The use of chemical energy in the EAF has increased significantly in
recent years, both for enhancing productivity and reducing electricity
consumption. However, these tools are operated following pre-set
patterns, without any feedback information from the process. This
leads both to non-optimized operations and to occasional blowback
problems, resulting in damages to burners, lances, watercooled
panels and refractory lining.
CRM has developed an on-line “distance-to-scrap” measurement
technique that can be fitted inside annular burners. This measurement
allows monitoring the melting of scrap in front of each burner,
and thus detecting blow-back occurrences before any damage is
created. This sensor was successfully tested in the Esch-Belval steel
plant of ArcelorMittal Profil Luxembourg. Industrial implementation is
under way.