Automation of a Vacuum Steel Centre at the Department of Ferrous Metallurgy

In modern secondary metallurgy vacuum treatment plays a prominent role. For the production of current high quality steel exact alloying of all elements is necessary. Modern vacuum treatment equipment at the Department of Ferrous Metallurgy (IEHK) allows operating at regular steel plant conditions for degassing. Furthermore, a slag can remove inclusions during this process. Injection of gas by porous plugs can achieve a good mixture of the alloyed elements in the melt, and removal of inclusions is accelerated. At the IEHK a vacuum induction-melting furnace including an automation system based on open standards was installed recently. The architecture of the component-oriented process control system combines simple and customizable structures. This combination facilitates the development of new process recipes for high quality steel. Current research at the IEHK is done in the field of high-grade steel production as regards removal of undesirable elements and optimisation of production process. Additionally, new measurement equipment is tested to its suitability for vacuum steel making.