An expert system that monitors a steel mill’s blast furnace is capable of reacting quickly and efficiently to process disruptions in the blast furnace. The system helps to achieve a more evenly operating process and makes it possible to reduce the consumption of coke, which acts as a reducing agent.

Based on the system implemented from 1991 to 1993 at Rautaruukki’s steel mill in Raahe, Etteplan has planned similar systems for South Africa and for several localities in China. The latest project is underway for the steel mill in Xiangtan.

Projects carried out by Etteplan have given the company a firm awareness of operational processes, and cooperation with customers has gone smoothly.

Etteplan has been responsible for all expert system design, project management, customer training, system commissioning and testing.

An expert system aids a customer to react as quickly as possible to process disruptions, thus bringing about a reduction in process variations. Reducing the consumption of coke can generate significant annual cost savings.