The Application of Benchmark Models for EAF Energy Efficiency With a Focus on Process Improvements by EAF Gas Purging

摘要

The EAF process is subject of continuous cost and process improvements. Specific benchmark models of the EAF process account for variations in EAF production parameters, i.e. variations in raw materials quality and process parameters. The impact of various EAF process adaptations and improvements on EAF energy efficiency is quantified with such models. One example of EAF process improvement is the impact of gas purging on EAF energy efficiency. Whereas the process improvements of EAF gas purging are easily realized for alloyed and stainless steelmaking, the proof of process benefits requires a detailed analysis of process data variations for carbon steel production in modern EAFs. However, it is shown in this paper that EAF gas purging leads to increases in energy efficiency in all recent case studies of EAF gas purging for carbon steels; payback time is in the order of few months.