Scrap-Aware Adaptive Process Control for Electric Arc Furnaces

12 May 2026, 15:00
20m
Washington room (Milan Marriott Hotel)

Washington room

Milan Marriott Hotel

Oral Presentation EEC 1.E Automation and digitalization in electric steelmaking Automation and Digitalization in Electric Steelmaking II

Speaker

Christian Rust (INTECO melting and casting technologies)

Description

This presentation introduces a scrap-aware adaptive electrode and process control concept for Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). The system performs an in-situ scrap classification based on process-integrated signals to identify scrap stratification, density distribution and expected melting behavior. These indicators drive an adaptive control layer that continuously adjusts transformer tap position, reactor step, and phase-specific current setpoints representing arc length. Control characteristics are automatically switched according to prevailing scrap conditions, improving arc stability across bore-down, melting, and refining phases. A simplified melting model estimates remaining scrap height and supports optimized burner coordination. Plant trials show improved arc stability, energy efficiency, and reduced melting time, particularly for heterogeneous scrap mixes.

Speaker Company/University INTECO melting and casting technologies
Speaker Country Austria

Primary authors

Christian Rust (INTECO melting and casting technologies) Mr Thomas Steinwiedder (INTECO melting and casting technologies)