Intelligent optimization method for the dynamic scheduling of hot metal ladles of one-ladle technology on ironmaking and steelmaking interface in steel plants

The one-ladle technology requires an efficient ironmaking and steelmaking interface. The scheduling of the hot metal ladle in the steel plant determines the overall operational efficiency of the interface. Considering the strong uncertainties of real-world production environments, this work studies the dynamic scheduling problem of hot metal ladles and develops a data-driven three-layer approach to solve this problem. A dynamic scheduling optimization model of the hot metal ladle operation with a minimum average turnover time as the optimization objective is also constructed. Furthermore, the intelligent perception of industrial scenes and autonomous identification of disturbances, adaptive configuration of dynamic scheduling strategies, and real-time adjustment of schedules can be realized. The upper layer generates a demand-oriented prescheduling scheme for hot metal ladles. The middle layer adaptively adjusts this scheme to obtain an executable schedule according to the actual supply–demand relationship. In the lower layer, three types of dynamic scheduling strategies are designed according to the characteristics of the dynamic disturbance in the model:real-time flexible fine-tuning, local machine adjustment, and global rescheduling. Case test using 24 h production data on a certain day during the system operation of a steel plant shows that the method and system can effectively reduce the fluctuation and operation time of the hot metal ladle and improve the stability of the ironmaking and steelmaking interface production rhythm. The data-driven dynamic scheduling strategy is feasible and effective, and the proposed method can improve the operation efficiency of hot metal ladles.

Eco-Friendly Smokeless Al_2O_3-SiC-C Brick for Hot Metal Ladle

Hot metal transfer ladles were historically lined with high alumina refractories because of compatibility of high alumina refractories with the highly acidic slag, which is transferred .from the iron making plant along with hot metal. With the introduction of higher capacity ladles, technological advancement in the process and increased productivity, calls for a higher campaign life of hot metal ladles, which could not be performed by ordinary high alumina refractories. Resin bonded Al2O3- SiC-C （hereinafter ASC ） bricks gradually developed which at present taking place replacing the conventional refractories. Considerable work has been carried out in developing the ASC refractory to reach the present state. However, for higher capacity ladles still there is a lot of scope for improvement. The present paper deals with the newly developed ASC bricks, which was used in 165 ton capacity hot metal ladles in one European plant and has given a substantial increase in performance. But, the customer was not fuUy satisfied since the brick was reported to produce smokes during preheating of the ladle. In the subsequent supply the smoke generation problem was taken care by adjusting the binders and additives and eco-friendly bricks were re-engineered and supplied to the same plant, which also performed splendidly and created all time record in their plant history.

Finite Element Analysis of 100 t Hot Metal Ladle in Process of Tipping

Hot metal ladle is an important part in continuous casting production line and its stress distribution has direct influence on its life. In the process of design and calibration of the large-sized hot metal ladle, it is of great significance to determine the stress distribution of each part of the ladle for safely and reliably running the device. Based on 100 t hot metal ladle which is designed by Baotou Iron and Steel Group, simulation of stress field was made by finite element software ANSYS 10.0 from different dumping angles. Through modeling, loading, restricting and calculating, strain and stress field distribution of the hot metal ladle were acquired. Finally, an assessment of strength and stiffness was made on the hot metal ladle. The results show that in the process of tipping for the hot metal ladle, maximum stress is 132 MPa and maximum strain is only 0. 064% ; maximum stress and strain have appeared in the stiffener plate which is located at the bottom of the trunnion, and strength and stiffness are qualified. The method, which is convenient and practical, reasonable and reliable, provides theoretical evidence for checking analysis and further optimal design of the hot metal ladle.

Control Model of Multifunctional Hot Metal Ladles

For further research on the control model of muhifunctional hot metal ladles between the ironmaking and steelmaking interface, the hot metal ladies of K steel plant were taken as the object to analyze the operation process. The factors of blast furnace supply and basic oxygen furnace demand were proposed. According to the principle of supply and demand balance, the control model of hot metal was researched under the following factor conditions： equal to, greater than, and less than 1, respectively. The distribution model of the blast furnace, sleelmaking works, and online buffering was proposed. When the supply and demand factor is equal to ） , the turnover number of hot metal ladles equals 16 and the turnover cycle of hot metal ladles equals 512 min. When the factor is greater than 1, the total number of hot metal ladles is equal to the normal turnover number plus the turnover number of the cast iron machine. When the factor is less than 1, the total number of hot metal ladles is equal tO the normal turnover number plus the accumulating number. Satisfactory effects were obtained by applying the control model in produc tion. The numbers of turnover ladles and accumulating ladles were reduced.

Material flow control technology of ironmaking and steelmaking interface

In order to achieve higher efficient cohesion match of procedure and equipment between ironmaking and steelmaking interface, the theory of multi-dimensional material flow control was applied to analyze torpedo ladle-iron ladle transportation process between blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace. Moreover, basic parameters of material flow were analyzed and optimized, such as time, temperature and material quantity. Based on operating principles of material flow, control methods were optimized, such as product organization mode, scheduling discipline and scheduling plan of hot metal ladle. Finally, the material flow control technology of ironmaking and steelmaking interface was integrated. Satisfactory effects are obtained after applying the technology in practice. The total turnover number of torpedo ladle decreases from 20 to 18, the hot metal temperature of 1# BF torpedo ladle decreases from 36 °C to 19.5 °C, the hot metal temperature of 2# BF torpedo ladle decreases from 36.6 °C to 19.8 °C, the temperature drop of desulfurization hot metal decreases by 4 °C, and the temperature drop of non-desulfurization hot metal decreases by 2.8 °C. Furthermore, the ironmaking and steelmaking interface system will realize high-efficiency control by using this control technology.