*4.1. Simulation Speed*

The EAF model runs simulations significantly faster than the real process times—the process taking roughly one hour per heat in reality can be simulated in less than a minute using a tabletop computer (3.4 GHz, 4 core central processing unit, 32 GB random-access-memory). In order to allow the user to make inputs and evaluate the current results, the simulation has to be slowed down. Therefore, the simulation is paused after each second of simulated process time, the user interface is updated, and values changed by the user after the previous update are returned to the process model. The duration of the pause depends on the actual speed of the simulation and the desired speed set by the user. If the simulation is progressing slower than the desired simulation rate, the pause is set to the smallest possible value that allows the user interface to be updated. Otherwise, the pause is held long enough to allow the simulation to synchronize with the desired simulation rate. The simulation speed can be adjusted by the user during the simulation.
