Resumo:
The demand for higher steel grades has increased the need for improvements in the operation of production units and the implementation of automated processes, making viable functions essential for international steel producers. One critical aspect of achieving steel grade quality and reducing alloys is to prevent slag carry-over during secondary metallurgy processes. The automatic tapping procedure in BOF converters can significantly reduce slag carry-over, improve yield, reproducibility, working environment and safety, and minimize crew required. Historically, tapping in BOF has always been a manual function that heavily relies on operator expertise, making tapping time and quality dependent on their skills. However, the implementation of automatic tapping has shown that it can achieve shorter tapping time, low slag carryover, and improved yield. Therefore, implementing reliable measurements and automatic tapping in high-end steel plants can optimize production and enhance steel grade quality.