Blast furnace control device, blast furnace operating method, and program

Abstract

To provide a control device for a blast furnace, an operation method for the blast furnace, and a program capable of controlling both furnace heat and molten iron tapping amount to a desired range by controlling a furnace heat index in association with the molten iron tapping amount.SOLUTION: A control device 500 for a blast furnace includes: a furnace heat index calculation unit 120 for calculating a furnace heat index of the blast furnace; a furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 for determining a furnace heat adjustment action amount based on the furnace heat index and a furnace heat target range; a calculated molten iron tapping amount calculation unit 150 for calculating the calculated molten iron tapping amount of the blast furnace; a molten iron tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit 160 for determining a molten iron tapping amount adjustment action amount based on the calculated molten iron tapping amount and a molten iron tapping amount target range; and a blast furnace control unit 180 for controlling the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount and controlling the calculated molten iron tapping amount based on the molten iron tapping amount adjustment action amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for a blast furnace, an operating method for a blast furnace, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In blast furnace operation, it is important to appropriately control a furnace heat index typified by molten iron temperature. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a blast furnace operation method for controlling furnace heat based on the deviation between the discharge rates of molten iron and slag per unit time at the time of tapping and their respective reference production rates. This attempts to control furnace heat by grasping the amount of residual molten iron and slag on the assumption that 50 to 70% of furnace condition abnormalities (mainly furnace cooling) are caused by the amount of residual molten iron and slag.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 below describes a furnace heat control method in which the molten iron temperature after a specific time is sequentially estimated from the amount of displacement of the furnace heat index at the current time from the furnace heat index reference level corresponding to the target molten iron temperature, the amount of displacement of the lowering rate at the current time from the lowering rate reference level at the furnace top corresponding to the target molten iron temperature, and the influence time of both displacement amounts on the molten iron temperature, and furnace heat control is performed to reduce the fluctuation of the molten iron temperature based on the estimation result. This attempts to avoid reverse operations and excessive operations in furnace heat control by predicting the change state of the molten iron temperature in consideration of the fluctuation of the lowering rate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In blast furnace operation, it is important to control the furnace heat index and produce molten iron at the planned tap yield. The furnace heat index and tap yield are closely related; changing the furnace heat index changes the tap yield, and changing the tap yield changes the furnace heat index.

[0006] However, the technologies described in the above-mentioned patent documents all focus solely on controlling the furnace heat index and do not consider the control of the tapping rate, which is closely related to the furnace heat index. Therefore, even if the furnace heat index can be controlled, it may not be possible to produce molten iron at the desired tapping rate.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a blast furnace control device, a blast furnace operating method, and a program that can control both the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal tapped to a desired range by controlling them in association with each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The gist of this disclosure is as follows:

[0009] (1) A furnace heat index calculation unit that calculates the furnace heat index of a blast furnace, If the aforementioned furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, The aforementioned furnace heat index and The aforementioned A furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit that determines the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the target furnace heat range, A calculation unit for calculating the calculated amount of blast furnace output, If the calculated amount of pig iron produced falls outside the target range of pig iron produced, The calculated amount of pig iron produced and The aforementioned A unit for determining the amount of action to adjust the amount of pig iron production based on the target range of pig iron production, If the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, The furnace heat index is controlled based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount. If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of the amount of molten metal produced, A blast furnace control unit controls the calculated tapping amount based on the tapping amount adjustment action amount, Equipped with, The blast furnace control unit is The calculated amount of iron produced falls outside the target range of the amount of iron produced, andA blast furnace control device that, when the furnace heat index is within the furnace heat target range, controls the calculated tapping amount based on the tapping amount adjustment action amount, and does not control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount.

[0010] (2) The blast furnace control device according to (1), wherein the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

[0011] (3) The control device for a blast furnace according to (1) or (2), wherein the blast furnace tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit determines the blast furnace tapping amount adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

[0012] (4) The furnace heat index calculation unit predicts the furnace heat index for future times using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. The blast furnace control device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount when the furnace heat index is predicted to fall outside the furnace heat target range.

[0013] (5) The aforementioned calculated molten metal production unit predicts the calculated molten metal production at future times using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. The control device for a blast furnace according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit determines the tapping amount adjustment action amount when the calculated tapping amount is predicted to fall outside the target tapping amount range.

[0014] (6) The steps include calculating the furnace heat index of the blast furnace, If the aforementioned furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, The aforementioned furnace heat index and The aforementioned A step of determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the target furnace heat range, Steps to calculate the calculated tapping volume of the blast furnace, If the calculated amount of pig iron produced falls outside the target range of pig iron produced, Based on the calculated tapping volume and The aforementioned Steps to determine the tapping volume adjustment action amount based on the tapping volume target range, If the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, Control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount, If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of the amount of molten metal produced, Steps to control the calculated tapping volume based on the tapping volume adjustment action amount, Comprising, The calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of the amount of molten metal produced, and When the furnace heat index is within the furnace heat target range, control the calculated tapping volume based on the tapping volume adjustment action amount and do not control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount. An operating method for a blast furnace.

[0015] (7) In the step of determining the furnace heat adjustment action amount, determine the furnace heat adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on past observed performance data. The operating method for a blast furnace according to (6).

[0016] (8) In the step of determining the tapping volume adjustment action amount, determine the tapping volume adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on past observed performance data. The operating method for a blast furnace according to (6) or (7).

