A Computer Model for the Horizontal Flue Ring Furnace

A model is developed for the ring furnace, one of the most expensive, energy-intensive, yet not so efficient pieces of equipment in the aluminum industry. The overall model, built on the assumption that the furnace is a continuous counterflow heat and mass exchanger, integrates a model of heat transfer, and a model for air infiltration. Computer runs are made which succeed in reproducing the known experimental operating conditions. Simulation runs are then made where we successively change the various operational parameters. Results obtained are consistent and in good agreement with experimental results reported elsewhere. They quantitatively show how infiltration rate, air flow rate, number of fires, and geometry of furnace affect furnace behavior and fuel consumption.