Authors: F. Stober, T. Gerritsen, J. Janzen, A. Kepes
TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
Abstract
The paper describes the development of components in an Integrated Furnace Control system for shielded-arc smelting focusing on operation and crucible integrity enhancement. The paper reviews the mechanisms of power, feed and energy input and losses into the shielded-arc smelting process and describes the furnace control system module development and integration to tailor the process. The ultimate success of a furnace control system application is transfer of knowledge, training, and oprerational support during furnace start-up and ramp-up phases and model for how this has been achieved is discussed. The control modules of a shielded-arc laterite smelting furnace are described in detail including measured results and screen captures from application in a laterite smelting furnaces. This paper focuses on developments in Integrated Furnace Controls tailored to shielded-arc laterite smelting but development of common furnace control modules for improved crucible and tapping operation integrity applied to other furnace processes including immersed-arc smelting are covered.
