Chemical energy and bottom stirring systems – Cost effective solutions for a better performing EAF

Abstract

The continuous improvement of EAF performance is crucial for the increase in productivity and cost effectiveness and to render an environmental friendly process. RHI supports these targets by providing a diverse range of refractory and process solutions. Chemical energy in practical operation by injection of gaseous media like oxygen and natural gas, and solid materials like carbon have become a state of the art solutions for process improvement today. To understand the phenomena of the benefits, RHI has developed a mass and energy balance model. The objective of the model is to focus on the replacement ratio of electrical energy by chemical energy and the consequences for the overall CO₂ emission of the process. CO₂ emission certificate trading can become a new source for cash generation to be utilized for improvement investment budgets.

Another valuable solution to decrease the energy consumption and the CO₂ generation of the process is bottom purging in EAF. This technology can be introduced by the use of the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">d</span>irectional <span style="text-decoration: underline;">p</span>orosity <span style="text-decoration: underline;">p</span>lug (DPP). The benefit of stirring in the furnace is that it enhances the interface reactions between the slag and the bath and homogenizes the liquid volume in the furnace. This results in achieving better operation parameters in terms of less power consumption and power-on time. Again a benefit in cost and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions can obviously be attained. This paper shows the savings potential of the replacement of electrical energy by chemical energy by using the mentioned balance model. The benefit of the introduction of the DPP system is shown on the results of various steel plants.