[0017] (9) In the step of calculating the furnace heat index, predict the furnace heat index at a future time using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on past observed performance data, In the step of determining the furnace heat adjustment action amount, when it is predicted that the furnace heat index will deviate from the furnace heat target range, determine the furnace heat adjustment action amount. The operating method for a blast furnace according to any one of (6) to (8). (10) In the step of calculating the calculated tapping volume, predict the calculated tapping volume at a future time using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on past observed performance data, A blast furnace operation method according to any one of (6) to (9), wherein the step of determining the amount of the pig iron production adjustment action is to determine the amount of the pig iron production adjustment action when it is predicted that the calculated pig iron production will fall outside the target range of the pig iron production.

[0018] (11) A means for calculating the furnace heat index of a blast furnace. If the aforementioned furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, The aforementioned furnace heat index and The aforementioned Means for determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the target furnace heat range, A means for calculating the calculated amount of molten metal produced by a blast furnace. If the calculated amount of pig iron produced falls outside the target range of pig iron produced, The calculated amount of pig iron produced and The aforementioned Determine the amount of adjustment action for the amount of pig iron produced based on the target range of pig iron production. The hand Step, If the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, The furnace heat index is controlled based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount. If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of the amount of molten metal produced, Means for controlling the calculated amount of iron tapped based on the amount of iron tapped adjustment action, The calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of the amount of molten metal produced, and If the furnace heat index is within the target furnace heat range, means to control the calculated tapping amount based on the tapping amount adjustment action amount, and not to control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount. A program that makes a computer function. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, by controlling the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal tapped in relation to each other, it becomes possible to control both the furnace heat and the amount of molten metal tapped within a desired range. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a blast furnace to which the blast furnace operation method according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and the configuration of its surroundings. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing an example configuration of a blast furnace control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]This is a schematic diagram showing the functional blocks of the control unit's processor. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the processing performed by the control unit's processor at predetermined control cycles. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the changes in molten iron temperature and calculated molten iron output over time, as a result of simultaneously controlling the furnace heat index and molten iron output using the blast furnace control system according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This graph shows the root mean square error between the calculated blast furnace output and the target blast furnace output, comparing a comparative example in which the blast furnace operation method according to this embodiment was not applied, Example 1 of the present invention in which the blast furnace operation method according to this embodiment was performed by empirical control by an operator, and Example 2 of the present invention in which the blast furnace operation method according to this embodiment was performed by the blast furnace control system according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, these descriptions are intended to be merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such specific embodiments.

[0022] [Examples of blast furnace and surrounding configurations] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a blast furnace 10 to which a blast furnace operation method according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and the configuration of its surroundings. Blast furnace raw materials such as ore and coke are transported to the top charging device 14 by a charging conveyor 12 and charged into the blast furnace 10 from the top. In addition to general ore and coke, blast furnace raw materials also include auxiliary materials, such as uncalcined carbonized agglomerates and ferrocoke. General ore raw materials include types such as sintered ore, agglomerates, and pellets.

[0023] The top charging device 14 charges the blast furnace 10 with raw materials such as ore and coke, replenishing the amount that has descended, so that the height of the top surface of the charges inside the blast furnace 10 remains at a predetermined position. At this time, the raw materials and coke are charged alternately in layers inside the blast furnace 10, and this layered state is maintained as they descend inside the furnace. Air (hot air) and pulverized coal (PC), which is a coke-supplementing reducing agent, are blown in from the tuyeres 16 at the bottom of the blast furnace 10. The pulverized coal and coke are burned in this hot air, generating high-temperature gases (reducing gases) such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

[0024] The reducing gas rises as an updraft, heating the iron ore as it descends through the furnace and removing oxygen (indirect reduction). The softened molten iron oxide drips through the coke layer, coming into contact with the carbon in the coke and being further reduced (direct reduction), becoming molten iron containing slightly less than 5% carbon, which accumulates in the molten iron reservoir at the bottom of the furnace. This molten iron is removed from the taphole 18 located on the side of the furnace bottom and transported to the next steelmaking process.

[0025] [Regarding blast furnace operation actions] In the operation of blast furnace 10, it is important to control furnace thermal indicators such as molten iron temperature and direct reduction rate (solution loss carbon). Furnace thermal indicators are indicators for the stable operation of blast furnace 10, and they indicate whether the amount of heat input to blast furnace 10 and the amount of heat discharged are in succession, and whether the discharge of molten iron slag is proceeding smoothly. Examples of furnace thermal indicators include molten iron temperature, direct reduction rate (solution loss carbon), and molten iron Si (Si concentration in molten iron). In addition, a thermal balance, which is the difference between the input heat quantity and the output heat quantity to a predetermined region, can be used as a furnace thermal index. Preferably, the "heat balance above the tuyere" is used, which represents the difference between the input heat quantity, which includes the sensible heat of the hot air blown in from the tuyere 16 and the combustion heat of the carbon burning in front of the tuyere 16, and the output heat quantity, which includes the decomposition heat of the moisture blown in from the tuyere 16, the reaction heat from direct reduction reactions and solution loss reactions, and various reduction heats. The furnace heat index is controlled by adjusting tuyere conditions such as the amount of pulverized coal blown in from the tuyere 16, and the moisture content or temperature of the hot air blown from the tuyere 16. For example, if the furnace heat decreases, the amount of pulverized coal blown in is increased, the moisture content of the blown air is decreased, or the blown air temperature is increased. If a greater decrease in furnace heat occurs, the decrease in furnace heat is addressed by increasing the amount of coke charged from the top of the furnace and increasing the coke ratio. A decrease in furnace heat includes cases where the molten iron temperature decreases, the amount of direct reduction increases, or the heat balance above the tuyere decreases. In this embodiment, the operational actions for controlling the furnace heat index are referred to as "furnace heat adjustment actions," and furnace heat adjustment actions are not limited to those described above but include other known operational actions.

