian Federal Government (in particular from Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie and Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft) represented by Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH and the Styrian and the Tyrolean Provincial Government, represented by Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH and Standortagentur Tirol, within the framework of the COMET Funding Programme is gratefully acknowledged. Federation for International Refractory Research and Education (FIRE) together with several of its members are project partners.