Exergy Analysis and Optimization of Ladle Furnace Refining Process

To decrease energy consumption of ladle furnace, exergy analysis and optimization were conducted based on the ladle furnace refining process of modern clean steelmaking. Exergy analysis results showed that exergy loss induced by unavailable electric energy is the largest, and the electric energy efficiency is 46.20%. To cut down the unavailable electric energy, industrial experiments of submerged arc heating were carried out combined with slag composition modification. Results showed that submerged arc heating can be achieved within most heating period, average heating rate increased by 0.5 °C/min, unavailable electric energy decreased by 21.730 MJ per ton steel, and electric energy efficiency was enhanced by 14.84%. As the refining cycle was shortened, the exergy loss induced by heat elimination decreased from 19.455 MJ per ton steel to 11.066 MJ per ton steel.