ISSN 09670912, Steel in Translation, 2010, Vol. 40, No. 11, pp. 979982. Allerton Press, Inc., 2010.

Original Russian Text D.A. Livshits, I.K. Popandopulo, V.M. Parshin, V.V. Kuslitsa, O.B. Isaev, A.A. Travinchev, 2010, published in Stal, 2010, No. 11, pp. 2931.

HeatLoss Calculation in Ladle Treatment of Steel

D. A. Livshitsa, I. K. Popandopulob, V. M. Parshinc, V. V. Kuslitsaa,
O. B. Isaeva, and A. A. Travincheva
a

OAO MK Azovstal, Mariupol, Ukraine

b
ZAO INKEPI, Mariupol, Ukraine
c
Bardin Central ScientificResearch Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, Moscow, Russia
AbstractA mathematical model permits calculation of the heat losses and temperature variation of liquid
steel. The rates of variation in the heat losses and the integral mean temperature of the liquid steel are physi
cally interpreted. A semiempirical formula that performs well in practice is used for the emissivity of slag
metal melt during discharge from a converter. Good agreement is found between the calculated and actual
temperature values of the steel in a casting ladle for a continuouscasting machine.
DOI: 10.3103/S0967091210110094

Daily practical experience and extensive theoreti

cal study have established that rigorous maintenance
of optimal temperature conditions is required in order
to obtain highquality billet in modern continuous
casting machines [1, 2]. Even relatively small devia
tions (1020C) produce deterioration in billet qual
ity. Therefore, prediction and correction of the steel
temperature in all stages of production is of great
importance. The most promising means of ensuring
the required casting temperature of steel is based on
theoretical monitoring of the temperature between the
converter and the intermediate ladle of the continu
ouscasting machine, so as to obtain valuable refer
ence material.
At Azovstal metallurgical works, the heat losses
have been described for the first time and the integral
mean temperature of the steel between the converter
and the intermediate ladle has been calculated.
The overall heat losses Qtot and the corresponding
variation in integral mean temperature of the steel
between the converter and the intermediate ladle may
be expressed as the sum of the heat losses in five stages
n

Q tot =

Q ,
i

(1)

i=1

where Q1 denotes the heat losses in melt discharge

from the converter to the casting ladle; Q2 denotes the
losses in transportation of the ladle and holding prior
to inertgas treatment; Q3 denotes the heat losses in
preliminary inertgas treatment; Q4 denotes the losses
on holding between the preliminary and primary
inertgas treatment; and Q5 denotes the heat losses in
primary inertgas treatment.
Before we analyze the temperature conditions in
each stage, we must consider the heat losses on

account of the radiation typical of the molten metal

slag system. We know that determining the true emis
sivity of the slagmetal melt surface in the casting
ladle is difficult [13]. As shown by experimental data,
the emissivity varies from 0.4 to 0.96 as the ladle is
filled, on account of the formation of a slag layer at the
steel surface. During discharge, the steel surface is
exposed under the action of the kinetic energy of the
jet, which declines in proportion to the discharge time
[2, 3]. To determine the emissivity of the discharged
melt surface, we use a semiempirical formula that has
performed well in practice
= m + ( sl m )erf ( b / 1 ),

(2)

where m is the emissivity of the steel; sl is the emissiv

ity of the slag; b = 2.7 0.3 is an empirical factor; is
the time, s; 1 is the duration of melt discharge from
the converter, s.
The lining temperature of the casting ladle is deter
mined by means of instruments embedded at three lev
els over the ladle height (at distances of 100120 mm
from the liquid steel). However, these temperature data
refer only to a single point. This does not meet technol
ogists requirements and is insufficient for mathemati
cal calculations. Attempts to use pyrometers do not lead
to positive results, since they also yield temperature val
ues for only a single point of the lining.
Given the nonuniform temperature distribution over
the lining height, we have developed a totalradiation
telescope for measuring the integral mean surface tem
perature of liquids and solids in the range 1001300C,
with a specific bearing for each situation. The telescope
(shown in the figure) has a focusing optical system in
the form of a cone with an internal polished surface.
This allows us to take account of the floor temperature

979

980

LIVSHITS et al.

The heat losses due to its accumulation by the

refractory ladle lining Qac.li.d during melt discharge
from the converter (J/kg K) are

4
2

li

2K
li
Q ac.li.d = 0 ( t m1 t 0 ) d ( F B + 0.5F L )

3
1

(5)

li

exp [ ( t m1 t liq )/t 0 ],

where FB and FL are, respectively, the areas of the bot
tom and lateral surface of the ladle at the lining, m2;
tliq is the liquidus temperature, K.
Then the steel temperature in the casting ladle
immediately after melt discharge from the converter is

Totalradiation telescope: (1) housing, (2) thermal battery,

(3) sensitive element, (4) lid.

and the temperature variation of the lining from the

floor to the upper cross section of the ladle.
For Azovstal, we may use the following equation in
calculating the heat losses and determining the steel
temperature in the casting ladle
Q 1 = Q A + Q B + Q C + Q asc.li .

