TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP OF CONVERTER REFRACTORIES AIDED BY LASER SCANNING TECHNOLOGY

摘要

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of converter refractories is a complex subject that includes material selection, reline labour, fluxes mix, process control, maintenance and production planning. Analysis of the total cost of refractories per tonne of liquid steel, combined with material performance appraisal, provides a complete view of the TCO. This work enhances the monitoring of refractories by employing laser scanning technology for wear rate measurement and material performance assessment. Laser scans provide information on refractory wear, and analysis of wear trends enables identification of outliers, projection of life of refractory products, and adjustment of maintenance practice. Comparison of the wear trends, complemented with relevant process parameters, helps to identify the best performing materials and to design a converter lining with uniform wear rate. Furthermore, laser scanning technology makes it possible to calculate the life of each converter repair, allowing appraisal of different material types and applications. As a result, fast wearing areas can be eliminated and application of refractory repairs optimised, leading to significant savings.