Understanding Energy Use in The EAF

摘要

The conditions in the EAF change not only from heat to heat but also on a minute-by-minute basis throughout the tap-to-tap cycle. In the past, most information dealing with energy use and efficiency in the EAF has been based on gross balances made over a heat and in many cases these involve implicit assumptions which may not be entirely accurate. Energy efficiency and energy losses dictate what energy input level is required for a given operation. Studying energy outputs allows the operation to determine potential for energy savings within the operation. If an energy balance is performed in "real time", it can be used to understand periods of high and low efficiency in the EAF operation. This method also provides instant feedback to the operator when he deviates from standard practices and allows the operator to see whether these deviations are beneficial or not. Many factors can affect energy efficiency ― scrap chemistry, slag foaming, equipment configuration, sizing of equipment ― all play a part in determining how efficient the energy transfer to the steel is in the EAF. The second part to this paper (to be presented at ISS-Tech 2003) will deal with those factors that tend to affect actual EAF operating efficiency and create the divergence from the theoretical efficiencies, which are frequently quoted for EAF operations.