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Dr.-Ing. Bernd Kleimt • Tel: +49 211 / 6707 - 385 • E-Mail: bernd.kleimt@bfi.de
The department Process Automation Steelmaking of the Betriebsforschungsinstitut (BFI) develops analytical mathematical models for different steelmaking processes. Up to now the modelling work was concentrated on the following processes:
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Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Ladle Furnace (LF)
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Basic oxygen furnace (BOF)
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Vacuum degassing in Ladle Tank (VD) and Vacuum Circulation (RH) plants.
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Treatment of high-alloyed stainless steels in VOD plants and AOD converters
Main emphasis is laid on the application of the models for on-line process control. This comprises:
- the on-line observation of the current process state during treatment, with calculation of process values which cannot be measured continuously, like steel and slag analysis and steel temperature. This allows to provide the operator with additional information on the current evolution of treatment.
- the automatic control of the process by calculation of setpoints for a reproducible achievement of the metallurgical treatment aims under minimal consumption of energy, input materials and other resources.
Increasingly through process modelling approaches are applied, which are used for optimal control of the complete steelmaking route from the primary steelmaking aggregate to the delivery of the melt to the continuous casting plant. Thus interactions and interdependencies between the different process steps and aggregates are considered.
Furthermore the process models are used for analysis and simulation of the process behaviour, and for optimisation of the process operation practice. For this purpose, the models are implemented on a PC for dynamic off-line simulation with the help of the Matlab and Simulink software.
For investigations at the Electric Arc Furnace, additionally a statistical model for judgement of the electrical energy consumption is available.
The activities for development and application of the process models are performed in the framework of funded research projects, but also as direct contract work of the steel industry and plant suppliers, partially in co-operation with other departments of the Betriebsforschungsinstitut.
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