Abstract
SYNOPSIS We present an optimal oxygen-blowing system with expert rules to improve the efficiency of refining low-carbon ferrochrome. A nonlinear model based on mass transfer theory, the principles of heat transfer, and the principles of high-temperature chemical reactions for refining low-carbon ferrochrome are established. The model is mainly used to control the oxygen supply rate during argon-oxygen top-bottom double-blown refining, thereby controlling the refining temperature and reducing the carbon content. Twenty production tests using a 5 t argon-oxygen refining furnace demonstrate the effectiveness of the system and reliability of the nonlinear model. A comparison of the model data with the experimental data shows that although the model fails to predict the silicon content in the final refined product, it can predict the contents of the main components at the refining end-point and the refining temperature accurately. Keywords: prediction model, end-point control, mass transfer theory, expert rules.
Highlights
Low-carbon ferrochrome (LCFeCr) is used for trimming additions in stainless steel production as well as other specialist applications
We present an optimal oxygen-blowing system with expert rules to improve the efficiency of refining low-carbon ferrochrome
Noting the change in the partial pressure of carbon monoxide with the bath height, Roy and Robertson (1978a, 1978b) introduced the heat balance to take into account the non-isothermal nature of the bath and proposed a mathematical model for stainless steelmaking
Summary
Low-carbon ferrochrome (LCFeCr) is used for trimming additions in stainless steel production as well as other specialist applications. On the basis of the mass and heat balances, Reichel and Szekely (1995) developed a mathematical model of the AOD process for stainless steel. Wei and Zhu (2002a, 2002b) modelled the whole AOD process, including the top, side, and combined blowing operations in the decarburization phase and the reduction practice In these models, the main product is generally stainless steel. Some models describing ferrochrome production have been developed, most of the models focus on individual phenomena rather than the total process Some important parameters, such as refining temperature, carbon oxidation rate, and mass transfer
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