Device for determining additional loading time, melting facility, and method for determining additional loading time

Abstract

The present invention provides a determination device and a determination method using the same in order to determine the time at which a metal raw material is additionally charged into a furnace main body into which the metal raw material is charged and which melts the metal raw material by means of an arc generated by an electrode inserted from above, the determination device being provided with: a bucket raw material height measurement device for measuring the height of the metal raw material; the height measuring device is used for measuring the height of metal raw materials in the bucket; and a calculation device that is provided with a mathematical model that calculates the bulk volume of the bucket material, which is the bulk volume of the metal material in the bucket, on the basis of the measurement results of the bucket material height measurement device, and that calculates the bulk volume of the bucket material. The amount of energy introduced for melting the metal raw material in the furnace main body is calculated using at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current, and a theoretical melting amount accumulation volume, which is a theoretical value of the accumulation volume of the metal raw material melted by the amount of energy, is calculated. The calculation device is configured so as to determine the time at which the metal raw material is additionally charged on the basis of the result of comparison between the storable volume of charge and the storable volume of the bucket raw material, and to output the result of determination. The storable volume of charge and the storable volume of the bucket raw material are used to calculate an estimated value of the storable volume of charge of the metal raw material that can be charged into the furnace main body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a determination device, a melting apparatus, and a determination method for an additional charging timing for determining a timing of additionally charging a metal raw material into a furnace body in a melting apparatus including at least a furnace body that melts a metal raw material by an electric arc and a bucket that conveys and charges the metal raw material into the furnace body. Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that in a melting apparatus that melts a metal raw material by an electric arc, when continuously operating, the metal raw material is additionally charged at a time when the metal raw material charged into the furnace body has melted to a certain extent.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-70926 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In addition, the timing of additionally charging the metal raw material is determined by an operator, for example, based on the melting rate of the metal raw material charged into the furnace body. The melting rate of the metal raw material can be estimated based on the ratio of the amount of energy input to the melting apparatus to the amount of energy required for total melting of the metal raw material. Here, the amount of energy required for total melting of the metal raw material is calculated based on, for example, the combined weight of the metal raw material charged into the furnace body and its reference energy consumption rate, and the amount of energy input to the melting apparatus is calculated based on, for example, the electric power input to the furnace body and the energy efficiency of the combustion heat of the burner.

[0008] From the viewpoint of thermal efficiency, it is preferable to additionally charge as early as possible as long as the metal raw material does not overflow from the furnace body. On the other hand, in the case where the additional charging is too early and the metal raw material overflows from the furnace body, since the furnace lid is not closed, there is a problem that the productivity is significantly impaired in order to cope with this situation.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to accurately determine the timing of additionally charging the metal raw material in the melting apparatus.

[0010] Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The main invention for achieving the above object is a determination device for the additional charging time, which is a determination device for determining the time to additionally charge the metal raw material into the furnace body in the melting equipment. The melting equipment includes: the furnace body, which is charged with the metal raw material and melts the metal raw material by the arc generated by the electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode respectively. The determination device for the additional charging time is characterized by comprising: a bucket raw material height measurement device for measuring the height of the metal raw material in the bucket; and an arithmetic device having a mathematical model. The mathematical model calculates the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the bucket, that is, the bucket raw material accumulated volume, based on the measurement result of the bucket raw material height measurement device, and calculates at least the amount of energy input to melt the metal raw material in the furnace body using the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current, calculates the theoretical value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted with the amount of energy, that is, the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume, uses the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume to calculate the estimable loadable volume, that is, the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material that can be charged into the furnace body. The arithmetic device is configured to determine the time to additionally charge the metal raw material and output a determination result based on the comparison result between the estimable loadable volume and the bucket raw material accumulated volume.

[0012] The main invention for achieving the above object is a melting equipment, which is characterized by comprising: a furnace body, which is charged with the metal raw material and melts the metal raw material by the arc generated by the electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace body; a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode respectively; and the determination device for the additional charging time described above.

[0013] The main invention for achieving the above object is a method for determining the additional charging time, which is a method for determining the time to additionally charge the metal raw material into the furnace body in the melting equipment. The melting equipment includes: the furnace body, which is charged with the metal raw material and melts the metal raw material by the arc generated by the electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and loading it into the furnace body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode. The method for determining the additional charging time is characterized by including the following steps: measuring the height of the metal raw material in the bucket; calculating the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the bucket, i.e., the bucket raw material accumulated volume, based on the measurement result of the height; calculating the amount of energy input to melt the metal raw material in the furnace body by using at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current; calculating the theoretical value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted by the amount of energy, i.e., the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume; calculating the estimated value of the available loading volume, i.e., the accumulated volume of the metal raw material that can be loaded into the furnace body, by using the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume; and determining the time to additionally charge the metal raw material and outputting the determination result based on the comparison result between the available loading volume and the bucket raw material accumulated volume.

[0014] Other features of the present invention are clarified by the description in this specification and the drawings.

[0015] Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the time to additionally charge the metal raw material in the melting equipment. Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 It is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the melting equipment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the operation steps in the melting equipment of this embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the calculation process of the available loading volume in the melting equipment of this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of the correction process of the mathematical model in the melting equipment of this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram of various parameters in the mathematical model of the melting equipment of this embodiment. Detailed Embodiments

[0022] According to the description of the following specification and drawings, at least the following matters are clarified.

[0023] A determination device for the additional charging timing is provided, which is a determination device for determining the timing of additionally charging a metal raw material into a furnace body in a melting device. The melting device includes: the furnace body, which is charged with the metal raw material and melts the metal raw material by an electric arc generated by an electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode. The determination device for the additional charging timing is characterized by comprising: a bucket raw material height measurement device for measuring the height of the metal raw material in the bucket; and an arithmetic device having a mathematical model. The mathematical model calculates the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the bucket, i.e., the bucket raw material accumulated volume, based on the measurement result of the bucket raw material height measurement device, and calculates the amount of energy input to melt the metal raw material in the furnace body by at least using the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current, calculates the theoretical value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted by the amount of energy, i.e., the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume, and uses the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume to calculate the estimated value of the accumulable volume, i.e., the accumulated volume of the metal raw material that can be charged into the furnace body. The arithmetic device is configured to determine the timing of additionally charging the metal raw material based on the comparison result between the accumulable volume and the bucket raw material accumulated volume and output a determination result.

