Initial Situation

• The aim of steel bath temperature control is to prepare the melt such that it meets the target temperature at casting.
• In electric arc furnace and ladle furnace steel melt is superheated, to built up a temperature buffer.
• During subsequent treatment steps such as vacuum degassing, fine alloying, and soft stirring the excess temperature buffer is reduced.
• The operator has to balance energy input with the expected dynamic energy losses based on his experience.

Working topics

• A current spot measurement procedure of steel melt temperature is assessed by continuous fibre optical temperature measurements during case studies.
• A dynamic process model is applied for through process temperature control.
• An operator advisory system is implemented for optimized through-process temperature monitoring and control.
• The advisory system gives operational advice regarding appropriate measurement procedures and optimises control set-points for the operation during the remaining treatment time.

Results

• Supporting the operator in through-process temperature control
• Improved accuracy in meeting the target casting temperature
• Optimised resource efficiency with reduced electric energy consumption
• Less variation of casting speed, improved surface quality