The Ladle Furnace (LF) process optimization system is a completely integrated automation solution to operate the ladle treatment facilities and furnaces at an extremely high efficiency and availability to produce the required steel qualities. The LF optimization system ensures an exact adjustment of steel bath temperature and steel composition for continuous casting. Meeting narrow tolerances and a fully automatic production sequence from steelmaking to casting is possible.
LF operator pulpit
While demands on products and processes are ever increasing, steel producers meet capacity limits that may not least be caused by inadequate automation technology. Often, outdated automation systems supply poor optimization and insufficient documentation of steelmaking processes and thus cause high maintenance costs. Modern steelmaking requires a fast and cost-efficient metallurgical and thermal fine tuning as well as an exact coordination of the ladle treatment facilities with the continuous casting operations.
Siemens VAI automation systems are based on decades of combined engineering, plant-building, operational, metallurgical and automation experience and are the key to high-quality LF treatment. In addition, both integrated and standalone automation solutions are provided for all levels. The dynamic LF process models, which are purely based on physical and chemical principles make it possible to achieve accurate imaging of the complete steel treatment process. The advanced process models determine – on a cost optimized basis - the required materials for final adjustment of the steel analysis. The prediction model performs a precalculation of the complete heat and provides a preview of the entire treatment. Optimization of the scheduled process steps is performed. The LF process models allow for offline tuning and simulation prior to release to the production system. Unlike other solutions, no software modifications are necessary to adapt model behavior. To round off the package, Siemens VAI provides worldwide metallurgical and automation assistance via remote links and local Siemens VAI service representatives.