Energy consumption in steel heat treatment

[CdotS]

Is there any reference available to compare energy consumption in the austenitizing and tempering treatment of steel (Q+T) plates? I am interested in comparing the energy efficiency of my gas fired furnaces to other gas furnaces used for similar purposes.

I have searched the Internet and found that energy consumed in autenitizing of steel is about 0.6 to 3.0 GJ/ton. This is a reference from

http://www.aceee.org

web site. This is rather a wide range and I would like to know the energy consumption for a really energy-efficient furnace.

Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[lewtam]

What is the chemical analysis of the steel you Q&T? The wide range quoted by the ACEEE is due to the wide range of 'steel' produced.

 

[CdotS]

Lewtam,
Low alloy steels with <1%Cr, 0.8%Mn, 0.25%Mo with standard levels of other elelents such as S and P.

 

[thingmaker3]

Frank Palmer and George Luerssen conducted similar research in about six decades ago. They were looking at time requirements rather than energy requirements, but their data might be helpful. They studied the effect of initial furnace temp, surface finish, size, shape, furnace atmosphere, and other variables. They published in "Tool Steel Simplified," which is out of print but realativley easy to find. Look in chapter 20.

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