Title

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LOWERING THE CONVERSION COST OF STEEL IN ARC FURNACES

SOLUÇÕES INOVADORAS PARA REDUÇÃO DO CUSTO DE TRANSFORMAÇÃO DO AÇO EM FORNOS ELÉTRICOS A ARCO

Authorship

Alameddine, Said; Bowman, Ben; Paege, Stefan; Stafford, Paul

Alameddine, Said

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Bowman, Ben

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Paege, Stefan

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Stafford, Paul

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5300-15855

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Abstract

In their continuous quest to increase productivity steelmakers normally search for higher power even if it may come at the expense of increasing energy consumption. However, when the market demand shrinks, productivity loses its pre-eminence and more emphasis can be placed on reducing the conversion cost. A lower productivity can be considered if it is accompanied by a lower cost. In this presentation we will describe various operational modifications, supported by actual examples, which can reduce energy consumption. The topics we discuss are the following: Hot heel size: heat size optimization from an energy loss perspective; Arc voltage optimization during refining; The diminishing thermal equivalence of increasing oxygen input; Use of slag enhancers to improve foaming quality and reduce FeO loss; A way to define the optimum target for tapping temperature on a heat to heat basis; Reducing electrical losses in a compensation system such as the SVC; Additionally we will highlight the possible advantages of vertical lancing; Finally we suggest a composite water cooled/ refractory roof to reduce heat loss.

Na busca contínua para incrementar a produtividade dos fornos elétricos a arco, os fabricantes de aço normalmente optam por maiores níveis de potência, ainda que acompanhados pelo incremento do consumo energético. No entanto, num ambiente de mercado retraído, a produtividade do forno perde importância para a necessidade de redução do custo de operação. Neste trabalho descreveremos alternativas operacionais apoiadas em exemplos reais, admitindo certa perda de produtividade, que podem reduzir o consumo de energia e, portanto, do custo de produção no forno elétrico a arco.

Keywords

Energy losses; Reduction of SVC loss; Hot heel size and heat size optimization; Arc voltage optimisation during refining; Oxygen equivalence.

Energy losses; Reduction of SVC loss; Hot heel size and heat size optimization; Arc voltage optimisation during refining; Oxygen equivalence.