Research validation of advanced digitalization in industrial environments

Important results from the project

The first was to conduct a significant series of measurements in the ladle during operation and then use these measurements to validate a thermodynamic process model (EERZ). The second objective was to produce results that were in line with or better than the existing process model at the plant. The third objective was to correlate the free parameters of the EERZ model to the flow in the ladle using CFD. Objective one and two were well met. Objective three was partially met.

Expected long term effects

The long-term vision is to enable a generic digital methodology for process control in metallurgical and other high-temperature processes. This means moving from process models that are tuned to a specific process to models that are process-independent/generic. Such models enable a digital exploration of the process space. The project and its results form the basis for a future full-scale project.

Approach and implementation

The project had three work packages with activities linked to i) project management, ii) the experimental measurements on an industrial scale and iii) validation against numerical models. The project took time to get going due to the initial agreement. The initial delay was easily made up for and the project then progressed well. The collaboration between Höganäs and KTH worked very well. Both planned and unplanned meetings could be carried out continuously during the course of the project.