[0024] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the timing of additionally charging the metal raw material can be determined with high precision in the melting device.

[0025] In this determination device for the additional charging timing, preferably, the bucket raw material height measurement device includes a three-dimensional measurement device capable of measuring the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material in the bucket.

[0026] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the height of the metal raw material in the bucket can be easily measured.

[0027] In the determination device for the additional charging timing, preferably, the arithmetic device is configured to calculate the accumulated volume of the actual melting amount based on the accumulated volume of the first raw material and the accumulated volume of the second raw material, and correct the mathematical model based on the accumulated volume of the actual melting amount, where the accumulated volume of the first raw material is the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after the metal raw material is charged into the furnace body by the first charging, the accumulated volume of the second raw material is the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after the second charging, that is, the next charging of the metal raw material after the first charging, and the accumulated volume of the actual melting amount is an estimated value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted in the furnace body during the period between the first charging and the second charging.

[0028] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the accuracy of the mathematical model for calculating the accumulable volume that can be charged can be improved.

[0029] In the determination device for the additional charging timing, preferably, the determination device for the additional charging timing further includes a furnace body raw material height measurement device for measuring the height of the metal raw material in the furnace body, and the arithmetic device is configured to calculate at least the accumulated volume of the second raw material among the accumulated volume of the first raw material and the accumulated volume of the second raw material based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measurement device.

[0030] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the accumulated volume of the actual melting amount can be calculated with high accuracy, and the correction of the mathematical model can be performed more efficiently.

[0031] In the determination device for the additional charging timing, preferably, the furnace body raw material height measurement device includes a three-dimensional measurement device capable of measuring the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material in the furnace body.

[0032] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the height of the metal raw material in the furnace body can be easily measured.

[0033] In the determination device for the additional charging timing, preferably, the furnace body raw material height measurement device includes an electrode position measurement device for measuring the vertical position of the lower end of the electrode.

[0034] According to such a determination device for the additional charging timing, the height of the metal raw material in the furnace body can be easily measured.

[0035] A melting device is provided, which is characterized by comprising: a furnace main body into which a metal raw material is charged and the metal raw material is melted by an electric arc generated by an electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace main body; a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode; and a determination device for the additional charging timing according to any of the above-described methods.

[0036] According to such a melting device, the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material can be determined with high precision.

[0037] A method for determining the additional charging timing is a method for determining the timing of additional charging of a metal raw material into a furnace main body in a melting device. The melting device includes: the furnace main body into which the metal raw material is charged and the metal raw material is melted by an electric arc generated by an electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace main body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode. The method for determining the additional charging timing is characterized by including the following steps: measuring the height of the metal raw material in the bucket; calculating the bulk volume of the metal raw material in the bucket, i.e., the bucket raw material bulk volume, based on the measurement result of the height; calculating the amount of energy input for melting the metal raw material in the furnace main body by using at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current; calculating the theoretical value of the bulk volume of the metal raw material melted by the amount of energy, i.e., the theoretical melting bulk volume; calculating the estimated value of the bulk volume that can be charged, i.e., the bulk volume of the metal raw material that can be charged into the furnace main body, by using the theoretical melting bulk volume; and determining the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material and outputting a determination result based on the comparison result between the bulk volume that can be charged and the bucket raw material bulk volume.

[0038] According to such a method for determining the additional charging timing, the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material can be determined with high precision in a melting device.

[0039] In the determination method of the additional charging period, preferably, the following steps are further included: calculating the actual melting amount accumulation volume based on the first raw material accumulation volume and the second raw material accumulation volume, where the first raw material accumulation volume is the accumulation volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after the metal raw material is charged into the furnace body through the first charging, the second raw material accumulation volume is the accumulation volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after the second charging, that is, the next charging of the metal raw material after the first charging, and the actual melting amount accumulation volume is an estimated value of the accumulation volume of the metal raw material melted in the furnace body during the period between the first charging and the second charging; and correcting and calculating the mathematical model for calculating the chargeable accumulation volume based on the actual melting amount accumulation volume.

[0040] According to such a determination method of the additional charging period, the accuracy of the mathematical model for calculating the chargeable accumulation volume can be improved.

[0041] ===This Embodiment ===

[0042] <<Summary>>

[0043] Figure 1 It is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the melting equipment of the present invention. In addition, Figure 1 It shows a state where the opening above the furnace body 11 (described later) is open (open state).

[0044] Hereinafter, sometimes the description will be made in the Figure 1 direction shown. The direction in which the metal raw material 1 is transported by the bucket 12 (described later) is set as the "front-back direction", the side of the furnace body 11 (described later) relative to the bucket 12 is set as the "front side (front direction)", and the opposite side of the front side (the side of the bucket 12 relative to the furnace body 11) is set as the "rear side (rear direction)". In addition, the vertical direction is set as the "up-down direction".

[0045] The melting equipment 10 is equipment for melting the metal raw material 1. In this embodiment, the metal raw material 1 is, for example, scrap iron. However, the metal raw material 1 is not limited to scrap iron, and may also be direct reduced iron (DRI), hot briquetted iron (HBI), pig iron (cast iron block), etc. In the following description, the molten metal obtained by melting the metal raw material 1 may sometimes be referred to as "molten metal" or "molten liquid".

[0046] The melting equipment 10 is an electric arc melting equipment. In the electric arc melting equipment, by energizing the electrode 14 (described later) disposed in the furnace body 11, an electric arc is generated from the electrode 14. Then, the metal raw material 1 is heated and melted by the heat of the electric arc (arc heat) generated from the electrode 14.

[0047] The melting device 10 includes a furnace body 11, a bucket 12, a power supply device 13, and a determination device 40.

