| Abstract Scope |
Induction heating will soon play a critical role in sustainable steel manufacturing, offering a clean and energy-efficient alternative to traditional heating methods. For example, its integration into large-scale thermomechanical processing, e.g. to replace gas-fired reheating furnaces in continuous annealing lines, represents a significant opportunity. Compared to conventional gas-fired furnaces, induction heating can achieve shorter heating and soaking times, potentially yielding significant energy and emission savings. Moreover, induction heating has been shown to enhance the mechanical properties of certain steel grades, including advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) and quenched and tempered (Q&T) steels. However, to accomplish the widespread implementation of induction technology, challenges to steel producers are to identify and optimize processing windows/routes compatible with induction heating, across various steel grades. Through computational and experimental induction simulations, this study explores the application of induction heating to several steel manufacturing processes and grades, from bars to AHSS sheets and Q&T plates. |