AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship
Brooke L. Clark
This summer I had the opportunity to intern for the second summer at United States Steel Corporation Fairfield Tubular Steelmaking Operation (FTSO) in Fairfield, Ala., USA, where I worked under the guidance of Rudolf Moravec. At FTSO, steel is melted, refined and cast into blooms for seamless pipe. My focus this summer was on continuous casting, where I gained valuable hands-on experience in one of the most critical stages of steel production.
Safety was the foundation of every task I took on. With safety it is important you’re wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), remaining alert of your environment, and staying hydrated while working in the heat. A focus on safety not only ensured my well-being, but also reinforced disciple needed to work effectively in a steelmaking environment.
My main project during my internship was studying the relationship between submerged entry nozzle (SENs) and heat transfer. At the end of each casting sequence, I would measure the submergence indentations on the SENs, record number of heats, grade of steel, tundish number, along with speed (inches per minute) and average heat transfer. With this data I ran three trials using the VUHZ system to support my findings that heat transfer increases with mold level.
While SENs wear analysis and heat transfer was my primary focus, I expanded my knowledge in several other areas as well. I spent time at the ladle metallurgical furnace to observe refining operations and desirable slag characteristics, trialed a new mold powder at the castor, learned more about causes and prevention of breakouts, and measured tundish slag during casting. These experiences gave me a broader understanding of how each step in the steel making process influences final product quality.
I am grateful for my time at FTSO and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while working alongside skilled colleagues. As I enter my senior year, I look forward to graduating and am eager to return to the steelmaking industry to continue obtaining new knowledge, growing in the field I love, and contributing to its future.