[0048] <Furnace body 11>

[0049] The furnace body 11 is the main body of a melting furnace that is charged with a metal raw material 1 and melts the metal raw material 1 using arc heat. As Figure 1 shown, in the furnace body 11, the metal raw material 1 is heated and melted to form molten metal 2 and slag 3. The molten metal 2 is refined, such as decarburized as needed, and discharged from a tapping hole (not shown) as a melt (tapping). The slag 3 is discharged before the melt is discharged. It should be noted that, as Figure 1 shown, the unmolten components in the metal raw material 1 charged into the furnace body 11 remain in the furnace body 11 as melting residues 4.

[0050] The furnace body 11 includes an electrode 14, a furnace lid 16, an outer shell 17, and a lining 18.

[0051] The electrode 14 is an electrode that generates an arc (arc electrode). When the metal raw material 1 is melted, the upper opening of the furnace body 11 is in a closed state (closed state), and the electrode 14 is in a state of passing through the furnace lid 16 from above and being inserted into the interior of the furnace body 11. In the present embodiment, the electrode 14 is a graphite electrode, and three electrodes 14 are inserted into the interior of the furnace body 11. Therefore, the furnace body 11 is a so-called three-phase AC arc furnace. The electrode 14 is energized by applying an AC voltage from the power supply device 13. Thereby, the furnace body 11 can generate an arc from the electrode 14 and heat and melt the metal raw material 1 using arc heat (that is, obtain molten metal 2). However, the furnace body 11 is not limited to a three-phase AC arc furnace and may also be a so-called DC arc furnace. In this case, one electrode 14 is disposed in the furnace body 11 and another electrode is disposed at the bottom of the furnace body 11.

[0052] The furnace lid 16 is a lid member provided on the upper part of the furnace body 11. The furnace lid 16 can be moved up and down and rotated by a drive device (not shown). Thereby, the upper opening of the furnace body 11 can be made into an open state and a closed state. The above three electrodes 14 are arranged to form an arc inside the furnace body 11 in order to pass through the insertion holes of the furnace lid 16.

[0053] The outer shell 17 is a member that constitutes the exterior of the furnace body 11 other than the furnace lid 16. The outer shell 17 is made of iron and has a water-cooling structure (not shown). The water-cooling structure is, for example, a water-cooling plate and is composed of a plurality of block-shaped water-cooling boxes.

[0054] The lining 18 is a component that forms the storage part, i.e., the bottom, of the molten metal 2 in the furnace main body 11. The lining 18 is formed of refractory material and can store the molten metal 2 obtained by melting the metal raw material 1.

[0055] In addition to the above structure, the furnace main body 11 may further include at least one of a burner, an oxygen injection lance, and a carbon material injection lance. The burner, the oxygen injection lance, and the carbon material injection lance may also be arranged to penetrate the outer shell 17 in an inclined direction and be movable in the furnace main body 11 in an inclined direction. The burner promotes the melting of the metal raw material 1 by the combustion heat of the fuel gas. Oxygen for decarburization is injected into the furnace main body 11 from the oxygen injection lance. In addition, air, nitrogen, etc. are used as conveying gases from the carbon material injection lance, and carbon materials such as coke, coal coke, coal, charcoal, and graphite are injected into the furnace main body 11 to promote the melting of the metal raw material 1 by using the combustion heat and add carbon to the molten liquid.

[0056] Moreover, a tilting mechanism 19 is provided in the furnace main body 11. The tilting mechanism 19 is a mechanism for tilting the furnace main body 11. Thereby, the molten metal 2 and the slag 3 can be easily discharged.

[0057] <Bucket 12>

[0058] The bucket 12 is a device for transporting the metal raw material 1 and loading it into the furnace main body 11. In the present embodiment, the bucket 12 has a receiving portion 21 and wheels 22. The receiving portion 21 is a component for receiving the metal raw material 1, and the wheels 22 are a moving mechanism for transporting the receiving portion 21.

[0059] As Figure 1 shown, in a state where the furnace lid 16 is moved and the upper part of the furnace main body 11 is open, the metal raw material 1 is loaded from the upper part of the furnace main body 11. Specifically, the bucket 12 is lifted by a crane (not shown) or the like, and the metal raw material 1 in the receiving portion 21 is put into the furnace main body 11. In addition, in Figure 1 order to facilitate the illustration, the bucket 12 is depicted as being small, but usually the bucket 12 has a capacity close to that of the furnace main body 11.

[0060] <Power supply device 13>

[0061] The power supply device 13 is a device for applying a voltage to the electrode 14. As described above, in the present embodiment, the furnace main body 11 is a three-phase AC arc furnace, and the power supply device 13 applies an AC voltage to the electrode 14. As Figure 1As shown, the power supply device 13 is provided with a power measurement device 15. The power measurement device 15 is a device that measures the voltage and current applied to the electrode 14. In the present embodiment, the power measurement device 15 includes a voltmeter and an ammeter. Therefore, the power supply device 13 is configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode 14 respectively, and can output the measured voltage, current, power values such as power from the power measurement device 15 to the determination device 40.

[0062] <Determination device 40>

[0063] The determination device 40 is a device for determining the timing of adding and charging the metal raw material 1 into the furnace body 11 (a determination device for the addition and charging timing). When the operation is continuously performed in the melting device 10 of the present embodiment, when the metal raw material 1 charged into the furnace body 11 is melted to a certain extent, it is necessary to add and charge the metal raw material 1. Assuming that the operator does not use the determination device 40 and estimates the melting (progress) rate of the metal raw material 1 charged into the furnace body 11 based on experience at the time of adding and charging the metal raw material 1, sometimes the error in the estimation of the melting rate becomes large.

[0064] When the error in the estimation of the melting rate becomes large, sometimes the amount of input energy and the operation time increase. For example, when the actual melting rate is smaller than the estimated melting rate (that is, when the amount of the actual melting residue 4 is larger than the estimated amount of the melting residue 4), the stacking volume of the metal raw material 1 that can be added and charged into the furnace body 11 is smaller than the estimation. Therefore, by adding and charging the metal raw material 1 into the furnace body 11, sometimes the metal raw material 1 protrudes from the furnace body 11 and the furnace lid 16 cannot be closed (so-called overflow). In addition, since the furnace lid 16 is not closed, sometimes the heat loss in the furnace body 11 increases. Moreover, in order to deal with the situation where the furnace lid 16 is not closed, sometimes the operation time of the operator increases.

