Model Algorithmic Control of a Nonlinear Three Phase Electric Arc Furnace

Although the basic mechanism governing the operation of electric arc furnaces is reasonably understood, adequate dynamic control of these systems to insure efficient operation has not been fully achieved. This can be attributed to the fact that the steelmaking process is nonlinear and restricted by numerous operational and control constraints. Also, the arc furnace characteristics vary within a melt cycle and also over time. This paper presents the application of Model Algorithmic Control (MAC) to the electric arc furnace control problem. It is shown that MAC is capable of accommodating the nonlinearities and variations in the dynamic characteristics of the process. Furthermore, the potential for improving upon the performance of the system by employing a self-adjusting Model Algorithmic Control is explored.