[0026] Furthermore, as mentioned above, in blast furnace operation, it is also important to produce molten iron at the planned tapping rate (production volume) in accordance with the control of the furnace heat index. Adjustment of the tapping rate is carried out by adjusting the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, or the amount of oxygen enrichment of the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16. For example, when the tapping rate increases, the total amount of oxygen blown in from the tuyere 16 is reduced by decreasing the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, or by decreasing the amount of oxygen enrichment of the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16. Conversely, when the tapping rate decreases, the total amount of oxygen is increased. In this embodiment, these operational actions for tapping rate control are referred to as "tapping rate adjustment actions". Here, the term "calculated tapping amount" as used herein refers to the estimated tapping amount calculated from the balance of materials charged from the top of the blast furnace and the gas components at the top of the furnace, and is calculated by the following known methods: (A) In Method A, which is based on oxygen balance, the oxygen in the iron oxide brought in by the ore raw material is reduced and removed by carbon monoxide CO generated at the blower tuyeres 16, etc., to become molten iron, and the calculated tapping amount is estimated using the gas components at the top of the furnace. (B) In Method B, which is based on charging into the furnace, the calculated tapping amount is estimated from the amount of ore charged from the top of the furnace per unit time. The method for calculating the calculated tapping amount is not particularly limited, and for example, an arbitrary weighted average of Method A and Method B can be used. Note that the tapping amount obtained by measuring the amount of molten iron tapped from the tapping port 18 is not the calculated tapping amount and is not the tapping amount targeted for control in this invention.

[0027] The furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal produced are closely related; adjusting the furnace heat changes the amount of molten metal produced, and adjusting the amount of molten metal produced changes the furnace heat index. Below, we will explain in detail, with examples, the correlation between the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal produced in these operational actions.

[0028] [Operational actions when molten iron temperature drops] If the molten iron temperature decreases, the amount of pulverized coal blown in from the tuyere 16 is increased as a furnace heat adjustment action. The amount of pulverized coal blown in is expressed as the mass of pulverized coal blown in from the tuyere 16 per unit time (1 hour). When the amount of pulverized coal blown in increases, the molten iron temperature rises.

[0029] In this case, if the amount of hot air blown from the tuyere 16 and the amount of oxygen enriched are constant, the total amount of oxygen introduced from the tuyere 16 is constant, so the amount of oxygen consumed by coke decreases by the amount of oxygen consumed by pulverized coal. As a result, coke is no longer consumed, the rate at which the coke descends (loading rate) decreases, and the rate at which the charge, including not only coke but also ore raw materials, descends also decreases. Consequently, the amount of ore raw materials that are reduced and dissolved decreases, and the amount of molten iron tapped decreases.

[0030] Therefore, when the molten iron temperature drops, in order to raise the molten iron temperature and keep the amount of molten iron tapped constant, it is necessary to take action to adjust the amount of molten iron tapped, such as increasing the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16 or increasing the amount of oxygen enriched in the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16. However, increasing the amount of air supplied or the amount of oxygen enriched will also increase the rate at which the charges in the blast furnace 10 descend, which may lead to a delay in the supply of reducing agents to the ore raw materials, and the amount of direct reduction may increase, potentially causing the molten iron temperature to drop.

[0031] Therefore, when the molten iron temperature drops, it is necessary to perform furnace heat adjustment actions and appropriate tapping rate adjustment actions to raise the molten iron temperature while suppressing a decrease in the tapping rate.

[0032] [Operational actions when the amount of direct return increases] Inside the blast furnace 10, in addition to the indirect reduction of iron ore by reducing gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen, direct reduction occurs without the use of reducing gases when molten iron comes into direct contact with coke. When the amount of this direct reduction increases, the amount of coke consumed for direct reduction increases, which increases the rate at which the charges in the blast furnace 10 descend, and as a result, the amount of molten iron tapped increases. Furthermore, since direct reduction is an endothermic reaction, when the amount of direct reduction increases, the amount of endothermic reactions inside the blast furnace 10 increases, and the heat inside the blast furnace 10 is consumed by the sensible heat of the molten iron. If this is left unchecked, the furnace temperature may drop significantly.

[0033] Therefore, as an operational action to prevent an increase in the direct reduction rate, a tapping rate adjustment action is taken to reduce the rate at which the charge descends in the blast furnace 10, i.e., the amount of molten iron tapped, or a furnace heat adjustment action is taken to increase the amount of pulverized coal blown in from the tuyere 16.

[0034] As an action to adjust the amount of molten iron produced, reducing the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, or the amount of oxygen enriched in the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, will reduce the amount of molten iron produced. In this case, the heating condition of the charge in the blast furnace 10 and the amount of indirect reduction of the iron ore will improve, resulting in a decrease in the amount of direct reduction. However, if the amount of pulverized coal injected is kept constant during operation, the oxygen consumption by coke in the area near the tuyere 16 will decrease due to the reduction in the amount of air supplied or oxygen enriched. In relation to the amount of molten iron produced, this may lead to a decrease in the reducing agent ratio and potentially result in insufficient heat.

[0035] Furthermore, if the amount of pulverized coal injected is increased as a furnace heat adjustment action to reduce the amount of direct reduction, simply increasing the amount of pulverized coal injected will cause oxygen to be consumed by the pulverized coal, reducing the amount of oxygen consumed by coke. This will decrease the rate at which the charge in the blast furnace 10 descends, i.e., the amount of molten iron tapped. In order to maintain a constant amount of molten iron tapped while increasing the amount of pulverized coal injected, it is necessary to increase the amount of hot air blown from the tuyere 16, or the amount of oxygen enrichment of the hot air blown from the tuyere 16, in addition to increasing the amount of pulverized coal injected. As a result, the reducing agent ratio increases by the amount of the increased amount of pulverized coal injected.