(3)

The radiant heat losses QA from the surface of the

slagmetal melt to the ladle are determined from the
b
2
expression 39000 (T m /1000)4 D me.la d (J); the radiant
heat losses of the jets between the bottom of the dis
charge hole and the top of the casting ladle QB (J) are
b

620(H0 hla)3/4 (T m /1000)4 G me d ; the radiant heat

losses QC of the jets within the ladle are
5/4

500 { [ H 0 ( H h la )
b

li

5/4

]/h la }

t m2 = t m1 Q ac.li.d /c s F s ,

where Gs is the mass of steel in the casting ladle after

discharge, kg.
We assume that the steel is relatively quiescent in
the ladle after discharge and before inertgas treat
ment. The convectivemixing energy of the metal in
the ladle is small. Therefore, the steel is not mixed with
the slag. A solid crust forms at its surface during trans
portation to the steelcorrection module and during
holding. Research shows that the growth rate of the
solid slag crust is 0.1167 104 m/s. The quantity of
heat accumulated in the refractory lining during trans
portation to the steelcorrection module and during
holding is
li

2K 01
li
Q ac.tr.ho = 
 ( t m2 t 01 ) tr.ho ( F B + F L )

(7)

li

exp [ ( t m2 t liq )/t 01 ],

[ ( T m /1000 ) ( T 0 /1000 ) ] G me d , J,
li

where T m is the melt discharge before discharge from

the converter, K; Dme.la is the mean ladle diameter at
the lining, m; d is the discharge time of the melt from
li

the converter, s; Gme is the melt mass, kg; T 0 is the

integral mean temperature of the ladle lining before
filling with steel, K; H0 is the jet length from the bot
tom of the discharge hole to the top of the casting
ladle, m; hla is the jet length in the ladle, m.
The temperature of the steel in contact with the
ladle lining during casting is
t m1 = t 0 ( Q A + Q B + Q C )/c s G s ,

(6)

(4)

where cs is the specific heat of steel, J/kg K; Gs is the

mass of steel in the ladle, kg; t0 is the melt temperature
in the ladle before discharge. During melt discharge
from the converter, there are heat losses on account of
its accumulation by the refractory lining.

where K 01 =

01 C 01 0 is determined at lining tem

li
t 01

perature
prior to inertgas treatment, C; tliq is the
liquidus temperature of the steel determined from
chemical analysis in a sample after preliminary treat
ment.
The steel temperature prior to inertgas treatment is
t m3 = t m2 G ac.tr.ho / ( C s G s ).

(8)

Steelsmelting specialists are interested in the heat

losses of the steel during inertgas treatment: radiant
heat losses from the ladle volume with the slagmetal
rad1
melt surface ( Q slm ); heat losses due to mixing of the
m1

cold and hot steel layers in the casting ladle ( Q ch ); heat

losses due to melting of the cooling slag formed on the
steel surface in the ladle volume during transportation
to the steelcorrection module and during holding
before inertgas treatment (Q me1); and heat losses due to
its accumulation by the refractory lining (Q ac1).
STEEL IN TRANSLATION

Vol. 40

No. 11

2010

HEATLOSS CALCULATION IN LADLE TREATMENT OF STEEL

The velocity of the steel layers in contact with the

lining is zero [4]. Consequently, hydrodynamic and
thermal boundary layers are formed. The zero velocity
of the steel in contact with the lining is retained as long
as the metal is mixed by convective fluxes. With
increase in steel velocity in the ladle (for example, in
inertgas treatment), its interaction with the lining
becomes weaker and, close to the lining, it begins to
slip, thereby changing the heattransfer coefficient
from the metal to the lining.
The decrease in steel temperature during prelimi
nary treatment is
( t m3 310 ) + 273 4 2
rad1
 D i.c.l1 for1 ;
Q slm = 9.321 
1000
ml

Q ch = 0.180721 ( t m3 t li1 ) ( 2RX X )G s C s /R ;

Q

mel

= 0.017067D i.c.l1 tr.ho

(9)

[ ( t m3 310 ) ( 223.84 log tr.ho + 1357.74 ) ];

Q

ac1

2K 01
t m3 t liq
= 
 for1 ,
 ( t m3 t li1 ) ( F B F L ) exp 
li

t 01

where X is the thickness of the thermal boundary layer,

m; tr.ho is the duration of transportation and holding,
s; R is the mean ladle radius at the lining, m.
Using Eq. (9), we may determine the steel temper
ature after preliminary treatment
m1

t m4 = ( Q ch + Q

ac1

+Q

mel

+Q

rad1

)/C s G s .