[0065] In addition, in order to avoid the problem that the actual melting rate is less than the estimated melting rate, it is also possible to add and charge the metal raw material 1 after the estimated melting rate becomes a sufficiently large value (after the estimated amount of the melting residue 4 becomes a sufficiently small value). However, in this case, the amount of the actual melting residue 4 remaining in the furnace body 11 becomes smaller. If energy is input in a state where the melting residue 4 is small and the furnace wall of the furnace body 11 is exposed, the loss of the amount of energy increases.

[0066] In addition, when the volume of the metal raw material 1 charged into the furnace main body 11 is not measured and the operator only knows the weight of the metal raw material 1, the error in the estimation of the melting rate sometimes becomes even larger. Further, when the weight and volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace main body 11 after additional charging are not quantitatively determined, the accuracy of the estimation of the melting rate cannot be improved. In this case, when the incidence of overflow after the additional charging of the metal raw material 1 is high, the operator adjusts the estimation of the melting rate based on experience, so it is difficult to improve the accuracy of the estimation of the melting rate.

[0067] Therefore, first, the determination device 40 of the present embodiment calculates the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 in the storage portion 21 of the bucket 12, that is, the bucket raw material accumulated volume, based on the height information of the metal raw material 1 in the storage portion 21 of the bucket 12, and calculates the amount of energy input to melt the metal raw material 1 in the furnace main body 11. Further, it has a mathematical model that calculates the theoretical value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 melted with the amount of the input energy, that is, the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume, and uses the theoretical melting amount accumulated volume to calculate the estimated value of the accumulable volume, that is, the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 that can be additionally charged into the furnace main body 11. In the determination device 40 of the present embodiment, when the accumulable volume is equal to the bucket raw material accumulated volume, it is determined that it is the time for additional charging.

[0068] Thus, in the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately determine the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material 1 in the melting device 10. By being able to accurately determine the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material 1, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of energy input and the operation time after the additional charging of the metal raw material 1. Further, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the mathematical model for calculating the accumulable volume.

[0069] <<Details of the determination device 40>>

[0070] Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 1 the details of the determination device 40 will be described again.

[0071] The determination device 40 includes a bucket raw material height measurement device 20, a furnace main body raw material height measurement device 30, a control device 41, an arithmetic device 42, a communication device 43, and an operator terminal 90.

[0072] The bucket raw material height measurement device 20 is a device for measuring the height of the metal raw material 1 in the storage portion 21 of the bucket 12. As Figure 1As shown, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 is arranged above the bucket 12. The bucket raw material height measuring device 20 has a three-dimensional measuring device capable of measuring the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the receiving portion 21 of the bucket 12. The bucket raw material height measuring device 20 uses, for example, a laser-based 3D scanner, a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, a radar, etc. to measure the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the receiving portion 21 of the bucket 12.

[0073] As Figure 1 shown, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 detects the bucket 12 being transported forward and starts measuring. When using a LiDAR sensor to measure the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the receiving portion 21 of the bucket 12, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 first scans the shape of the metal raw material 1 received in the receiving portion 21. Then, the scanned point cloud data is synthesized and restored to the shape of the metal raw material 1 received in the receiving portion 21. Thus, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 can generate three-dimensional point cloud data of the surface of the metal raw material 1 received in the receiving portion 21. The bucket raw material height measuring device 20 can output the generated three-dimensional point cloud data to the control device 41 and the arithmetic device 42.

[0074] However, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 may not have a three-dimensional measuring device, and may also be a mode equipped with one or more devices for measuring the height of the metal raw material at a point on the surface of the metal raw material 1. In addition, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 may also have a monitoring camera for detecting the transported bucket 12.

[0075] The furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 is a device for measuring the height of the metal raw material 1 including the melting residue 4 in the furnace body 11. As Figure 1 shown, the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 is located above the furnace lid 16. The furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 has a three-dimensional measuring device capable of measuring the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11. The furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 uses, for example, a laser-based 3D scanner, a LiDAR sensor, a radar, etc. to measure the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11.

[0076] Similar to the above-mentioned bucket raw material height measuring device 20, the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 can generate three-dimensional point cloud data of the surface of the metal raw material 1 including the melting residue 4 in the furnace body 11. The furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 can output the generated three-dimensional point cloud data to the control device 41 and the arithmetic device 42.

[0077] The furnace main body raw material height measuring device 30 may not have a three-dimensional measuring device, or may be configured with one or more devices for measuring the height of the metal raw material at a point on the surface of the metal raw material 1. For example, the furnace main body raw material height measuring device 30 may also have an electrode position measuring device for measuring the vertical position of the lower end of the electrode 14. The electrode position measuring device may also measure the vertical position of the electrode 14 when energized by the power supply device 13, and calculate the height of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace main body 11 based on the vertical position information of the electrode and the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode.

[0078] The control device 41 is a device for controlling various devices of the determination device 40 (for example, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20, the furnace main body raw material height measuring device 30, the arithmetic device 42, the communication device 43, etc.). The control device 41 may also have a function of displaying the results of various processes in the determination device 40 (for example, the results of the determination process for the additional charging time, the results of the correction process of the mathematical model) on the display device of the operator terminal 90. However, the control device 41 may also display the results of various processes in the determination device 40 on a device other than the display device of the operator terminal 90.

[0079] The control device 41 is not limited to the above functions, and may also have a function of displaying the results (for example, three-dimensional point cloud data) measured by the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 and the furnace main body raw material height measuring device 30 on the display device of the operator terminal 90. In addition, the control device 41 may also have a function of popping up and displaying an error message on the display device of the operator terminal 90 when there is a problem with the communication with various devices of the determination device 40 described above. Moreover, the control device 41 may also have a function of displaying an error message and correction information on the display device of the operator terminal 90 when the image of the receiving portion 21 of the bucket 12, the metal raw material 1 in the furnace main body 11, and various devices of the determination device 40 stop, etc.

[0080] The arithmetic device 42 is a device that performs various processes in the determination device 40 (the determination process for the additional charging time and the correction process of the mathematical model described later) and outputs the results to the control device 41. The details of various processes in the determination device 40 will be described later.