[0036] [Operational actions when pig iron production decreases] When the amount of molten iron produced decreases, an action is taken to adjust the amount of molten iron produced by increasing the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, or the amount of oxygen enrichment in the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, in order to maintain a constant amount of molten iron produced. If the amount of pulverized coal injected is kept constant and the amount of air supplied or oxygen enrichment is increased, the oxygen consumption by coke will increase, and the rate of descent will increase, which may increase the amount of direct reduction. Also, at this time, the coke ratio is constant, so if the amount of pulverized coal injected is kept constant and the amount of molten iron produced recovers, the reducing agent ratio will decrease, which may result in insufficient heat.

[0037] If the amount of direct reduction increases, the "operational actions when the amount of direct reduction increases" described above will be taken. If the molten iron temperature decreases, the "operational actions when the molten iron temperature decreases" described above will be taken.

[0038] When changes in furnace heat indicators or tapping volume are detected or predicted as described above, it is desirable to take appropriate action from the initial stage. For example, if tapping volume adjustment action is not taken in response to an increase in tapping volume, the heating and reduction conditions of the ore raw materials will deteriorate, resulting in insufficient reduction of iron ore and an increase in direct reduction. Furthermore, the required amount of blown air will decrease, leading to a further increase in tapping volume, and ultimately resulting in a vicious cycle of a decrease in the reducing agent ratio, a decrease in furnace heat, and an increase in direct reduction. Moreover, fluctuations in furnace heat indicators and tapping volume themselves are likely to cause phenomena such as changes in the packing structure inside the blast furnace 10 and the resulting fluctuations in gas flow, making it highly probable that operations are unstable. As a result, the position of the fusion zone formed inside the blast furnace 10 changes, leading to various adverse effects such as adverse effects on air permeability. Therefore, for example, when tapping volume increases, taking the necessary tapping volume adjustment action, such as reducing the blown air rate, at the initial stage when the tapping volume increases, which is the initial stage in which this vicious cycle occurs, can break the vicious cycle and stabilize blast furnace operations. Similarly, in response to changes in the furnace heat index, it is necessary to take appropriate action from the initial stages when changes are observed.

[0039] The inventors of this invention have conducted a detailed study of the relationship between the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal produced, and as a result have gained insight into the ability to simultaneously control the "furnace heat adjustment action" and the "molten metal production adjustment action." Based on this insight, they have conceived of a blast furnace operation that can achieve both the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal produced. According to this insight, the furnace heat adjustment action to control the furnace heat index to a target value and the molten metal production adjustment action to control the amount of molten metal produced to a target value are performed taking into consideration the interplay between the two. The operation of the blast furnace 10 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0040] [Example of a blast furnace control system configuration] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example configuration of a blast furnace control system 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, this control system 1000 is configured to include a blast furnace 10, various sensors 20, various drive devices 30, an input device 40, a display device 50, and a control device 500.

[0041] The various sensors 20 are multiple sensors installed in or around the blast furnace 10, and may include sensors for measuring the airflow rate, the amount of pulverized coal injected, a sensor for detecting the molten iron temperature, an imaging sensor for a tuyere monitoring camera installed in the tuyere nozzle 16, a sensor for detecting the top gas component, a sensor for detecting the amount of iron ore or coke charged from the top of the furnace, and the like. In addition, the various sensors 20 may include known sensors such as those disclosed in Figure 5.51 on page 158 of "The Iron and Steel Handbook, Vol. 1: Ironmaking and Steelmaking" (5th edition, 2014), edited by the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan.

[0042] The various drive devices 30 are a plurality of drive devices provided in or around the blast furnace 10, which are driven to adjust the furnace heat index or the amount of molten iron produced. Examples of drive devices 30 that control the furnace heat index include a device that adjusts the amount of pulverized coal blown in from the tuyere 16, a device that adjusts the moisture content of the hot air blown from the tuyere 16, and a device that adjusts the temperature of the hot air blown from the tuyere 16. Examples of drive devices 30 that control the amount of molten iron produced include a device that adjusts the amount of hot air blown from the tuyere 16, or the amount of oxygen enrichment of the hot air blown from the tuyere 16.

[0043] The input device 40 is, for example, a device such as an operation panel or keyboard, which is operated by an operator and inputs various information related to furnace heat indicators or production volume, such as furnace heat target value, production volume target value, and planned production volume. However, this information may also be input to the input device 40 from related equipment (not shown) without the operator's input. The display device 50 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays various information related to the blast furnace 10, such as furnace heat index and pig iron production amount. In addition, the display device 50 can display a warning as needed if any abnormality occurs in this information.

[0044] The control device 500 is a component that controls the blast furnace control system 1000 according to this embodiment, and is one embodiment of a blast furnace control device. The control device 500 has a processor 100, a memory 200, and a communication interface 300. The processor 100 has one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units) and their peripheral circuits. The processor 100 may further have other arithmetic circuits such as a logic unit, a numerical unit, or a graphics processing unit. The memory 200 includes, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory and a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk, etc., and stores data related to the processing according to this embodiment, a blast furnace mathematical model, a blast furnace prediction model from a database, etc. The communication interface 300 has an interface circuit for connecting the control device 500 to various sensors 20, various drive devices 30, input devices 40, display devices 50, etc.

[0045] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the functional blocks of the processor 100 of the control device 500. The processor 100 of the control device 500 includes an operation data acquisition unit 110, a furnace heat index calculation unit 120, a furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130, a furnace heat target value setting unit 140, a calculation tapping amount calculation unit 150, a tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit 160, a tapping target value setting unit 170, and a blast furnace control unit 180. Each of these parts of the processor 100 is a functional module realized, for example, by a computer program running on the processor 100. In other words, the functional blocks of the processor 100 consist of the processor 100 and a program (software) to make it function. The program may also be recorded in the memory 200 of the control device 500 or on an externally connected recording medium. Alternatively, each of these parts of the processor 100 may be a dedicated arithmetic circuit provided in the processor 100.

