Proceedings of the Ironmaking, Iron Ore and Agglomeration Seminars


ISSN 2594-357X

Title

BLAST FURNACE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITH PROBES AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

BLAST FURNACE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITH PROBES AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-25669

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Abstract

In today’s competitive steelmaking environment, the optimization and continuous supervision of the blast furnace process is of major importance. Modern probes and process measurement systems can assess the specific operation of the blast furnace. They provide a better and detailed process understanding and control. The benefits are even more important when they are combined with process models and expert systems. Everyday operation, productivity and even the lifetime of a blast furnace can be significantly improved by collecting, interpreting and acting upon such process data correctly. Only a comprehensive knowledge of the various process phenomena together with measurement of process variables inside the blast furnace enables the operators to optimize coke and fuel rates, to run the blast furnace smooth, reliable, and safe, and to make best use of the available raw materials. While the improvement of the blast furnace process with respect to productivity remains the main task, also, the timely identification of abnormalities and the assessment of process variations is an objective. This paper describes the blast furnace measurement systems that are available for everyday automatic use and provides an understanding for the possibilities of modern probes. The different applications are daily blast furnace supervision, charging process optimization, and observation of the internal state. Finally, the paper gives recommendations on probe configurations for different blast furnaces sizes, considering both a technical and an economical point of view.

 

In today’s competitive steelmaking environment, the optimization and continuous supervision of the blast furnace process is of major importance. Modern probes and process measurement systems can assess the specific operation of the blast furnace. They provide a better and detailed process understanding and control. The benefits are even more important when they are combined with process models and expert systems. Everyday operation, productivity and even the lifetime of a blast furnace can be significantly improved by collecting, interpreting and acting upon such process data correctly. Only a comprehensive knowledge of the various process phenomena together with measurement of process variables inside the blast furnace enables the operators to optimize coke and fuel rates, to run the blast furnace smooth, reliable, and safe, and to make best use of the available raw materials. While the improvement of the blast furnace process with respect to productivity remains the main task, also, the timely identification of abnormalities and the assessment of process variations is an objective. This paper describes the blast furnace measurement systems that are available for everyday automatic use and provides an understanding for the possibilities of modern probes. The different applications are daily blast furnace supervision, charging process optimization, and observation of the internal state. Finally, the paper gives recommendations on probe configurations for different blast furnaces sizes, considering both a technical and an economical point of view.

Keywords

Blast furnace; Measuring systems; Process control

Blast furnace; Measuring systems; Process control

How to refer

Jean-François Stumper; Mark Krüssmann; Claude Bodeving; Daniel Bastos Martins Cruz. BLAST FURNACE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITH PROBES AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS , p. 5867-5880. In: 44º Seminário de Redução de Minério de Ferro e Matérias-primas, 15º Simpósio Brasileiro de Minério de Ferro e 2º Simpósio Brasileiro de Aglomeração de Minério de Ferro, Belo Horizonte - Brasil, 2014.
ISSN: 2594-357X , DOI 10.5151/2594-357X-25669