Improving the energy performance of a ladle furnace using an improved control system for electrical modes and electrode movement

An improved control system for the electrical modes and electrodes movement of a ladlefurnace (LF) has been developed. Its distinctive feature is the use of an adaptive nonlinear PI-controller, which allows for control quality indicators in the circuit close to the technical optimum due to the linearization of the LF electrical and hydraulic circuits as control objects over the entire range of working arc lengths. The system uses a new algorithm that allows for adapting the electrical mode of the furnace to changing argon blowing conditions, which ensures stable arc burning modes in an unstable zone. The system is equipped with a digital twin of the LF, the use of which helps to solve problems of finding optimal system settings when production conditions change. The use of the new system ensures the achievement of a technical effect in the form of a decrease in the specific energy consumption, operating time under current, as well as electrode consumption relative to the operation of similar foreign-made systems presented on the modern market.The work was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project No. FZRU-2023-0008).