(10)

In the inertgas treatment of steel, the metal in the

casting ladle is relatively quiescent during some inter
vals (for sampling and chemical analysis). In these
intervals, there are heat losses due to its accumulation
by the refractory lining, since the heat has been largely
exhausted during discharge, transportation and hold
ing, and preliminary treatment, while the temperature
of the lining in contact with the steel remains constant
throughout all subsequent processes.
The heat losses of the steel during holding prior to
primary treatment are determined from Eq. (7), where
Qac.tr.ho is replaced by Qac.pr1, tm2 by tm4, and tr.ho by pr.
The steel temperature is determined from Eq. (8).
The heat losses in primary inertgas treatment may
be calculated from Eq. (9), by substitution of the nec
essary parameters; the steel temperature is determined
from Eq. (10), by insertion of the appropriate values.
Where further inertgas treatment of the steel is
required, parameter substitution is repeated.
Using the equations here derived, we may calculate
the heat losses and the temperature drop of the steel in
STEEL IN TRANSLATION

Vol. 40

No. 11

2010

981

each production cycle and compare the results with

chronometric data for industrial melts:
Calculated values Actual values
Converter cycle, min

39.0 8.5

Batch mass, t

373.2 0.05

Integral mean temperature

of castingladle lining, C

629.5 81.3

Melt temperature prior to

discharge from converter, C

1697.2 14.41

Melt holding in converter

prior to discharge, min

1.86 0.9

Temperature of discharged
melt, C

1693.8 13.88

Holding time of melt, min

6.8 1.98

Duration of transportation
to, and residence in, the
steelcorrection module,
min

16.35 4.28

Steel temperature in steel

correction module, C
Duration of preliminary
treatment, min

1647.9 19.2 1638.5 16.96

8.4 2.12

Steel temperature after pre 1619.2 14.26 1614.8 17.14

liminary treatment, C
Steel holding in ladle
between preliminary and pri
mary treatment, min

13.5 5.77

Duration of metal cooling by

slab, min

5.0 3.54

Temperature drop due to slab

cooling, C

11.35 3.95

12.58 5.19

5.84 1.32

Duration of primary treat

ment, min

Steel temperature after pri 1583.77 13.32 1579.69 12.81

mary treatment, C
Temperature of steel for con 1573.77 11.3 1571.23 12.1
tinuous casting, C

As we see, the discrepancy of the actual and calcu

lated continuouscasting temperatures is no more
than 2.54 0.8C.
In practice, the steel temperature in the ladle after
preliminary treatment may be much higher than the
optimal value. In this case, with 715C overheating,
shavings are introduced in the ladle to cool the steel,
on the basis that 1 t of shavings will reduce the temper
ature by 4.55.5C. (With simultaneous gas injection,
each portion of shavings must be no more than 1.5 t.)
If the overheating of the steel is even greater, slab cool
ing must be employed. The residence time of the slab
in the ladle depends on its dimensions and immersion

982

LIVSHITS et al.

depth and also on the metal temperature. On the basis

of the experimental data, we derive an empirical for
mula for the slab holding in liquid steel or the corre
sponding temperature drop.
The temperature of the steel for the intermediate
ladle must be determined on the basis of the liquidus
and solidus temperatures (taking account of the steel
composition) and the rate of billet solidification (taking
account of the thickness and the linear casting rate).
The proposed mathematical model permits calcu
lation of the heat losses in any segment of the steel
production process.

REFERENCES
1. Nepreryvnoe lite stali: mat. mezhdunar. konf. (Continu
ous Casting of Steel: Proceedings of an International
Conference), Moscow: Metallurgiya, 1982.
2. Dostizheniya v oblasti nepreryvnoi razlivki stali: mat.
mezhdunar. konf. (Progress in the Continuous Casting
of Steel: Proceedings of an International Congress),
Moscow: Metallurgiya, 1987.
3. Monin, A.S. and Yaglom, A.M., Statisticheskaya
gidromekhanika (Statistical Hydrodynamics), Moscow:
Energoizdat, 1981, vol. 1.
4. Lykov, A.V., Teplomassoobmen (Heat and Mass Trans
fer), Moscow: Energiya, 1978.

STEEL IN TRANSLATION

Vol. 40

No. 11

2010