Outokumpu R&D presents recent publications on more efficient and environmental friendly steelmaking

Outokumpu R&D presents recent publications on more efficient and environmental friendly steelmaking

Our R&D experts contribute not only to the continuous technical improvements of our products but also to scientific progress related to ferrochrome and steelmaking processes. Just recently, we attended the 16^th International Ferro-Alloys Congress (INFACON XVI) and at the 9th International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Metallurgical Processes in Steelmaking (STEELSIM 2021). Both conferences were organized first time as a virtual event and showed that even in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic curious R&D engineers and scientists are eager to meet each other to share their thoughts and ideas on how to make steelmaking more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Our three papers at the INFACON XVI, prepared in collaboration with the University of Oulu, showcased our collaborative experimental work on improving the refractory wear of our ferrochrome converter through crucible tests, measuring the high-temperature electrical conductivity of charge materials, and understanding the mechanisms of agglomerate formation in the submerged arc furnace. Correspondingly, our two presentations at STEELSIM 2021 presented innovative approaches for model predictive control (MPC) of the AOD process as well as results of computational thermodynamics calculations for the properties of the slag during processing.

“The recent advances in modeling approaches combined with the increasing computing power enable us to fine-tune our operating and control practices further, thereby enabling improvements in material and energy efficiency”, says R&D Manager, Docent Ville-Valtteri Visuri, who leads the modeling activities at Outokumpu R&D. Our interest to improve the control technology of meltshop processes is showcased also in a recent article entitled “Thermophysical Model for Online Optimization and Control of the Electric Arc Furnace”, which was published in a special issue of the journal Metals. This paper provides a detailed account of the MPC approach tested successfully for an electrical arc furnace in the EU-funded MORSE project.

Following articles are available online: 

• Thermophysical Model for Online Optimization and Control of the Electric Arc Furnace 
• The Effect of the MgO Content of Slag on its Penetrability into the Refractory Lining in a Ferrochrome Converter 
• A Study on the Temperature Dependency of the Electrical Conductivity of Chromite Pellets 
• An Experimental Study of the Formation of Surface Agglomerates in a Submerged Arc Furnace