Increasing Converter Productivity by Optimizing Equipment Repair Times

Abstract

Possible measures to increase the productivity of oxygen converters have been considered. A short list of types of technological operations for maintaining the lining of converters has been given, and patterns of unit performance depending on the durability of the lining have been identified. By analyzing production indicators and constructing graphs based on them using approximation, it is shown that at high durability of the lining, downtimes of technological maintenance operations increase, and the productivity of the unit decreases. The optimal durability of converter linings has been calculated. Based on the calculation, the possibility of increasing the repair time for main and auxiliary equipment of the converter department at maximum load of the department has been shown. The calculation results showed a reduction in the number of downtimes for equipment repairs with a corresponding increase in unit productivity, a reduction in the cost of steel products based on savings in lining maintenance materials, as well as an annual increase in steel production indicators. The practical significance of the research and directions of development lie in the possibility of applying the considered measures on converters of any metallurgical enterprise.