Schedule
4–6 March 2025 • Embassy Suites Centennial Park • Atlanta, GA, USA
Monday, 3 March 2025 | |
| 4–6 p.m. | Registration |
Tuesday, 4 March 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Combustion and Burner Fundamentals – Part 1 Wenting Sun, Georgia Institute of Technology This presentation covers combustion fundamentals relevant to the steel industry. Topics include combustion chemistry, flame stabilization mechanisms, autoignition, radiation and blow-off limits. |
| 9 a.m. | Break |
| 9:15 a.m. | Combustion and Burner Fundamentals – Part 2 |
| 10:15 a.m. | Leveraging Data and Technology to Advance Combustion David Kober, Global Gauge Corp. This session explores the fundamental principles of data collection and analytics within combustion systems. Attendees will gain an understanding of key concepts such as accuracy, repeatability and data integrity, as well as the challenges of measuring at the fringes of instrument ranges. The session also covers the impact of data sampling frequency on system performance and introduces essential data analytics metrics such as maximum, minimum, average and rolling average. Through practical examples and case studies, participants will learn how to apply these principles to optimize combustion efficiency, safety and performance. |
| 11 a.m. | Foundational Combustion Control and Advances in Optimization Bill Poe, Schneider Electric This session will extend basic combustion and temperature fundamentals and review control theory to discuss the following: • Combustion and temperature control opportunities in the steel industry. • Combustion and temperature control challenges. • Closed-loop real-time optimization technology. • Closed-loop real-time optimization success stories. |
| 11:45 a.m. | Lunch |
| 12:45 p.m. | Combustion Sensors, Diagnostics and Innovative Technologies |
| 1:30 p.m. | Thermal Camera Use for Steel Production Efficiency and Integrity Paul Czerepuszko, Optris IR Sensing LLC Discussion on the use of thermal imaging for various applications in steel production. |
| 2:15 p.m. | Data and Analytic Application of Thermal Imaging for Leak Detection and Other Uses |
| 3 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | Code Updates for Combustion and Thermal Systems – Part 1 |
| 4 p.m. | Advanced Analytics, Predictive Tools and Strategic Integration for Optimized Operations |
| 4:45 p.m. | Day 1 Wrap-Up/Questions |
| 5–6 p.m. | Reception |
Wednesday, 5 March 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | A Complete Overview of Fuel Technologies |
| 8:45 a.m. | The How-To’s of Hydrogen Production, Handling and Storage Anup Sane, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. This presentation talks about low CI hydrogen production, transport and storage for the steel industry. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Radiant Tube Burners Technologies and Enhancements Steven Mickey, WS Thermal Process Technology Inc. This presentation will cover various burner and radiant tube types, comparing standard and modern technologies. It will discuss the different methods of preheating combustion air to increase efficiency. It will also highlight various methods of reducing NOx emissions. In addition, it will address the topic of transitioning to green fuels such as hydrogen to reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions. Finally, it will provide an economic analysis comparing the different technologies. |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Using Analytics to Maintain Furnace Efficiency and Emissions Performance |
| 11:15 a.m. | Advanced in Predictive Modeling for Optimized Emissions Control |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Code Updates for Combustion and Thermal Systems — Part 2 |
| 1:45 p.m. | Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence and Opportunities in Combustion and Thermal Systems |
| 2:30 p.m. | Use of Data Verified Visualization Tools for System Troubleshooting and Optimization Chenn Zhou, Purdue University Northwest Advanced computer simulation and visualization technologies are increasingly playing a key role for system troubleshooting and optimization in steel manufacturing. These technologies can provide coherent understandings of complex phenomena and processes, and enable faster and better decision-making for process design, optimization, troubleshooting, scale-up and training. The Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium (SMSVC) has been formed with the mission to develop and implement innovative technical solutions, through the integration of advanced computer simulation and visualization technologies. To-date research outcomes include improved energy efficiencies, productivity and product quality, as well as reduced CO2 and other emissions, time and cost. This presentation will include an overview of the SMSVC projects, simulation and visualization technologies and methodologies, as well as high-impact project examples in various ironmaking and steelmaking processes. |
| 3:15 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 p.m. | Case Studies in Troubleshooting Combustion and Thermal System Issues Kurt Johnson, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor Power Station Pragmatic troubleshooting exercises linked to previous topics which are used to highlight the practical use of training information in real-world examples. |
| 4:30 p.m. | Day 2 Wrap-Up/Questions and Briefing on Tour |
Thursday, 6 March 2025 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Plant Tour of Georgia Institute of Technology Combustion Lab |
| Noon | Return From Plant Tour and Conference Adjourn |