COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING OF A BLAST FURNACE BY MEANS OF A USER INTERFACE

• US 20110282494A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Wurth, S.A. (Paul Wurth International SA)
• Original Assignee: Paul Wurth, S.A. (Paul Wurth International SA)
• Inventors: Hansen, Fabrice, Meyer, Damien, Tockert, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 2300/04 Modeling of the process, e.g. for control purposes; CII
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 5/008 Composition or distribution of the charge
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 7/20 with appliances for distributing the burden
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 1/20 Arrangements of devices for charging
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 1/28 Arrangements of monitoring devices, of indicators, of alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 19/00 Arrangements of controlling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 21/00 Arrangements of monitoring devices; Arrangements of safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/0025 Charging or loading melting furnaces with material in the solid state
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/10 Charging directly from hoppers or shoots
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13144 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, OI operator interface

Abstract

The invention relates to computer-implemented charging of a blast furnace equipped with an automated to charging installation and stockhouse for batchwise charging. It proposes: obtaining a nominal charge dataset reflecting a nominal blast furnace charge and comprising plural charge material records, each charge material record comprising a material type and an associated nominal charge quantity; generating a graphical user interface comprising batch data fields for entering and displaying plural batch datasets for pre-configuring batches, each batch dataset comprising at least one batching record, each batching record comprising a material type and an associated batching proportion. According to the invention, the batching proportion associated to a material type in a batching record is used for predefining a ratio between the material quantity that is to be contained in a batch and the nominal charge quantity. Further according to the invention, the method comprises computing, for the respective material type of each batching record, based on the batching proportion and the nominal charge quantity associated to the respective material type, an associated batching quantity which the stockhouse is to provide in a batch as pre-configured by the batch dataset.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A computer-implemented method of controlling charging of a blast furnace equipped with an automated top-charging installation arranged on a throat of said blast furnace and comprising at least one receiving hopper for charging batches of material into said blast furnace and with an automated material feeding installation for feeding charge material in batches to said top-charging installation, said method comprising:

obtaining a nominal charge dataset reflecting a nominal blast furnace charge which complies with a predetermined burden composition aiming at a desired hot metal chemistry, said nominal charge dataset comprising plural charge material records, each charge material record comprising a material type and an associated nominal charge quantity;

generating a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface comprising;

batch data fields for entering and displaying plural batch datasets for pre-configuring batches of raw material to be fed to the top-charging installation by said material feeding installation, each batch being an aggregation of materials to be fed into one receiving hopper, each batch dataset comprising at least one batching record, each batching record comprising a material type and an associated batching proportion for predefining a ratio between quantity to be contained in a batch and nominal charge quantity of the associated material type;

obtaining one or more batch datasets;

computing, for the respective material type of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset, by using the batching proportion and the nominal charge quantity associated to the respective material type, an associated batching quantity which said material feeding installation is to provide in a batch of raw material pre-configured by said obtained batch dataset.

23. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein said automated top-charging installation comprises a rotatable and pivotable distribution chute, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises

top-charging data fields for entering and displaying one or more top-charging parameter records for determining top-charging settings of a batch of raw material pre-configured by a batch dataset associated to the respective top-charging parameter record, each top-charging parameter record comprising multiple chute position quota, each chute position quota corresponding to a different pivoting angle of said distribution chute, for determining a share of a batch to be discharged into the furnace at the corresponding pivoting angle;

and wherein

said method further comprises;

obtaining one or more top-charging parameter records; and

storing a recipe file containing said obtained one or more batch datasets and said obtained one or more top-charging parameter records.

24. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein said method further comprises:

generating a temporary file, said file comprising for each batching record of said obtained one or more batch datasets, said computed associated batching quantity and using said temporary file for controlling said material feeding installation.

25. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein said method comprises:

obtaining plural batch datasets;

obtaining an integer number of charges per charging cycle, said integer number of charges reflecting a number of actual charges to be charged into said blast furnace in accordance with the batches of raw material pre-configured by said obtained plural batch datasets;

checking, for the respective material type of each charge material record in said obtained nominal charge dataset, whether the sum of all batching proportions associated to the respective material type in said obtained plural batch datasets reflects the whole nominal charge quantity of the respective material type multiplied by the obtained integer number of charges.

26. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

burden composition data fields for entering and displaying a composition dataset aiming at a predetermined chemistry of hot metal to be produced by said blast furnace, said composition dataset comprising plural burdening material records, each burdening material record comprising a material type and an associated target quantity;

a reference basis data field for entering and displaying a reference basis, in particular a coke layer height, a coke basis or a ferrous basis, to be used for computing nominal charge quantities;

wherein

said method further comprises obtaining a composition dataset and obtaining a reference basis;

and wherein

obtaining a nominal charge dataset comprises computing, for the respective material type of each burdening material record in said obtained composition dataset, a nominal charge quantity by using the target quantity associated to the respective material type and said obtained reference basis.

