Operational Data-Driven Analysis of Energy Savings in Electric Furnace

In the Hot Press Forming (HPF) process, the equipment that consumes the most energy is the heating furnace. When multiple heating furnaces are operated in a single plant, energy consumption significantly increases, necessitating the consideration of efficient operational strategies for energy conservation. Typically, heating furnaces come with operational guidelines provided by the manufacturer to ensure proper process conditions. However, in actual operating plants, unexpected variables often arise, making it difficult to adhere to the guidelines. Additionally, excessive energy consumption by heating furnaces frequently occurs to accommodate operator convenience or facilitate process operations. This study aims to identify energy-saving opportunities based on actual operational data collected from electric heating furnaces in the HPF process, while adhering to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.