Analysis of the Correlation Between Ferrous Scrap Quality and Metallic Yield in EAF Steelmaking

This article provides a statistical assessment of the impact of the grade structure and classes of steel scrap in the metal charge on the efficiency of the steel melting process in an electric arc furnace (EAF), measured by the liquid metal yield index. The research involved a two-stage procedure: first, an analytical simulation of changes in the mass of liquid steel depending on the configuration of metallic charge materials was performed, followed by statistical verification of actual production data obtained from heat cards under industrial conditions. The analysis was conducted using technological documentation on a population of 180 randomly selected heats from a domestic steel plant employing an electric arc furnace (EAF) in the steel melting process. The conclusions and mathematical relationships formulated based on the analyses are universally applicable. They can constitute a supporting tool for engineers in any electric steel plant, allowing the determination and optimization of scrap charge selection to simultaneously maximize technological yield and minimize operating costs.