Online Course - Basic Oxygen Steelmaking Converter Process Control

Course Modules

The course consists of three modules which should be taken in sequence in order to complete the full course.

Module 1 – Charge Balancing and Slag Development

Content includes:

• Charge balancing is an iterative process which is crucial for controlling analysis and timing of steel production
• It is based on constantly changing information and has to contend with and take account of many uncertainties and inaccuracies
• Slag is the primary system for removal of impurities
• Development of a good slag is dependent on accurate information, accuracy of weighing and good process control

Module 2 – Blowing Control, Sampling and End-point Projection

Content includes:

• Blowing control depends heavily on bath conditions
• Lance height needs to be balanced between “hard” and “soft” blowing
• Lance design aims to deliver supersonic oxygen to the bath in the shape of coherent jets
• Lance height is the key control parameter
• Systems are in place to minimise slopping
• In blow sampling techniques can help with end point target performance
• Dynamic adjustment is possible even at 85% of the blow
• End blow computer models are used to hit the final aims

Module 3 – Bath Conditioning and Process Automation

Content includes:

• Charge balancing will provide the right ingredients for a good slag, process control will provide the conditions for good slag formation but the nature and form of the slag is also important if the slag is to be effective in refining
• The Bath Agitation Process can be used to improve slag conditioning and control slopping events
• Systems exist to build on advisory systems and make some steps automatic
• Performance is much improved through automation