Tundish preheating

In this age of climate awareness, making the switch to electric may seem like a no-brainer. However, there is a commonly held misconception that electric solutions cannot deliver high enough temperatures or sufficient power for effective tundish preheating. As Olivier Tanguy, Business Development Manager with Kanthal, explains, this skepticism is unfounded.

“Kanthal has been electrifying the world since 1931,” he says. “Our company was set up as a supplier of electric heating elements, and we have all the experience needed to make sure they deliver the necessary heat and power requirements.”

BETTER RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Kanthal’s electric heating systems can be adapted for all temperature ranges, delivering effective tundish preheating up to temperatures of 1,500°C (2,730°F).

“Moreover, our products have been proven to deliver good ramp rates, bringing the tundish up to the required temperature in the right time,” Tanguy adds.

As for the sustainability benefits of using Kanthal’s high-temperature heating products for tundish preheating, the evidence speaks for itself.

Kanthal’s electric heating solutions produce no carbon emissions, provided the electricity they use is generated from a renewable energy source. Even when the source is a fossil-based power plant, the considerably reduced energy consumption of an electric heater leads to better resource efficiency overall. Electric heating solutions deliver more than 90 percent thermal efficiency and can cut energy use by up to 70 percent, depending on the process in which they are used.

PREVENT UNNECESSARY INTERRUPTIONS

Olivier Tanguy, Business Development Manager with KanthalIn a tundish, preheating is required, first to dry out the refractory material and prevent explosions that could occur if the molten metal were to come into contact with water vapor, and second to prevent the liquid metal from solidifying or freezing.

“If the metal were to freeze in the tundish it would have to be scrapped, resulting in material losses and interruptions in production,” Tanguy explains. “This can be prevented by making sure the temperature is high enough, as well as through better temperature control and temperature uniformity, especially in the thinner section of the tundish where the metal is poured out.”

Whereas gas heaters are very inefficient, delivering only 20 to 30 percent thermal efficiency while allowing a lot of heat to escape out of the exhaust, an electric heating system is up to 95 percent efficient. Since it is a closed system with built-in temperature controls, it also maintains a specific constant temperature. This results in a more controlled, more uniform and far more accurate heating process.

SAFER, CLEANER, QUIETER

Last but certainly not least, electric solutions for tundish preheating are better for the operators and the overall working environment.

Kanthal’s electric solutions not only improve the bottom line of the business, but they are also quiet, safe and clean – making them a better solution all round.

“Gas burners are notorious for being hot, noisy and polluting,” Tanguy says. “They also run the risk of emitting harmful nitrous oxides or even poisonous carbon monoxide gas. Kanthal’s electric solutions not only improve the bottom line of the business, but they are also quiet, safe and clean – making them a better solution all round."