Визначення ефективного коефіцієнта температуропровідності шихти в промислових печах Ачесона під час виробництва карбіду кремнію

The research focuses on the high-temperature process of silicon carbide production using the Acheson method in electric furnaces. One of the main challenges in production is the relatively limited temperature zone where silicon carbide with properties that meet technological requirements is formed. On the other hand, the existing furnace designs have thermal characteristics that restrict the potential to expand the high-temperature zone. Increasing the production volume of silicon carbide relies on improving the thermal regimes of the furnace in terms of temperature distribution and levels, as well as enhancing the thermophysical characteristics of the working zone. The object of the study is defined as the working high-temperature zone of the Acheson furnace, which consists of the charge and the heat-generating core. The aim of the work is to determine the heat-transfer characteristics of the furnaceʼs working zone as boundary conditions for the mathematical modeling of high-temperature processes. To achieve this goal, experimental temperature measurements were carried out in the working zone of the furnace, and based on the obtained data and analysis of literature sources, temperature dependencies in the cross-section of the furnace were generalized with respect to time and linear coordinates. The values of the effective thermal diffusivity coefficient of the charge, consisting of a mixture of sand (SiO2) and petroleum coke (C), were determined for a specific range of operating temperatures. The obtained calculation results are based on the analysis of numerical dependencies of temperature derivatives over time and in the coordinate plane of the furnaceʼs working area. Based on known mathematical formulas for finite differences, the thermal diffusivity coefficients were calculated for the operating temperature range of the Acheson furnace.