Process capability optimization of temperature control in high-carbon steel production by BOF process

Central segregation in high-carbon steel billets is one of the main causes of fracture in wire rod cold-drawing. Temperature stabilization in the tundish is an effective method to improve the quality of billets. Temperature control of 668 heats of high-carbon steel was analyzed by means of investigations on process capacity. Results show that the capability of temperature control in the converter process is low,and the ladle furnace process plays an important role in temperature control and in stabilizing the liquid steel temperature in the tundish. Furthermore,the capability of temperature control for the first casting furnace is not sufficient,so it should be improved. Some measures of improvement were proposed as the following: stabilize the tapping temperature of the converter,decrease the temperature drop of liquid steel from the ladle to tundish for the first casting furnace,and increase the liquid steel temperature before refining to meet the LF process.