Method and arrangement for heating extended steel products

Abstract

A method and apparatus for heating extended steel products, such as pipes, tape, or wire products or rods following working such as rolling or extrusion, to a heat treatment temperature, normally to approximately 50 to 900 degrees Celsius. The heating takes place as a result of the product being fed through a burner that has a central through channel into which the product is fed. Fuel and oxidant are supplied through channels that are outside of the central channel and are supplied at such a rate that the combustion of the fuel takes place in front of an outlet opening of the burner head of the burner.

1 . A method for heating extended steel products, such as pipes, tape, or wire products or rods following working, such as rolling or extrusion, to a heat treatment temperature of approximately 50 to 900 degrees Celsius, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the extended steel product through a burner that has a central through channel into which the extended steel product is fed; and supplying fuel and oxidant through respective fuel and oxidant channels that are outside of the central through channel and at such a rate that combustion takes place in front of an outlet opening of a burner head of the burner and heat is distributed around the periphery of the extended steel product. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the extended steel product is fed through the burner in a direction that is opposite to a direction of flow of burner exhaust gases. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant and fuel are fed out from the outlet opening of the burner head around and in a symmetrical manner with respect to the extended steel product. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the oxidant and fuel are fed out from the outlet opening of the burner head and are evenly distributed over the periphery of the extended steel product. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel and oxidant are supplied from the burner head outlet opening at an angle that lies between 1 and 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the extended steel product. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant contains at least 85% oxygen by volume. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , including the step of forming a flame within a flame tube that extends out from the outlet opening of the burner head and is concentric with a transport pathway of the extended steel product. 
   
   
       8 . An arrangement for heating extended steel products, such as pipes, tape, or wire products or rods following working, such as rolling or extrusion, to a heat treatment temperature of approximately 50 to 900 degrees Celsius, said heating arrangement comprising: a burner that has a central through channel arranged for the feed of the extended steel product through the burner; respective fuel and oxidant channels within the burner for the supply of fuel and oxidant, which fuel and oxidant channels are located outside of the central through channel; wherein the fuel and oxidant channels are positioned such that combustion takes place in front of an outlet opening of a burner head of the burner. 
   
   
       9 . A heating arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the extended steel product is fed through the burner in a direction that is opposite to a direction of flow of exhaust gases from the burner. 
   
   
       10 . A heating arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet opening of the burner head is arranged to supply fuel and oxidant from the burner head outlet opening at an angle that lies between 1 and 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the extended steel product.