[0046] The operational data acquisition unit 110 acquires the detection values ​​of various sensors 20 as operational data for the blast furnace 10. Specifically, the operational data acquisition unit 110 acquires operational data such as molten iron temperature, top gas components, amount of iron ore or coke charged, amount of Fe in iron ore, and Fe concentration in molten iron.

[0047] The furnace heat index calculation unit 120 calculates the furnace heat index based on the operational data acquired by the operational data acquisition unit 110. The furnace heat index can be one or more indicators selected from the group including molten iron temperature, direct reduction amount, or molten iron Si, and is calculated, for example, by the following method. The furnace heat index calculation unit 120 can calculate the molten iron temperature as a furnace heat index by referring to a map or the like that defines the relationship between brightness, represented by pixel values, and the molten iron temperature, based on the image of the molten iron captured by the imaging sensor of the tuyere monitoring camera.

[0048] Furthermore, the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 can calculate the amount of direct reduction as a furnace heat index based on the amount of carbon introduced into the blast furnace 10 from the furnace top and the vent nozzles 16, and the carbon balance, such as the analytical values ​​of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the furnace top gas. The furnace heat index calculation unit 120 may also calculate the amount of direct reduction (solution loss carbon amount) using, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-65352.

[0049] Furthermore, the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 can use the operational data itself as the furnace heat index when the operational data can be used as the furnace heat index, such as when the molten iron temperature is detected by a thermocouple or when the Si concentration in the molten iron is measured by sampling.

[0050] The furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount based on the furnace heat index input from the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 and the furnace heat target value set by the furnace heat target value setting unit 140. The furnace heat target value setting unit 140 sets the furnace heat target value based on the value input from the input device 40. For example, the target range for molten iron temperature is defined by a lower limit, for example, 1480°C or higher. The target range for direct reduction amount (solution loss carbon amount) is defined by an upper limit, for example, 100 kg / t-pig or less. For example, both an upper and lower limit may be set for the furnace heat index, or the target value may be set to a single value. The furnace heat adjustment action amount is an action amount for adjusting the furnace heat index, and includes the amount of pulverized coal blown into the blast furnace 10 from the tuyere 16, or the amount of other auxiliary reducing agents (LNG, oil, etc.), tuyere tip conditions such as the moisture content and temperature of the hot air blown into the blast furnace 10 from the tuyere 16, or the ratio of coke to ore raw materials charged from the top of the furnace. The method for determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the furnace heat index and the furnace heat target value is not particularly limited, and general feedback control or feedforward control can be applied. Preferably, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on a database. Alternatively, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount using a blast furnace prediction model based on a separately defined rule-based expert system.

[0051] Here, a blast furnace mathematical model defines small regions within the blast furnace and simulates the behavior within these regions based on calculations of mass transfer, reactions, and heat transfer in the blob zones and fusion zones. It can be used to understand or predict furnace conditions from blast furnace operating conditions and raw material properties. For example, in a three-dimensional blast furnace mathematical model, multiple meshes (small regions) are defined by dividing the internal region of the blast furnace in the height, radial, and circumferential directions, and the behavior within each mesh is simulated. Alternatively, a two-dimensional blast furnace mathematical model may be used, which defines multiple meshes by dividing the internal region of the blast furnace in the height and radial directions. While various papers have been published on blast furnace mathematical models, the blast furnace mathematical model described in "Development of an Advanced Mathematical Model" by Hiroki Nishioka et al., Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Technical Report No. 410 (2018), pp. 73-79, can be suitably used. According to this blast furnace mathematical model, boundary conditions such as the composition of the raw materials charged from the top of the furnace, the radial particle size distribution, and the O / C distribution (weight ratio of ore raw materials to coke) are set, and operating conditions such as the airflow rate, airflow temperature, airflow moisture content, and pulverized coal injection rate are specified, thereby calculating the gas flow velocity distribution, gas concentration distribution, temperature distribution, reduction rate distribution of the ore raw materials, and particle size distribution of the coke within the furnace. When various furnace heat adjustment actions (the action to be adjusted and the amount of adjustment) are input into the blast furnace mathematical model, the model predicts and outputs how the operating state will change as a result of the furnace heat adjustment action. The furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 can determine the amount of a furnace heat adjustment action by using the blast furnace mathematical model to obtain multiple prediction results for multiple furnace heat adjustment actions and selecting the furnace heat adjustment action that produces the optimal prediction result.

[0052] Furthermore, a database-based blast furnace prediction model is a model that uses information from historically observed data to grasp or predict the operating state at a given time. For example, it includes the large-scale database online modeling (LOM) described by Masahiro Ito et al., "Large-Scale Database Online Modeling in Blast Furnace Operation," Iron and Steel Vol. 90 (2004), pp. 59-66. Database-based blast furnace prediction models also include models using neural networks such as RNN (Recurrent Neural Network). Similar to the blast furnace mathematical model, for example, if various furnace heat adjustment actions (the adjustment target and the adjustment amount) are input into the large-scale database online modeling (LOM), the operating state will change as a result of the furnace heat adjustment action, and this will be predicted and output based on similar past examples. The furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 can determine the amount of a furnace heat adjustment action by using the database-based blast furnace prediction model to obtain multiple prediction results for multiple furnace heat adjustment actions and selecting the furnace heat adjustment action that produces the optimal prediction result. Furthermore, as a rule-based expert system, a so-called expert system, such as those described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-270708 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-120305, which formalizes knowledge for inferring furnace heat transitions and action amounts for the blast furnace using various blast furnace data, can be suitably used. The same applies to the expert system; when various furnace heat adjustment actions (the adjustment target and the adjustment amount) are input to the expert system, the operating state will be predicted and output based on the formalized results of the furnace heat adjustment action. The furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 can determine the furnace heat adjustment action amount by using a rule-based expert system to obtain multiple prediction results for multiple furnace heat adjustment actions and selecting the furnace heat adjustment action that produces the optimal prediction result.

