Thermo-kinetics, mass and heat balance in an energy optimizing furnace for primary steel making

ABSTRACT

Energy optimizing furnace (EOF) is a primary steel making reactor, where the autogenous exothermic reaction heat, associated with the solute oxidation is utilized for making the steel. The thermo-kinetic reactions of the steel making process have been evaluated in the world’s largest, 65 ton EOF, at JSW Steel Ltd., Salem. The solute oxidation as a function of blow time and Si content was evaluated. The mass balance analysis showed that oxygen from the furnace atmosphere has to be entrained by the oxygen jet from the inclined supersonic lance, to completely oxidize the solutes in the melt. The heat balance showed that the power of 352 kWh per metric ton of hot metal is generated by the solute oxidation along with the post combustion. The characteristics of the inclined single hole-supersonic oxygen jet on the molten bath are brought out. Other operational aspects of the process are elaborated.

KEYWORDS:

• Energy optimizing furnace
• primary steel making
• steel making reactions
• reaction kinetics
• supersonic lance jet function
• mass and heat balance

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank our colleagues Mr D. Rajesh, Mr P. Ramasubramaninan and Mr K. Duraisamy of Steel Melt Shop, who helped in sampling and recording data required for this technical study. The support rendered by Mr S. Selvakumar, Mr P. Senthilsundaram and Ms M. Maheswari of Quality Assurance Department for chemical analysis of slag and metal are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.