27. The computer-implemented method according to claim 24, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

burden composition data fields for entering and displaying a composition dataset aiming at a predetermined chemistry of hot metal to be produced by said blast furnace, said composition dataset comprising plural burdening material records, each burdening material record comprising a material type and an associated target quantity;

a reference basis data field for entering and displaying a reference basis, in particular a coke layer height, a coke basis or a ferrous basis, to be used for computing nominal charge quantities;

wherein

said method further comprises obtaining a composition dataset and obtaining a reference basis;

wherein

obtaining a nominal charge dataset comprises computing, for the respective material type of each burdening material record in said obtained composition dataset, a nominal charge quantity by using the target quantity associated to the respective material type and said obtained reference basis

and wherein

said stored recipe file further contains said obtained reference basis.

28. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, wherein said stored recipe file further contains said obtained integer number of charges.

29. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein each batching record of a batch dataset further comprises an associated batching arrangement indicator for pre-configuring the manner in which said material feeding installation is to provide a batch of raw material pre-configured by said batch dataset.

30. The computer-implemented method according to claim 23, wherein each top-charging parameter record further comprises a discharge direction reflecting a pivoting direction of said distribution chute.

31. The computer-implemented method according to claim 30, wherein each top-charging parameter record further comprises a discharge time reflecting a time required for discharging the batch of raw material pre-configured by the batch dataset associated to the respective top-charging parameter record.

32. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, further comprising at least one of:

checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether the respective material types of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset are compatible;

checking, for each of charge material record of said obtained nominal charge dataset, whether the respective material types are available in said material feeding installation;

checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether, for each material type of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset, the batching quantity associated to the respective material type does not exceed the batching capacity of said material feeding installation for the respective material type;

checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether, the batch of raw material pre-configured by an obtained batch dataset does not exceed the receiving capacity of said top-charging installation.

33. The computer-implemented method according to claim 29, further comprising, checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether said material feeding installation is capable of providing a batch of raw material in the manner pre-configured by an obtained batch dataset.

34. The computer-implemented method according to claim 22, wherein said automated top-charging installation comprises a rotatable and pivotable distribution chute and wherein said graphical user interface further comprises top-charging data fields for entering and displaying one or more top-charging parameter records for determining the share of a batch to be discharged into the furnace at each of a set of pivoting positions of said distribution chute, and a graphical bar chart type representation visualizing a respective share of a batch to be discharged for each of said pivoting positions in accordance with said one or more top-charging parameter records.

35. A computer system for controlling charging of a blast furnace that is equipped with an automated top-charging installation arranged on a throat of said blast furnace and comprising at least one receiving hopper for charging material into said blast furnace and an automated material feeding installation for feeding charge material to said top-charging installation, said computer system comprising:

means for obtaining a nominal charge dataset reflecting a nominal blast furnace charge which complies with a predetermined burden composition aiming at a desired hot metal chemistry, said nominal charge dataset comprising plural charge material records, each charge material record comprising a material type and an associated nominal charge quantity;

means for generating a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface comprising;

batch data fields for entering and displaying plural batch datasets for pre-configuring batches of raw material to be fed to the top-charging installation by said material feeding installation, each batch being an aggregation of materials to be fed into one receiving hopper, each batch dataset comprising at least one batching record, each batching record comprising a material type and an associated batching proportion for predefining a ratio between quantity to be contained in a batch and nominal charge quantity of the associated material type;

means for obtaining one or more batch datasets;

means for computing, for the respective material type of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset, by using the batching proportion and the nominal charge quantity associated to the respective material type, an associated batching quantity which said material feeding installation is to provide in a batch of raw material pre-configured by said obtained batch dataset.

36. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein said automated top-charging installation comprises a rotatable and pivotable distribution chute, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises

top-charging data fields for entering and displaying one or more top-charging parameter records for determining top-charging settings of a batch of raw material pre-configured by a batch dataset associated to the respective top-charging parameter record, each top-charging parameter record comprising multiple chute position quota, each chute position quota corresponding to a different pivoting angle of said distribution chute, for determining the share of a batch to be discharged into the furnace at the corresponding pivoting angle;

and wherein

said system further comprises;

means for obtaining one or more top-charging parameter records; and

a recipe file containing said obtained one or more batch datasets and said obtained one or more top-charging parameter records.

37. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein said system further comprises:

memory means storing a temporary file, said file comprising, for each batching record of said obtained one or more batch datasets, said computed associated batching quantity and

a process control configured for using information derived from said temporary file for controlling said material feeding installation.

38. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein said system comprises:

means for obtaining plural batch datasets;

means for obtaining an integer number of charges per charging cycle, said integer number of charges reflecting the number of actual charges to be charged into said blast furnace in accordance with the batches of raw material pre-configured by said obtained plural batch datasets;

means for checking, for the respective material type of each charge material record in said obtained nominal charge dataset, whether the sum of all batching proportions associated to the respective material type in said obtained plural batch datasets reflects the whole nominal charge quantity of the respective material type multiplied by the obtained integer number of charges.

39. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

burden composition data fields for entering and displaying a composition dataset aiming at a predetermined chemistry of hot metal to be produced by said blast furnace, said composition dataset comprising plural burdening material records, each burdening material record comprising a material type and an associated target quantity;

a reference basis data field for entering and displaying a reference basis, in particular a coke layer height, a coke basis or a ferrous basis, to be used for computing nominal charge quantities;

wherein said system further comprises

means for obtaining a composition dataset;

means for obtaining a reference basis;

and wherein said means for obtaining a nominal charge dataset comprises means for computing, for the respective material type of each burdening material record in said obtained composition dataset, a nominal charge quantity by using the target quantity associated to the respective material type and said obtained reference basis.

40. The computer system according to claim 37 wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

burden composition data fields for entering and displaying a composition dataset aiming at a predetermined chemistry of hot metal to be produced by said blast furnace, said composition dataset comprising plural burdening material records, each burdening material record comprising a material type and an associated target quantity;

a reference basis data field for entering and displaying a reference basis, in particular a coke layer height, a coke basis or a ferrous basis, to be used for computing nominal charge quantities;

wherein said system further comprises

means for obtaining a composition dataset;

means for obtaining a reference basis;

wherein said means for obtaining a nominal charge dataset comprises means for computing, for the respective material type of each burdening material record in said obtained composition dataset, a nominal charge quantity by using the target quantity associated to the respective material type and said obtained reference basis and wherein said stored recipe file further contains said obtained reference basis.

41. The computer system according to claim 40, wherein said stored recipe file further contains said obtained integer number of charges.

42. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein each batching record of a batch dataset further comprises an associated batching arrangement indicator for pre-configuring the manner in which said material feeding installation is to provide a batch of raw material pre-configured by said batch dataset.

43. The computer system according to claim 36, wherein each top-charging parameter record further comprises a discharge direction reflecting a pivoting direction of said distribution chute.

44. The computer system according to claim 43, wherein each top-charging parameter record further comprises a discharge time reflecting a time required for discharging the batch of raw material pre-configured by the batch dataset associated to the respective top-charging parameter record.

45. The computer system according to claim 35, further comprising at least one of:

means for checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether the respective material types of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset are compatible;

checking, for each of charge material record of said obtained nominal charge dataset, whether the respective material types are available in said material feeding installation;

means for checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether, for each material type of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset, the batching quantity associated to the respective material type does not exceed the batching capacity of said material feeding installation for the respective material type;

means for checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether, the batch of raw material pre-configured by an obtained batch dataset does not exceed the receiving capacity of said top-charging installation.

46. The computer system according to claim 42, further comprising means for checking, for each of said obtained one or more batch datasets, whether said material feeding installation is capable of providing a batch of raw material in the manner pre-configured by an obtained batch dataset.

47. The computer system according to claim 35, wherein said automated top-charging installation comprises a rotatable and pivotable distribution chute and wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

top-charging data fields for entering and displaying one or more top-charging parameter records for determining a share of a batch to be discharged into the furnace at each of a set of pivoting positions of said distribution chute, and

a graphical representation of the bar chart type visualizing the respective share of a batch to be discharged for each of said pivoting positions in accordance with said one or more top-charging parameter records.

48. A data carrier having thereon a computer program comprising computer implementable instructions for causing a computer system to perform a method of controlling charging of a blast furnace equipped with an automated top-charging installation arranged on a throat of said blast furnace and comprising at least one receiving hopper for charging batches of material into said blast furnace and with an automated material feeding installation for feeding charge material in batches to said top-charging installation, said method comprising:

obtaining a nominal charge dataset reflecting a nominal blast furnace charge which complies with a predetermined burden composition aiming at a desired hot metal chemistry, said nominal charge dataset comprising plural charge material records, each charge material record comprising a material type and an associated nominal charge quantity;

generating a graphical user interface on a display, said graphical user interface comprising;

batch data fields for entering and displaying plural batch datasets for pre-configuring batches of raw material to be fed to the top-charging installation by said material feeding installation, each batch being an aggregation of materials to be fed into one receiving hopper, each batch dataset comprising at least one batching record, each batching record comprising a material type and an associated batching proportion for predefining a ratio between quantity to be contained in a batch and nominal charge quantity of the associated material type;

obtaining one or more batch datasets;

computing, for the respective material type of each batching record in an obtained batch dataset, by using the batching proportion and the nominal charge quantity associated to the respective material type, an associated batching quantity which said material feeding installation is to provide in a batch of raw material pre-configured by said obtained batch dataset.