Economic Optimization of BOF Raw Materials Consumption in a Volatile Scrap Market and With Limited Hot Metal Availability

摘要

Recently, the steel industry has exhibited a flood of activity directed at optimizing blast furnace and BOF operating practices because of shortages and rising prices of coke and scrap. Both domestic and offshore demands have pressured raw material pricing. Economic factors such as increasing demand for product, limited hot metal production and escalating raw material costs present a dilemma for integrated steel plants. Hot metal and scrap costs strongly influence overall steelmak-ing cost. This article focuses on the numerous steelmaking tools available to manage hot-metal-to-scrap ratio and the total production of a BOF under such trying conditions. In addition, results of recent trials of some of these tools at the Mittal Steel Riverdale and Sparrows Point plants will be summarized. Mittal Steel USA [formerly International Steel Group (ISG), Acme Steel, Bethlehem Steel, LTV Steel and Weirton Steel] has six facilities operating BOF shops in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio, Heat sizes range from 95 to 340 tons. In addition, Mittal Steel USA has two electric furnace facilities in Pennsylvania. The total annual capacity of these facilities is about 16 million tons.