Schedule
3–7 February 2025 • Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel • Mobile, AL, USA
 | Tour Choice of Outokumpu Stainless Inc. or SSAB Americas |
Monday, 3 February 2025 | |
| 4–6 p.m. | Registration |
| 5–6 p.m. | Welcome Reception |
Tuesday, 4 February 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Introductions |
| 8:05 a.m. | Safety Presentation |
| 9:30 a.m. | Chemistry of EAF Steelmaking — Chemistry Background and Introduction to Steel Kyle Vanover, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division Strap in, steel aficionados! We're about to dive into the electrifying world of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, where atoms get as excited as a neutron at a proton party. Get ready for a sizzling journey through a molten maze where carbon plays hard to get, oxygen's the unwanted guest, and slag... well, slag is just slag, but it's our slag! We'll spark your interest with the alchemy of modern steel, reveal how a good carbon boil isn't just for your kettle, and why foamy slag is the cappuccino of steelmaking. By the end, you'll not only understand the ballet of elements and electrons but also why EAF is the rockstar of sustainable steel. So, plug in, power up, and let's forge some knowledge! |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Chemistry of EAF Steelmaking — Focus on Oxidation, Carbon and Slag Kyle Vanover, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | EAF Efficiencies and Slag Fundamentals Eugene Pretorius, Nucor Corp. This presentation covers EAF slag fundamentals, transient slags, understanding the C/O/Fe balance and how it impacts energy efficiency (electrical and chemical) and material recoveries in the EAF, heel control in the EAF, slag retention, and bath level control. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Chemical and Electrical Energy Inputs and EAF Performance Sam Matson, CMC |
| 4 p.m. | LMF Metallurgy and Secondary Steelmaking Abhishek Bhansali, Nucor Steel–Berkeley This presentation provides an overview of the fundamental metallurgical procedures and operational aspects involved in secondary steelmaking, with a specific emphasis on the ladle metallurgy furnace. Additionally, it addresses the practical challenges that arise during these processes. The presentation then delves into the impact of slags on refractory wear. Finally, the presentation concludes by discussing the significance of steel cleanliness and calcium treatment in the steelmaking process. |
Wednesday, 5 February 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | EAF Designs and Operations Jeremy Jones, CIX Inc. This session will provide an overview of EAF technologies and an approach to EAF optimization. |
| 9 a.m. | Break |
| 9:10 a.m. | EAF Technologies — The Path to EAF Optimization Inc. Jeremy Jones, CIX Inc. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:40 a.m. | Environmental Operations for the EAF Sam Matson, CMC This presentation will review the main gaseous emissions, which part of the steelmaking process is likely to generate, and potential ideas for how to reduce them. Also included will be an overview of air pollution control equipment operation. |
| Noon | Boxed Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. | Plant Tour of Outokumpu Stainless Inc. or SSAB Americas |
| 4:30 p.m. | Reception and Roundtable Discussion |
Thursday, 6 February 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Utilization of Fe Metallics in the EAF Zane Voss, CIX, Inc. The EAF is one of the most complicated chemical reactors in existence. One of the most important aspects of EAF operations is the choice of raw materials for the furnace. This presentation will go over the different varieties of furnace feedstock and suggest practical methods to determine the right material for optimal EAF performance. |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10 a.m. | EAF Maintenance Requirements Stephan Ferenczy, TCI Consultants Modern AC and DC EAF components and their maintenance will be discussed along with methods for continuous improvement, including a review of design principles, failure analysis and corrective actions. |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | The EAF Steelmaking Industry: Evolutionary, Augmentative and Formidable Becky Hites, Steel-Insights LLC |
| 2:15 p.m. | Break |
| 2:30 p.m. | Process Control and Automation Rob Oldroyd, Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC Overview of the process control and automation systems that are used in EAF steelmaking. |
| 3:45 p.m. | Break |
| 4 p.m. | Practical EAF Regulation and Electrode Handling Jackson Kuntze, Tokai Carbon GE LLC Electrode regulation is a critical component of EAFs, controlling the conversion of electricity into heat. This session will review the electrical system feeding EAFs, the electrode regulation control loop and typical issues that impact EAF electrical operations. |
Friday, 7 February 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Gas/Carbon/DRI Usage Fundamentals for EAF Performance and Lower Carbon Footprint Michael Grant, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH Gas/Carbon Injection Systems lecture will present the theory, practical aspects and strategy of use of oxygen, natural gas and carbon injection in the EAF as well as the technologies used to apply these. The use of DRI, its advantages and challenges as well as the necessary operational adjustments to DRI use will be presented. The importance of EAF steelmaking on the steel industry's journey towards carbon neutrality is discussed. A strong emphasis on oxygen safety and its precautions is presented. |
| 9:15 a.m. | Break |
| 9:30 a.m. | EAF Steelmaking Fundamentals Mark Trapp, CIX Inc. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | EAF Steelmaking Fundamentals (cont’d) Mark Trapp, CIX Inc. |
| Noon | Conference Adjourn |