Process:

• Metallurgy and plant technology of a BOF converter steel mill
• Oxygen lancing blowing behavior, optimization of O2 lance guidance during the blowing period
• Design and optimization of converter purge gas systems
• The interaction of the oxygen lance with the bottom stirring of the converter is a complex system that has a strong influence on the process. For optimized converter purge gas systems, the following improvements are expected

1. Shorter "tap to tap" times - increase in performance
2. Lower FeO content in the slag
3. Better flow of the chemical reactions - lower amounts of fluxes
4. Targeted control of refractory wear - better durability

• Slag splashing and slag coating technologies

Systems engineering:

• Converter vessel: Design of the steel structure, trunnion with rotary joints for water cooling and media supply
• Lip ring design which decreases the maintenance service in the mouth area.
• "Dart" machines
• Rotary joints and purge gas control stations
• Spray robot for refractory repair of converter lining
• LASER measuring systems (residual thickness of lining)

Refractory:

• Engineering and execution of converter linings (permanent lining and wear lining, tapping technology, purging bricks and associated ramming and maintenance masses)
• Supervision during BOF campaign
• Inspection and assessment of the lining status of the converter, determination of the maintenance measures
• Hot gunning / spraying repair
• "Slag Splashing / Slag Coating" technologies
• Optimization of operation and Slag composition (slag management)
• Comparison and optimization of various converter purging plugs (single hole, multi hole and jumbo blower) and their influence on converter process
• Ooptimization of the tapping behavior (tilting angle BOF, tapping time, slag stop systems)
• Comparison of different lining concepts (pro and cons)
• Development of gunning (robot) technologies for converters
• Development of lining machines
• Optimization in the use of repair masses