[0081] The communication device 43 is a device for connecting to a communication network (not shown). Various devices of the determination device 40 are connected via the communication network. The communication network is, for example, a LAN, VAN, wireless communication network, Internet, telephone line network, etc.

[0082] The operator terminal 90 is an information terminal used by the operator. The operator terminal 90 is a terminal that displays instructions from the determination device 40 to various devices and information output from the determination device 40 to various devices. The operator terminal 90 is, for example, a personal computer. However, the operator terminal 90 is not limited to a personal computer and may also be, for example, a tablet-type portable terminal or a smartphone. The operator terminal 90 has hardware such as a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication module, a display device such as a display, and input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, which are not shown. In addition, the determination device 40 may not have the operator terminal 90.

[0083] In the present embodiment, the determination device 40 can execute various processes in the determination device 40 through the cooperation of various hardware and various software, which are not shown. The determination device 40 is, for example, a computer such as a server, and has a CPU, a memory, a storage device, etc. Programs and various data related to various processes executed by the determination device 40 are stored in the storage device.

[0084] For example, the control device 41 reads out a program including a mathematical model stored in the storage device to the memory and executes it, thereby implementing various processes (determination processes for additional charging times and correction processes for mathematical models, which will be described later) in the determination device 40 through the arithmetic device 42. In addition, the determination device 40 may include multiple computers. Also, various processes in the determination device 40 may be executed through the cooperation of these multiple computers via a network.

[0085] In the present invention, the height of the metallic raw material in the bucket and in the furnace body refers to the height of one or more points on the surface of the metallic raw material. The more the number of points for measuring this height, the higher the calculation accuracy of the accumulated volume of the metallic raw material. Therefore, it is preferable that the bucket raw material height measurement device and the furnace body raw material height measurement device are equipped with a three-dimensional measurement device capable of measuring the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metallic raw material.

[0086] <<Flow of operation steps in the melting equipment>>

[0087] Hereinafter, a flow of operation steps of an embodiment including the determination method for the additional charging time of the present invention in the melting equipment 10 having the determination device 40 will be described.

[0088] Figure 2 It is a flowchart of an embodiment of the operation steps in the melting equipment of the present embodiment. Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the calculation process of the loadable accumulated volume in the melting equipment of the present embodiment. Figure 4 It is a flowchart of the correction process of the mathematical model in the melting equipment of the present embodiment. Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram of various parameters in the mathematical model in the melting equipment of the present embodiment. In addition, in Figure 3shown in Figure 2 Each process in the process of calculating the stackable volume that can be loaded into the furnace body 11 (S004) shown in Figure 4 shown in Figure 2 Each process in the correction process (S008) of the mathematical model shown in

[0089] First, before the metal raw material 1 is initially charged into the furnace body 11, the stacked volume of the metal raw material 1 in the storage part 21 of the bucket 12 at the time of the initial charge is calculated ( Figure 2 S001). Specifically, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 measures the height of the surface of the metal raw material 1 in the storage part 21 of the bucket 12. Then, the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 outputs the measured result (information on the height of the surface of the metal raw material 1) to the arithmetic device 42. The arithmetic device 42 receives the measurement result of the bucket raw material height measuring device 20 and calculates the bucket raw material stack volume in the present invention, that is, the stacked volume of the metal raw material 1 in the storage part 21 of the bucket 12.

[0090] Next, the metal raw material 1 is initially charged into the furnace body 11 ( Figure 2 S002). At this time, as Figure 1 shown, with the furnace lid 16 of the furnace body 11 in an open state and the electrode 14 raised, the metal raw material 1 is charged into the furnace body 11 from the upper part of the furnace body 11 through the bucket 12.

[0091] In the melting equipment 10 of the present embodiment, instead of performing a batch operation of melting all the metal raw materials 1 charged at one time and tapping steel each time, an operation of additionally charging the metal raw material 1 is performed at the moment when the metal raw material 1 charged into the furnace body 11 is melted to a certain extent. Therefore, in the melting equipment 10 of the present embodiment, after the initial charge, as a preparation for the next additional charge, the stacked volume of the metal raw material 1 in the storage part 21 of the bucket 12 is calculated in the same way as S001 before the initial charge ( Figure 2 S003), and the determination device 40 performs a determination process for the additional charge timing ( Figure 2 S004 and S005).

[0092] In the determination process for the additional charge timing, first, a process of calculating the stackable volume that can be loaded into the furnace body 11 ( Figure 2 S004) is performed. In the process of calculating the stackable volume that can be loaded, first, the arithmetic device 42 reads a program including a mathematical model into the memory and executes it, thereby calculating the theoretical value of the stacked volume of the metal raw material 1 melted by the amount of energy input to the melting equipment 10, that is, the theoretical melting amount stacked volume Vm ( Figure 3 S101).

[0093] The theoretical melting amount stacked volume Vm (m3 It is obtained by the following mathematical formula 1 included in the mathematical model.

[0094] Vm = E ÷ { (Sc × ρ) × α} … (Mathematical formula 1)

[0095] Here, E is the amount of energy (kWh) input into the melting device 10 (the input energy). The power measuring device 15 of the power supply device 13 measures the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode 14, and the arithmetic device 42 receives the measurement results of the power measuring device 15 (at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current), and calculates the amount of energy E input into the melting device 10. In addition, Sc is the reference energy consumption rate (kWh / t), which is the energy required to melt the metal raw material 1 per unit weight, and ρ is the bulk specific gravity of the metal raw material 1 (t / m 3 ). In addition, α is the melting coefficient of the metal raw material 1. For example, the melting coefficient α of the metal raw material 1 after the initial charging can be the actual value obtained during the previous operation in the melting device 10 of the present embodiment, the average value of multiple actual values obtained during the previous operations, etc. However, at the initial operation, an estimated value calculated based on the actual data in the previous operations can also be used.

[0096] Next, the arithmetic device 42 reads the program including the mathematical model into the memory and executes it to calculate the estimated value of the loadable bulk volume Vp, that is, the bulk volume of the metal raw material 1 that can be additionally charged ( Figure 3 in S102).

