A web-based simulator for understanding metallurgical furnaces

The engine of the simulator is based on a metamodel obtained by applying partial least square regression to a database holding the results of hundreds of finite element method (FEM) simulations of the conditions within the furnace. Thus, the metamodel acts as a surrogate for the FEM model and keeps the applicability and predictive capabilities as the original model, while being computationally lightweight and suited for real time application. 

The original physics-based FEM model is based on a realistic 3D representation of a large furnace for the production of silicon where the electric power is provided by a three-phase alternating current with electrodes arranged in an equilateral triangle.

Presented by Manuel Sparta, Senior Researcher, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre.