Statistical modeling of a melting furnace

Statistical modeling of a melting furnace

A high carbon ferromanganese (HC FeMn) furnace is a melting furnace where manganese ores are reduced by coke in order to produce FeMn metal. Different reactions take place in different parts of the furnace, but there is a lack of information about inner furnace conditions due to a hostile environment inside the furnace.

Optimal steering of the melting process depends on the amount of certain variables inside the furnace. Norwegian Computing Center has developed a model that estimates the amount of internal variables as a function of various measurements. The model is implemented as a computer system, and run daily at several furnaces, producing FeMn as well as FeSi.