Modeling Thermal Shocks and Air Cooling Using the Finite Difference Method

To monitor the thermal history of a slab during heavy plate rolling, a temperature model including air cooling and chilling by the descaler sprays is proposed. The finite difference method is utilized for spatial discretization of the one-dimensional heat conduction equation. Tests were conducted at a rolling mill for quantifying the cooling effect. For these tests, a test slab was prepared and instrumented with thermocouples which measured the temperature of the slab at different locations across the thickness. These measurements were used for identifying the emissivities of the slab and the roller table as well as the heat transfer coefficient for the descaler sprays. Simulations using the identified parameters were compared to other experimental data.