[0053] The calculated molten iron output unit 150 calculates the calculated molten iron output based on operational data. The calculated molten iron output is an estimated molten iron output calculated from the balance of materials charged from the top of the blast furnace 10 and the components of the top gas, and the unit is, for example, tons / day. As a method for calculating the calculated molten iron output, the calculated molten iron output unit 150 uses, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-65352, and calculates the calculated molten iron output based on the amount of Fe in the ore raw material charged from the top of the furnace to the blast furnace 10 by the top charging device 14 and the analysis results of the Fe concentration in the molten iron.

[0054] The tapping volume adjustment action amount determination unit 160 determines the tapping volume adjustment action amount based on the calculated tapping volume input from the calculated tapping volume calculation unit 150 and the tapping target value set by the tapping target value setting unit 170. The tapping target value setting unit 170 can set the tapping target value, which is a target value, based on the planned tapping volume that is predetermined and input from the input device 40. For example, the tapping target range can be set so that the difference from the planned tapping volume is within a predetermined amount (for example, ±2σ; σ is the standard deviation of the tapping volume data within a predetermined period). Alternatively, for example, the tapping target value may be set to a value of 1. The tapping rate adjustment action amount is an action amount for adjusting the tapping rate, and includes the amount of hot air supplied from the tuyere 16, or / or the amount of oxygen enrichment of the hot air supplied from the tuyere 16. More specifically, the tapping rate adjustment action amount determination unit 160, like the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130, determines the tapping rate adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model, a database, or a rule-based (expert system) blast furnace prediction model.

[0055] The blast furnace control unit 180 issues control commands to various drive devices 30 that control the furnace heat index or the amount of iron tapped, based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount and the amount of iron tapped adjustment action amount, thereby simultaneously controlling the furnace heat index and the amount of iron tapped. In this case, the blast furnace control unit 180 may take action on one control target at the same time as taking action on the other control target, or it may take action on one control target and then take action when the other control target begins to deteriorate. In other words, the blast furnace control unit 180 does not necessarily take action to adjust the furnace heat index and the amount of iron tapped at the same time. Furthermore, it may take action on the other control target not only when the other control target has deviated from the target.

[0056] [Process flow for blast furnace operation] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the processor 100 of the control device 500 at predetermined control cycles, that is, a flowchart of a blast furnace operation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. First, the operation data acquisition unit 110 acquires operation data from various sensors 20 (step S10). Next, the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 calculates the furnace heat index based on the operation data (step S12).

[0057] Next, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 compares the furnace heat index calculated by the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 with the furnace heat target value set by the furnace heat target value setting unit 140, and determines whether the furnace heat index calculated by the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 is within the range of the furnace heat target value (step S14). For example, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the furnace heat index and the furnace heat target value is less than or equal to the threshold TH1, and determines that the furnace heat index is within the range of the furnace heat target value if the absolute value of the difference between the furnace heat index and the furnace heat target value is less than or equal to the threshold TH1.

[0058] If the result of the determination in step S14 is that the furnace heat index is outside the range of the furnace heat target value, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount based on the furnace heat index calculated by the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 and the furnace heat target value set by the furnace heat target value setting unit 140. On the other hand, if the furnace heat index is within the range of the furnace heat target value in step S12, the process in step S16 is omitted, and the process proceeds to step S18.

[0059] Next, in step S18, the calculated molten metal output unit 150 calculates the calculated molten metal output based on the operational data. Then, the molten metal output adjustment action amount determination unit 160 compares the calculated molten metal output calculated by the calculated molten metal output unit 150 with the molten metal output target value set by the molten metal output target value setting unit 170, and determines whether the calculated molten metal output calculated by the calculated molten metal output unit 150 is within the range of the molten metal output target value (step S20). Specifically, the molten metal output adjustment action amount determination unit 160 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the calculated molten metal output and the molten metal output target value is less than or equal to the threshold TH2, and if the absolute value of the difference between the calculated molten metal output and the molten metal output target value is less than or equal to the threshold TH2, it determines that the calculated molten metal output is within the range of the molten metal output target value.

[0060] If the result of the determination in step S20 indicates that the calculated tapping amount is outside the range of the tapping target value, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit 160 determines the tapping amount adjustment action amount based on the calculated tapping amount calculated by the calculated tapping amount calculation unit 150 and the tapping target value set by the tapping target value setting unit 170. On the other hand, if the calculated tapping amount in step S20 is within the range of the tapping target value, the process in step S22 is omitted, and the process proceeds to step S24.

[0061] In step S24, the blast furnace control unit 180 issues control commands to the drive unit 30, which is the control target for adjusting the furnace heat index or the amount of molten metal tapped, based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount and the amount of molten metal tapped, thereby controlling the furnace heat index and the amount of molten metal tapped. After step S24, the process for this control cycle ends and the system returns to step S10 (RETURN). If the furnace heat index and / or tapping amount are not properly adjusted by the control in step S24, the process from step S10 onward is repeated to determine the furnace heat adjustment action amount and / or tapping amount adjustment action amount again. Furthermore, prior to step S24, the furnace heat adjustment action amount and the tapping amount adjustment action amount may be readjusted in consideration of each other. In addition, by predicting the operating state after the control performed in step S24, it is possible to determine in advance the optimal combination of the furnace heat adjustment action amount and the tapping amount adjustment action amount in step S24.

