Automated systems for monitoring the consumption of metal charge at factories by conversion metallurgy

Abstract

The domestic factories engaged in conversion metallurgy use scrap as the main raw material for steel production (at least 70 % of the total charge). In difficult economic and geopolitical situation factories are cautiously considering the possibility of introducing new technologies that require high capital expenditures and modification of existing units. In this article automated control systems are proposed that help reduce the consumption of metal charge and energy resources during steel smelting: an electromagnetic scanner with an automatic control system that determines the presence of concentrations of non-magnetic substances in scrap at each point of the wagon or trailer of the road train and the bulk density of scrap; a neural network system for temperature control in electric furnaces and out-of-furnace processing (installation ladle-furnace and units for vacuuming). These systems will allow enterprises of conversion metallurgy (on the example of Pervouralsk Novotrubny Plant): to improve the quality of scrap metal by tightening the requirements for the quality of raw materials of scrap suppliers according to the interstate standard for secondary fer-rous metals; to increase the productivity of the electric furnace by reducing the time under current by 3 minutes, and to reduce the consumption of metal charge by 4.66%, electricity by 500 kWh for 1 melting cycle, the release temperature by 10 ℃ to reduce vacuuming time for 2 minutes. The proposed automated control systems require insignificant capital costs for installation and commissioning, and do not require the shutdown of existing production.