Question

Which type of heat transfer is primarily utilized in furnaces for metallurgical processes?

• A. Conduction
• B. Convection
• C. Radiation
• D. Advection

Hint:

Heat Transfer Modes. Conduction (through material), Convection (by fluid motion), Radiation (by electromagnetic waves). Radiation becomes increasingly dominant at high temperatures.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Metallurgical furnaces operate at very high temperatures (often>1000°C).
At these high temperatures, heat transfer by thermal radiation becomes the dominant mode.
Hot furnace walls, flames, and the charge itself radiate thermal energy intensely.
While conduction (through the charge and furnace walls) and convection (via hot gases) also occur, the heat transfer rate due to radiation increases very rapidly with temperature (proportional to T\(^4\) according to Stefan-Boltzmann law) and typically dominates over conduction and convection at the high temperatures involved in melting, smelting, and heat treatment processes.
Advection refers to heat transfer by bulk fluid motion.