[0062] In the process shown in Figure 4, the desired furnace heat adjustment action is achieved by adjusting the value of the threshold TH1 in step S14. For example, if TH1 > 0, the amount of the furnace heat adjustment action is determined in step S16 and the furnace heat adjustment action is executed in step S24 when the absolute value of the difference between the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat value exceeds the threshold TH1. In this case, if the absolute value of the difference between the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat value is less than or equal to the threshold TH1, the process in step S16 is not performed, and the furnace heat adjustment action is not executed in that control cycle. Therefore, when TH1 > 0, feedback control is performed so that the absolute value of the difference between the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat value is within the threshold TH1. The value of the threshold TH1 may be, for example, twice the standard deviation σ (= 2σ) which indicates the variation from the target value.

[0063] On the other hand, if TH1=0, the amount of the furnace heat adjustment action is determined in step S16 and the furnace heat adjustment action is executed in step S24, unless the furnace heat index and the furnace heat target value match. Therefore, in this case, feedback control is performed so that the furnace heat index matches the furnace heat target value.

[0064] Similarly, the desired tapping amount adjustment action can be achieved by adjusting the value of the threshold TH2 in step S20. For example, if TH2 > 0, the tapping amount adjustment action amount is determined in step S22 and the tapping amount adjustment action is executed in step S24 when the absolute value of the difference between the calculated tapping amount and the target tapping value exceeds the threshold TH2. In this case, if the absolute value of the difference between the calculated tapping amount and the target tapping value is less than or equal to the threshold TH2, the process in step S22 is not performed, and the tapping amount adjustment action is not executed in that control cycle. Therefore, when TH2 > 0, feedback control is performed so that the absolute value of the difference between the calculated tapping amount and the target tapping value is within the threshold TH2. The value of the threshold TH2 may also be, for example, twice the standard deviation σ (= 2σ) which indicates the variation from the target value.

[0065] On the other hand, if TH2=0, unless the calculated tapping amount matches the target tapping value, the tapping amount adjustment action amount is determined in step S22, and the tapping amount adjustment action is executed in step S24. Therefore, in this case, feedback control is performed so that the planned tapping amount matches the target tapping value.

[0066] The furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 may limit the amount of furnace heat adjustment action in one control cycle to a predetermined amount or less. In this case, the blast furnace control unit 180 controls the furnace heat index by a predetermined amount for each control cycle. Similarly, the tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit 160 may limit the amount of tapping amount adjustment action in one control cycle to a predetermined amount or less. In this case, the blast furnace control unit 180 controls the calculated tapping amount by a predetermined amount for each control cycle. This makes it possible to suppress fluctuations in the ventilation state or furnace heat inside the blast furnace 10 compared to when a large action amount is used for the furnace heat adjustment action or the tapping amount adjustment action.

[0067] [Effects of the blast furnace control system according to this embodiment] Figure 5 is a time-series graph showing how the molten iron temperature and calculated molten iron output change as a result of simultaneous control of the furnace heat index and molten iron output using the blast furnace control system 1000 according to the above embodiment. The example shown in Figure 5 shows the case where both the molten iron temperature and the calculated molten iron output are controlled to target values ​​(when the thresholds TH1 and TH2 mentioned above are set to 0). The target furnace heat value (target molten iron temperature value) is 1525°C, and the target molten iron output value (planned molten iron output, shown as a molten iron output ratio in Figure 5) is 2.48 t / d / m 3 The pig production ratio is calculated by multiplying the daily pig production of the blast furnace (t / d) by the furnace volume (m³). 3 This is the value obtained by dividing by ). As shown in Figure 5, by simultaneously controlling the furnace heat (molten iron temperature, for example) and the calculated tapping rate, it was achieved that both the calculated tapping rate and the molten iron temperature could be controlled within ±2σ of the target value.

[0068] Figure 6 is a graph showing the root mean square error (RMSE) between the calculated molten iron output and the target molten iron output. From left to right in Figure 6, the graphs show: a comparative example in which the blast furnace operation method according to the above embodiment was not applied; Example 1 of the present invention in which the operator empirically controlled the furnace heat index and molten iron output using the blast furnace operation method according to the above embodiment; and Example 2 of the present invention in which feedback control was performed by the blast furnace control system 1000 according to the above embodiment. In the comparative example, the operator controlled the furnace heat based on a conventional method so that the molten iron temperature would reach the target value during blast furnace operation. By performing the blast furnace operation method according to this embodiment, it can be seen that in Example 1 and Example 2 of the present invention, the amount of iron tapped can be appropriately controlled compared to conventional blast furnace operation (comparative example) where furnace heat control was performed solely by molten iron temperature. Furthermore, by performing feedback control by the blast furnace control system 1000 according to this embodiment, it can be seen that in Example 2 of the present invention, the controllability is further improved compared to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 of the present invention.

[0069] (modified version) By using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on a database, it may be possible to predict that the furnace heat index will deviate from the target furnace heat value in the future. In other words, by predicting the furnace conditions after a predetermined time period moment by moment using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on a database, in parallel with actual furnace operation, it is possible to predict that the furnace heat index will deviate from the target furnace heat value in the future. For this reason, the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 130 may determine the furnace heat adjustment action amount based on the predicted value of the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat value when the blast furnace prediction model based on a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on a database predicts that the furnace heat index will deviate from the target furnace heat value. The predicted value of the furnace heat index is calculated by the furnace heat index calculation unit 120 using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on operational data.

