Argon Process Automation System

Argon process automation systems assist the operator in process control and cause melting process improvement and quality enhancement of the final product with the help of metallurgical models that predict the melting condition

Industrial Automation

Apart from collecting data from website, then saving and presenting them through practical reports, Argon process automation systems assist the operator in process control and cause melting process improvement and quality enhancement of the final product with the help of metallurgical models that predict the melting condition. Relying on more than 20 years of experience in Iran’s largest steel-making factories level-two systems and cooperation with well-known foreign companies in engineering, implementation, installation and maintenence of these systems, IRISA Co. has begun to localize level-two Argon automation systems.

Goals

Goals of Level-two Argon Automation System

Level-two argon automation system plays a significant role in improving melting quality, reducing consumables, enhancing operator efficiency, and ease of melting information analysis using process control system and analysis estimation models and melting point. This system pursues the following goals by relying on metallurgical models and process control system:

  • Estimating process analysis at any time which helps modify process analysis
  • Assisting the operator in setting the analysis by offering the necessary ingredients to add to the ladle
  • Predicting the final temperature of the process according to its status till this moment
  • Reduction of sampling consumption due to the continuous calculation of melting analysis
  • Reduction of the temperature lance consumption caused by continuous temperature calculation
  • Reduction of additives consumption by accurately calculating the amount of the required charge
  • Reduction of wire materials consumption by accurately calculating the required charge
  • Selecting the type of rechargeable material in the ladle between several materials with a similar effect based on price (optional)
  • Providing the necessary guidance to the operator to perform the production steps according to the predefined process and in accordance with the metallurgical status of smelting (optional)
  • Generating appropriate alerts and messages (such as audible alarms) based on the conditions in the smelting process (optional)
  • Displaying activities and values in the form of numbers and graphs for better process control by the operator
  • Assisting the operator in setting the analysis by offering the necessary ingredients to add to the ladle
  • Displaying melting schedule and facilitating operations at a defined time
  • Creating reports of consumables and events during the process
  • Statistical inference of values and their display in order to alter strategy and improve trends (optional)
  • Re-running the process to see the procedure and the manner of the values alteration during the operation (optional)
  • Following the melting steps and display each phase of the process costs and events separately
  • Providing required guidance and warnings to optimize the process operation (optional)
  • Drafting metallurgical models and providing the necessary data for them
  • Saving data at short intervals to facilitate later review and tuning of the models
Models

Metallurgical Models

In this model, according to the site situation at any time and using thermodynamic and chemical principles, the melting temperature is predicted and displayed to the operator. In addition to reducing the consumption of the temperature lance, this estimate helps the operator improve the melting procedure and control temperature reduction rate of the process.

According to the chemical reactions that occur in melting, the model estimates the number of melting elements in this model. Besides reducing sampling consumption, this estimate shows the operator the increase or decrease in melting elements during melting and can be imortant for elements like carbon.

After receiving the analysis and comparing it with the desired situation, this model offers ferroalloy to compensate for the elements that are below the required limit. This offer can be optimized based on the price of additives and select the lowest price (optional). The output of this model will improve the melting quality (because of accurate calculation), prevent operator errors, reduce operator work, and minimize costs as a result of the optimal selection and low cost of materials. This model also suggests a deoxidizer to dissolve the melt.