Interface: jointly funded innovation for digital and low-carbon steel reheating furnace
The main objective of INTERFACE projetc is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and carbon footprint in a reheating furnace by developing tools and a data acquisition system to adapt the furnace's heating capabilities from natural gas to hydrogen.
This project spans from 2022 to 2024 and includes several key developments:
- Creating a computing platform for virtual testing of annealing furnaces, from component to system level, using high-performance computing (HPC).
- Improving and digitalizing instrumentation to monitor and control the thermodynamic conditions of the furnace during the annealing process.
- Conducting analysis of furnace operation with hydrogen and natural gas mixtures.
- Developing a digital twin of the furnace and its components for near-real-time simulation and analysis of the system's state based on sensor data and simulations.
More information about Fives digital solutions.
INTERFACE aims to support the digitization and decarbonization of the metallurgical sector through a multidisciplinary approach based on developing models that rely on physics and furnace operating data in different scenarios, considering hydrogen content and burner operation. This project will enable:
- Better understanding of the thermodynamic conditions of the furnace and energy production unit requirements.
- Validation of numerical simulation results and provision of additional data to develop low-complexity models using machine learning-based methods.
- Providing quick response in design, control, or maintenance activities.
This project is funded by the Spanish Government within the framework of European Next Generation funding.