Slab Soaking Conditions in Pusher-Type Furnaces of Different Design.

A comparative evaluation is made between the conditions in pusher-type furnaces without fixed hearth and the one with either short or long fixed hearth. The results of the comparative calculations with variation of the hearth surface capacity, the length of the fixed hearth, as well as the furnace chamber and withdrawal temperatures are presented for various furnace designs. They show that, in order to achieve the quality of slab soaking, a pusher-type furnace covering the normal capacity and temperature ranges should be designed without fixed hearth.