[0097] The loadable bulk volume Vp (m 3 is obtained by the following mathematical formula 2 included in the mathematical model.

[0098] Vp = Vfb - β = Vf - (Vfs - Vm) - β (Mathematical formula 2)

[0099] Here, Vfb is the remaining volume in the furnace (m 3 ), Vf is the entire space volume in the furnace body 11 (m 3 ), Vfs is the bulk volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after charging (before the start of melting), that is, the bulk volume of the furnace body raw material (m 3 ), Vm is the theoretical melting volume bulk (m 3 ), and β is the correction volume (m 3). It should be noted that in this embodiment, when determining the first additional charging time after the initial charging, the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs is equal to the bucket raw material accumulation volume at the time of initial charging, and this value is used. However, it is also possible to measure the height of the furnace body raw material after the initial charging using the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 and calculate based on the result. When performing the determination process of the additional charging time after the second time, the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs uses the furnace body raw material accumulation volume calculated in S007 described below after the previous additional charging.

[0100] Here, the part of (Vfs - Vm) in Mathematical Formula 2 is obtained by subtracting the theoretical melting amount accumulation volume Vm from the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs after the previous charging (before melting starts) of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11. That is, it is the theoretical value of the accumulation volume of the melting residue 4 of the metal raw material. Hereinafter, the theoretical value of the accumulation volume of the melting residue 4 of the metal raw material may sometimes be referred to as the theoretical melting residue accumulation volume Vr (m 3 ). That is, the remaining volume Vfb in the furnace is the value obtained by subtracting the theoretical melting residue accumulation volume Vr from the entire space volume Vf of the furnace body 11. Since the accumulation volume of the metal raw material 1 that can actually be additionally charged into the furnace is smaller than the remaining volume Vfb in the furnace to a certain extent, the value obtained by subtracting a predetermined constant value, that is, the correction volume β, from the remaining volume Vfb in the furnace becomes the loadable accumulation volume Vp. It should be noted that Figure 5 In (A) of, the relationship between the loadable accumulation volume Vp, the entire space volume Vf in the furnace body 11, the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs after the previous charging (before melting starts) of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11, the theoretical melting amount accumulation volume Vm, the theoretical melting residue accumulation volume Vr, and the correction volume β is illustrated in the case of determining the additional charging time after the second time. The correction volume β varies depending on the size and shape of the furnace body and the bucket. For example, a value of about 10% to 15% of the entire space volume Vf in the furnace body 11 can be used.

[0101] Next, the arithmetic unit 42 determines whether the additional charging of the metal raw material 1 can be performed ( Figure 2 S005 of). Here, the loadable accumulation volume Vp calculated in S004 is compared with the bucket raw material accumulation volume calculated in S003. When the loadable accumulation volume Vp is equal to the bucket raw material accumulation volume, it is determined that it is the time when the metal raw material 1 can be additionally charged.

[0102] When the arithmetic unit 42 determines that it is the time when the metal raw material 1 can be additionally charged (yes), it outputs a signal indicating that the metal raw material 1 can be additionally charged to the control unit 41. The operator confirms the message displayed on the operator terminal 90 based on this signal and decides to additionally charge the metal raw material 1 into the furnace body 11 ( Figure 2of S006). However, when the arithmetic unit 42 determines that it is a time when the additional charging of the metal raw material 1 can be performed (yes), the additional charging of the metal raw material 1 into the furnace body 11 can be automatically performed regardless of the display of the message on the operator's terminal 90. When the arithmetic unit 42 determines that it is not a time when the metal raw material 1 can be additionally charged (no), it returns to the above-mentioned available charging bulk volume calculation process S004 and repeats the processes of S004 and S005.

[0103] Thus, in the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately determine the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material 1 in the melting equipment 10. By being able to accurately determine the timing of additional charging of the metal raw material 1, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of energy and the operation time input after the additional charging of the metal raw material 1. It should be noted that when it is possible to predict a period in which the available charging bulk volume Vp is equal to the bucket raw material bulk volume based on an energy input schedule including a power input schedule, a burner heating schedule, etc., the predicted period or the target input power amount may be displayed on the operator's terminal 90 a predetermined time before the period when additional charging is possible (for example, 1 minute to 3 minutes before), or the remaining time until additional charging is possible may be displayed on the operator's terminal 90, for example, in 10-second increments. Thus, when the operator manually performs the additional charging of the scrap, the operator can perform the preparatory work in advance in accordance with the timing of the next additional charging. In addition, in the case of automatic additional charging, the arithmetic unit 42 may also output a signal to the control device 41 a predetermined time before the period when additional charging is possible (for example, 1 minute to 3 minutes before) to perform the preparatory operations of each device such as the drive device of the furnace lid and the crane that operate for additional charging in advance.

[0104] In addition, in the present embodiment, by quantitatively obtaining the bulk volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after additional charging, the estimation accuracy of the melting rate can be improved. In the melting equipment 10 of the present embodiment, the determination device 40 reads a program including a mathematical model into the memory and executes it after additional charging, thereby calculating the bulk volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body 11 after additional charging, that is, the furnace body raw material bulk volume ( Figure 2 of S007), and performs a correction process of the mathematical model ( Figure 2 of S008).

[0105] In the correction process of the mathematical model, first, the arithmetic unit 42 calculates the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the molten metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11, that is, the actual melting amount accumulated volume ( Figure 4 S201), based on the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after the last charging (first charging), that is, the first raw material accumulated volume, and the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after the current charging (second charging), that is, the second raw material accumulated volume.

[0106] Specifically, the arithmetic unit 42 calculates the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the melting residue 4 at the moment before the second charging, that is, the melting residue accumulated volume Vr' (m 3 ) through the following mathematical formula 3 included in the mathematical model.

[0107] Vr' = Vfs' - Vch ··· (mathematical formula 3)

[0108] Here, Vfs' is the second raw material accumulated volume (m 3 ), and Vch is the bucket raw material accumulated volume (m 3 ) related to the bucket containing the metal raw material 1 charged by the second charging. The second raw material accumulated volume Vfs' is calculated based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 performed after the second charging. That is, the melting residue accumulated volume Vr' is obtained by subtracting the bucket raw material accumulated volume Vch, which is the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 charged by the second charging, from the second raw material accumulated volume Vfs'. In addition, since the additional charging is performed when the loadable accumulated volume Vp is equal to the above-mentioned bucket raw material accumulated volume Vch, this bucket raw material accumulated volume Vch is equal to Figure 5 the loadable accumulated volume Vp.

