Slag accumulation in electric arc furnace: understanding and assessment through electric diagnostic

The Plasma Resource Recovery System (PRRS), a technology developed by PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PCI), is a plasma gasification process that turns municipal solid waste (MSW) into energy and other valuable products. During operation in an Electric ArcFurnace (EAF), the MSW is gasified to form syngas which is used to generate electricity. Metals, metals oxides and inorganics, also known as slag, melt and collect at the bottom of the reactor. When the EAF’s power is idled at its minimum for maintenance, the slagaccumulates and solidifies at the bottom making it hard to tap and the effective reactor volume is reduced. It is hypothesized that the arc formed in the EAF stops flowing through the slag bath during maintenance. The purpose of this project is to determine the critical slag height after which this occurs. A measurable electrical parameter linked to the slag’s height will be identified and a methodology to measure it will be developed, as means for online monitoring and to determine when tapping is required. The technology and methodology developed will be transferred to PCI where validation experiments will take place.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sylvain Coulombe

Student:

Partner:

PyroGenesis

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McGill University

Program: