When bricks containing carbon are applied to the wear lining of furnaces, shell deformation and temperature drop of molten steel are obvious problems because of the higher thermal conductivity of the bricks. Although many trials have been made to solve these problems, effective answers are not yet provided. One example of Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was examined on a steel ladle. The temperature of the steel in the ladle which had lower thermal conductivity bricks in wear lining (called lower thermal conductivity ladle below) was compared to that which had insulating bricks in safety lining (called insulated ladle below). Calculations included actual operating conditions as much as possible, except for the arc heating operation by which the molten steel was heated up. The lining mechanism which reduced the molten steel temperature drop and the elevated shell temperature of the lower thermal conductivity ladle was different from that of the insulated ladle. The heat stored in the former ladle and that radiated through the shell of the latter ladle must be controlled. The insulated ladle must have poor corrosion resistance because of the higher lining temperature. so the lower thermal conductivity ladle must be better in this respect. This aspect suggests that the lower thermal conductivity ladle will be very useful.
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