[0109] Next, the arithmetic unit 42 reads the program including the mathematical model into the memory and executes it, thereby calculating the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the molten metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11, that is, the actual melting amount accumulated volume.

[0110] The actual melting amount accumulated volume Vm' is obtained through the following mathematical formula 4 included in the mathematical model.

[0111] Vm' = Vfs - Vr' ··· (mathematical formula 4)

[0112] Here, Vfs is also described in the explanation of mathematical formula 2 and is the accumulated volume of the furnace body raw material (first raw material accumulated volume) of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after the last charging (m 3). Therefore, the actual melting volume accumulation Vm' is obtained by subtracting the melting residual accumulation volume Vr' calculated by Mathematical Formula 3 from the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs after the last loading of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11.

[0113] In Figure 5 of (B), the relationship among the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs', the actual melting volume accumulation Vm', and the melting residual accumulation volume Vr' after loading the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 is shown. The additional loading is assumed to be carried out by melting the theoretical melting volume accumulation Vm of (A) from the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs (the first raw material accumulation volume) calculated after the last loading. However, when the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs' (the second raw material accumulation volume) calculated after the actual second loading is offset by a height ΔV from the height Lm corresponding to the horizontal level of the height Lc of the metal raw material 1 after the assumed second loading in (B) of Figure 5 , it means that the theoretical melting volume accumulation Vm of (A) of Figure 5 contains an error, and it is not the theoretical melting volume accumulation Vm, but the actual melting volume accumulation Vm' that is the correct value. Figure 5

[0114] Next, the arithmetic unit 42 reads the program including the mathematical model into the memory and executes it, thereby recalculating the corrected melting coefficient (corrected melting coefficient) α' ( Figure 4 in S202 of ).

[0115] For the above reasons, the melting coefficient α' is obtained by the following Mathematical Formula 5 included in the mathematical model using the actual melting volume accumulation Vm'.

[0116] α' = E ÷ {(Sc × ρ)} ÷ Vm'... (Mathematical Formula 5)

[0117] Here, as also described in the explanation of Mathematical Formula 1, E is the amount (kWh) of the (already input) energy input to the melting device 10. In addition, Sc is the reference energy consumption rate (kWh / t) of the metal raw material 1, and ρ is the bulk specific gravity of the metal raw material 1 (t / m 3 ). It can be seen from Mathematical Formula 5 that the melting coefficient α' is recalculated using the actual melting volume accumulation Vm'. The correction of the mathematical model is carried out by correcting the melting coefficient α of Mathematical Formula 1 using the melting coefficient α'. Specifically, for example, the melting coefficient α of Mathematical Formula 1 can be replaced with the melting coefficient α' calculated by one-time correction processing of the mathematical model, or the melting coefficient α of Mathematical Formula 1 can be replaced with the average value of multiple melting coefficients α' obtained during past multiple operations. Furthermore, since the melting coefficient α also depends on the type and mixing ratio (mixing mode) of the raw materials contained in the metal raw material 1, it is also possible to accumulate the melting coefficient α corresponding to the mixing mode P1 and P 2 … corresponding melting coefficient α 1 and α 2 … data, according to the matching mode, use the melting coefficient α calculated by statistical processing based on the above data.

[0118] As described above, in the correction process of the mathematical model, the arithmetic device 42 is based on the first charging (for example, initial charging, first additional charging) of the metal raw material 1 into the furnace body 11, and then the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11, that is, the first raw material accumulated volume (Vfs), and the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 in the furnace body 11 after the next charging after the first charging, that is, the second charging (for example, first additional charging, second additional charging), that is, the second raw material accumulated volume (Vfs’), calculates the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 melted in the furnace body 11 during the period between the first charging and the second charging, that is, the actual melting amount accumulated volume (Vm’), and corrects the mathematical model based on the actual melting amount accumulated volume. Thus, in the present embodiment, the accuracy of the mathematical model for calculating the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 that can be charged into the furnace body 11 can be improved.

[0119] It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, when the first charging is the initial charging, the bucket raw material accumulated volume at the time of the initial charging is used as the first raw material accumulated volume, so the arithmetic device 42 calculates only the second raw material accumulated volume among the first raw material accumulated volume and the second raw material accumulated volume based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30. On the other hand, when the first charging is an additional charging, the first raw material accumulated volume (the raw material accumulated volume Vfs in the furnace body) is calculated based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30 after the first charging, so the arithmetic device 42 calculates both the first raw material accumulated volume and the second raw material accumulated volume based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measuring device 30.

[0120] The above correction process of the mathematical model is executed every time the metal raw material 1 is additionally charged. After that, the determination device 40 determines whether to end the melting operation ( Figure 2 S009), and if the melting operation ends (yes), the process ends. When the determination device 40 determines that the melting operation has not ended (no), it returns to the above determination process of the additional charging period and repeats the processes of S003~S008. Thus, in the present embodiment, the accuracy of the mathematical model for calculating the accumulated volume of the metal raw material 1 that can be charged into the furnace body 11 can be further improved.

[0121] ==== Others ====

[0122] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the structure of this embodiment. The scope of the present invention is determined based on the description in the claims, and within this scope, omissions, deformations of a part of the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, and structures in which improvements have been made to them are all included in the present invention.

[0123] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the amount of energy is calculated using only the measured value of voltage and the measured value of current has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to the structure of this embodiment. When the amount of energy input to the melting device is the combustion heat given by the burner, it is calculated by adding this combustion heat. Further, when carbon materials are blown in from a carbon material blowing lance, it is calculated by adding the combustion heat of this carbon material.

