DEVELOPMENTS IN ADVANCED FURNACE CONTROL

Software-based furnace resistance controllers for submerged arc furnaces were introduced during the 1990s. The controller software automates the process of achieving and maintaining the required furnace MW and electrode resistances or electrode currents, bringing consistency to the operation and allowing for rapid recovery from upsets, optimising power input and reducing furnace downtime. Since the introduction of furnace resistance control software, ongoing development work has resulted in the introduction of additional features and capabilities. Furnace automation has been enhanced to provide automatic slipping, electrode baking after long slips and electrode sounding. The controller provides access to important operational information in a variety of easy to read graphical formats, allowing operators to analyse large amounts of data by studying trends and recorded events.