[0070] Similarly, using a blast furnace mathematical model or a database-based blast furnace prediction model, it may be predicted that the calculated pig iron output will deviate from the target pig iron output value. For this reason, the pig iron output adjustment action amount determination unit 160 may determine the pig iron output adjustment action amount based on the predicted calculated pig iron output value and the target pig iron output value when the blast furnace mathematical model or database-based blast furnace prediction model predicts that the calculated pig iron output will deviate from the target pig iron output value. The predicted calculated pig iron output value is calculated by the calculated pig iron output calculation unit 150 using a blast furnace mathematical model or a database-based blast furnace prediction model based on operational data.

[0071] As described above, according to this embodiment, by controlling the furnace heat index and the calculated molten iron production amount in combination, which are closely related to each other, the furnace heat index and the molten iron production amount are simultaneously controlled to a desired target range. As a result, the height of the fusion zone formed in the blast furnace 10 is controlled to be constant, and fluctuations in the ventilation inside the blast furnace 10 are suppressed, thereby realizing stable blast furnace operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10 blast furnace 12 Loading conveyor 14 Top charging device 16 Air vent nozzles 18 Tap Nozzle 20 Various Sensors 30 Various drive devices 40 Input devices 50 Display device 100 processors 110 Operational Data Acquisition Unit 120 Furnace heat index calculation section 130 Furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit 140 Furnace Heat Target Value Setting Unit 150 Calculation pig iron production calculation section 160 Iron casting volume adjustment action amount determination unit 170 Iron casting target value setting unit 180 Blast Furnace Control Unit 200 memory 300 Communication Interfaces 500 Control Device 1000 Blast Furnace Control System

Claims

1. A furnace heat index calculation unit that calculates the furnace heat index of a blast furnace, When the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, a furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount based on the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat range, A calculation unit for calculating the calculated amount of blast furnace output, If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of molten metal produced, the molten metal produced adjustment action amount determination unit determines the amount of molten metal produced based on the calculated amount of molten metal produced and the target range of molten metal produced. A blast furnace control unit that controls the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount when the furnace heat index is outside the target furnace heat range, and controls the calculated molten metal tapping amount based on the molten metal tapping adjustment action amount when the calculated molten metal tapping amount is outside the target molten metal tapping amount range, Equipped with, A blast furnace control device wherein, when the calculated molten metal tapping amount is outside the target molten metal tapping range and the furnace heat index is within the target furnace heat range, the blast furnace control unit controls the calculated molten metal tapping amount based on the molten metal tapping amount adjustment action amount and does not control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount.

2. The blast furnace control device according to claim 1, wherein the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

3. The blast furnace control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blast furnace tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit determines the blast furnace tapping amount adjustment action amount using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

4. The furnace heat index calculation unit predicts the furnace heat index for future times using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. The blast furnace control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the furnace heat adjustment action amount determination unit determines the furnace heat adjustment action amount when the furnace heat index is predicted to fall outside the furnace heat target range.

5. The aforementioned calculated molten metal production unit predicts the calculated molten metal production at future times using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. The control device for a blast furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tapping amount adjustment action amount determination unit determines the tapping amount adjustment action amount when it is predicted that the calculated tapping amount will fall outside the target tapping amount range.

6. The steps include calculating the furnace heat index of the blast furnace, If the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, the step of determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat range, The steps include calculating the calculated amount of molten metal produced by the blast furnace, If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of molten metal produced, the steps include determining the amount of molten metal produced based on the calculated amount of molten metal produced and the target range of molten metal produced, The steps include: controlling the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount when the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, and controlling the calculated molten metal output based on the molten metal output adjustment action amount when the calculated molten metal output falls outside the target molten metal output range; Equipped with, A method for operating a blast furnace, wherein, if the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of molten metal produced and the furnace heat index is within the target range of furnace heat, the calculated amount of molten metal produced is controlled based on the amount of molten metal produced, and the furnace heat index is not controlled based on the amount of molten metal produced.

7. The method for operating a blast furnace according to claim 6, wherein in the step of determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action, the amount of furnace heat adjustment action is determined using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

8. The method for operating a blast furnace according to claim 6 or 7, wherein in the step of determining the amount of the pig iron production adjustment action, the amount of the pig iron production adjustment action is determined using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed performance data.

9. In the step of calculating the furnace heat index, the furnace heat index for future times is predicted using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. The method for operating a blast furnace according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein in the step of determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action, the amount of furnace heat adjustment action is determined when it is predicted that the furnace heat index will fall outside the target range of furnace heat.

10. In the step of calculating the calculated molten iron output, the calculated molten iron output at future times is predicted using a blast furnace mathematical model or a blast furnace prediction model based on historically observed data. A method for operating a blast furnace according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein in the step of determining the amount of the molten metal tapping adjustment action, the amount of the molten metal tapping adjustment action is determined when it is predicted that the calculated molten metal tapping will fall outside the target range of the molten metal tapping.

11. A means for calculating the furnace heat index of a blast furnace. If the furnace heat index falls outside the target furnace heat range, means for determining the amount of furnace heat adjustment action based on the furnace heat index and the target furnace heat range, A means for calculating the calculated amount of molten metal produced by a blast furnace. If the calculated amount of molten metal produced falls outside the target range of molten metal produced, means for determining the amount of molten metal produced based on the calculated amount of molten metal produced and the target range of molten metal produced. A means for controlling the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount when the furnace heat index is outside the target furnace heat range, and for controlling the calculated molten metal output based on the molten metal output adjustment action amount when the calculated molten metal output is outside the target molten metal output range. If the calculated tapping amount falls outside the target tapping amount range and the furnace heat index is within the target furnace heat range, means to control the calculated tapping amount based on the tapping amount adjustment action amount and not control the furnace heat index based on the furnace heat adjustment action amount. A program that makes a computer function.

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