[0124] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the determination device 40 has the furnace body raw material height measurement device 30 has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to the structure of this embodiment. If it is not necessary to improve the accuracy of the mathematical model, the determination device 40 may not have the furnace body raw material height measurement device 30. In this case, when performing the determination process for the additional charging timing, the value calculated using the bucket raw material accumulation volume may also be used as the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs. Specifically, at the first additional charging, the bucket raw material accumulation volume calculated in S001 may be set as the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs, and at the second and subsequent additional chargings, the sum of the bucket raw material accumulation volume calculated in S003 before the previous additional charging and the theoretical melting residue accumulation volume calculated in S004 before the previous additional charging may be used as the furnace body raw material accumulation volume Vfs in the determination process for the current additional charging timing.

[0125] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0126] 1 Metal raw material

[0127] 2 Molten metal

[0128] 3 Slag

[0129] 4 Melting residue

[0130] 10 Melting device

[0131] 11 Furnace body

[0132] 12 Bucket

[0133] 13 Power supply device

[0134] 14 Electrode

[0135] 15 Electric energy measurement device

[0136] 16 Furnace lid

[0137] 17 Outer shell

[0138] 18 Inner Lining

[0139] 19 Tilting Device

[0140] 20 Bucket Raw Material Height Measuring Device

[0141] 21 Receiving Section

[0142] 22 Wheel

[0143] 30 Furnace Body Raw Material Height Measuring Device

[0144] 40 Judgment Device

[0145] 41 Control Device

[0146] 42 Arithmetic Device

[0147] 43 Communication Device

[0148] 90 Operator's Terminal

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the additional charging time is an apparatus for determining the time to additionally charge a metal raw material into a furnace body in a melting device, and the melting device comprises: the furnace body, which is charged with the metal raw material and melts the metal raw material by an electric arc generated by an electrode inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw material and charging it into the furnace body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrode, the apparatus for determining the additional charging time is characterized by comprising: a bucket raw material height measuring device for measuring the height of the metal raw material in the bucket; and an arithmetic device having a mathematical model, which calculates the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the bucket, i.e., the bucket raw material accumulated volume, based on the measurement result of the bucket raw material height measuring device, and calculates the amount of energy input to melt the metal raw material in the furnace body by using at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current, calculates the theoretical value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted by the amount of energy, i.e., the theoretical melted amount accumulated volume, uses the theoretical melted amount accumulated volume to calculate the estimable loaded volume, i.e., the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material that can be loaded into the furnace body, and the arithmetic device is configured to determine the time to additionally charge the metal raw material based on the comparison result between the estimable loaded volume and the bucket raw material accumulated volume and output a determination result.

2. The apparatus for determining the additional charging time according to claim 1, wherein: the bucket raw material height measuring device comprises a three-dimensional measuring device that can measure the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material in the bucket.

3. The apparatus for determining the additional charging time according to claim 1, wherein: the arithmetic device is configured to calculate the actual melted amount accumulated volume based on a first raw material accumulated volume and a second raw material accumulated volume, and correct the mathematical model based on the actual melted amount accumulated volume, where the first raw material accumulated volume is the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after the metal raw material is charged into the furnace body by a first charging, the second raw material accumulated volume is the accumulated volume of the metal raw material in the furnace body after a second charging, i.e., the next charging of the metal raw material after the first charging, and the actual melted amount accumulated volume is the estimated value of the accumulated volume of the metal raw material melted in the furnace body during the period between the first charging and the second charging.

4. The apparatus for determining the additional charging time according to claim 3, wherein: the apparatus for determining the additional charging time further comprises a furnace body raw material height measuring device for measuring the height of the metal raw material in the furnace body, and the arithmetic device is configured to calculate at least the second raw material accumulated volume among the first raw material accumulated volume and the second raw material accumulated volume based on the measurement result of the furnace body raw material height measuring device.

5. The determination device for the additional charging timing according to claim 4, wherein, the furnace main body raw material height measuring device includes a three-dimensional measuring device that can measure the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the metal raw material in the furnace main body.

6. The determination device for the additional charging timing according to claim 4, wherein, the furnace main body raw material height measuring device includes an electrode position measuring device for measuring the vertical position of the lower end of the electrode.

7. A melting device, wherein, it includes: a furnace main body, which is charged with metal raw materials and melts the metal raw materials by the arc generated by the electrodes inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw materials and charging them into the furnace main body; a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrodes respectively; and the determination device for the additional charging timing according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for determining the additional charging timing, which is used to determine the timing of additionally charging metal raw materials into the furnace main body in a melting device, and the melting device includes: the furnace main body, which is charged with the metal raw materials and melts the metal raw materials by the arc generated by the electrodes inserted from above; a bucket for transporting the metal raw materials and charging them into the furnace main body; and a power supply device configured to be able to measure the values of the voltage and current applied to the electrodes respectively, the method for determining the additional charging timing is characterized by including the following steps: measuring the height of the metal raw materials in the bucket; calculating the bulk volume of the metal raw materials in the bucket, i.e., the bucket raw material bulk volume, based on the measurement result of the height; calculating the amount of energy input for melting the metal raw materials in the furnace main body by using at least the measured value of the voltage and the measured value of the current; calculating the theoretical value of the bulk volume of the metal raw materials melted by the amount of energy, i.e., the theoretical melting bulk volume; calculating the available loading bulk volume, i.e., the estimated value of the bulk volume of the metal raw materials that can be loaded into the furnace main body, by using the theoretical melting bulk volume; and determining the timing of additionally charging the metal raw materials based on the comparison result between the available loading bulk volume and the bucket raw material bulk volume and outputting the determination result.

9. The method for determining the additional charging timing according to claim 8, wherein, the method for determining the additional charging timing further includes the following steps: calculating the actual melting bulk volume based on the first raw material bulk volume and the second raw material bulk volume, where the first raw material bulk volume is the bulk volume of the metal raw materials in the furnace main body after the metal raw materials are charged into the furnace main body by the first charging, the second raw material bulk volume is the bulk volume of the metal raw materials in the furnace main body after the second charging, i.e., the next charging of the metal raw materials after the first charging, and the actual melting bulk volume is the estimated value of the bulk volume of the metal raw materials melted in the furnace main body during the period between the first charging and the second charging; and Based on the actual melting amount stacking volume, correct and calculate the mathematical model of the stackable volume.

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