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By Daniel Augusto Godinho de Carvalho

At thyssenkruppCSA, a positive heat balance at BOF process is faced, mainly because of low utilization of scrap and plant design. A singular logistic concept for hot metal transport between blast furnace and steel plant was established to optimize transportation and energy balance. Up to 80 kg of iron ore pellets/t steel is necessary for 340t BOF heat balance. In order to accomplish this challenge a stable blowing process, intensive operational development have been successfully executed: slopping rate reduction of 80% achieved without changing the blowing time. This paper describes steps and results of this development.

Oct 30, 2017

By Božidar Šarler, Umut Hanoglu

A rolling simulation system has been developed to calculate the macroscopic rate of deformation, stress, strain, and temperature fields by using a novel meshless method. The model is based on two-dimensional traveling slice assumption. The slices are aligned towards the rolling direction. The initial size of the billet, bloom or slab and the geometry of the grooves at each rolling stand, the distances between the rolling stands, and continuous or reverse rolling can be arbitrarily considered. The purpose of this paper is to complement these development by predicting and visualizing also the grain size of steel over the strand cross-section for each position in the rolling mill. The grain size models have been in one-way coupled to the macroscopic calculations. First the critical strain for dynamic recrystallization is being checked. If the calculated strain is higher than that, considering also the time for meta-dynamic recrystallization, dynamic or meta-dynamic grain size calculations are carried out. If the strain is too low then only the static recrystallization is considered together with its required time. Finally, austenite grain size and ferrite grain size are calculated respectively as the steel cools down. The listed physical models are based on collection of empirical relations found in literature. The user of the system is free to choose or create the model he wants with his own parameters. The simulation system has been coded as a user friendly computer application for an industrial use based on C# and .NET framework and runs on regular PCs. The computational time for a rolling simulation is usually less than one hour and can thus be straightforwardly used for optimization of the rolling mill design in a reasonable time.

Oct 1, 2019

By Fabio Da Costa Garcia Filho

Durante os processos de beneficiamento de alumina, no processo Bayer, é gerado um resíduo insolúvel denominado lama vermelha. A incorporação de resíduos industriais em cerâmica vem sendo utilizada atualmente na busca de matérias-primas alternativas, e também buscando uma destinação ambientalmente correta aos resíduos que poluem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi utilizar planejamento experimental para estudar a absorção de água em cerâmica incorporada com lama vermelha. Foram tomados pontos experimentais, cujos teores dos materiais utilizados variaram de 0 a 100%, e as formulações queimadas a 950°C. A argila verde e as misturas contendo maiores percentuais da mesma apresentaram menores valores de absorção de água e retração linear de queima. O modelo matemático que mais se ajustou foi o cúbico especial. Os resultados obtidos no planejamento de misturas mostram que para as três regiões experimentais propostas, o modelo cúbico especial foi o que mais se ajustou aos resultados reais, e que este é estatisticamente o melhor modelo matemático e deve ser usado para avaliar a absorção de água.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jorge Madias

Los hornos eléctricos de arco han sido motivo de una aplicación dinámica de nuevas tecnologías en lo que va de este siglo. La preparación de la chatarra y el uso de materiales de carga alternativos han dado lugar a la concepción de nuevos equipamientos y experiencias en todo el mundo. Surgen nuevos conceptos para el precalentamiento de la chatarra, superando las limitaciones de mantenimiento y ambientales de los conceptos iniciales y mejorando su performance energética. El aporte de energía química para la fusión supera sus límites año a año, requiriendo el desarrollo de equipamiento capaz de una acción rápida y precisa con grandes caudales de gases y sólidos inyectados. Existen nuevas herramientas para eliminar los riesgos de seguridad en la plataforma del horno, haciendo uso de sistemas de enfriamiento más seguros y duraderos, robots, automación de la operación del agujero de colado, y puertas de escoria controladas desde el púlpito.

Aug 17, 2017

By Michael Brandner

HSM can be divided into different groups such as Conventional HSM with Roughing stands and HSM without Roughing stands = Mills with just finishing stands. The roll requirements for different stands are quite different. In Roughing stands the temperature of the slab is very high. Therefore the resistance against thermal wear/fatigue is the most dominating factor. Today mostly Chrome Steel, Semi HSS and HSS rolls are applied. A comparison and evaluation of such rolls will be described. In the finishing mill the tendency/wish is to use HSS rolls in all the stands. The grade HSS is defined by at least a certain amount of carbide forming elements such as V, W, Mo, Nb etc. The matrix and other precipitations can be adjusted according to the need and situation in the mill. In the pre-finishing stands the HSS is already well introduced. In the last finishing stands the original HSS tended to stick and the cobble rate increased. New development decreased the problem and gave some very promising results. In the last finishing stands beside the high performance a higher resistance against incidents is needed. Solutions in this direction including e.g. residual stresses and special core material will be discussed. Proper testing and grinding procedures can avoid losses and reduce the TCO. Data sourcing and evaluation in regards of rolling and grinding is the key for the optimization of the TCO. Several examples and comparison between different applications will be given in detail and explained. Future possibilities will be discussed as well as results of latest trials in mills.

Aug 17, 2017

By Cristina Escudero Martinez

The purpose of the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) is to refine the hot metal produced in the blast furnace into raw liquid steel, which may be subsequently refined in the secondary steelmaking shop. Appropriated fluxes for the BOF could require low melting point to reduce the energy consumption, to reduce the energy to fluidity the slag at lower temperature and to melt at lower temperature than steel. It is necessary a good Tumble test result and the fluxes do not generate fines which could obstruct the blowing plugs, so we would have a homogeneous flux. A homogeneous chemistry that allows to control the basicity (Si and MgO levels) and a high absorption characteristics to combine the flux with P, S, Si, etc. are necessary. PASEK Dunite is an ultramaphic rock exploited in the north of Spain with a basic chemical classification being olivine and serpentine its principal minerals. It is formed by orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and olivine in variable proportion. Dunite is a very homogeneous and hard stone. The main characteristics are: High hot and cold resistance to mechanical stress (shatter / crushing / abrasion), softening and melting points of a flux, not a refractory material, large porosity which is increased more than 20% when dunite is heated at BOF process temperature, and high absorption level, and stable components with low melting points. PASEK Dunite is a good flux in BOF process and its use is recommended if the BOF process produces pig iron with low Si content, generates high levels of slag and it is necessary maintaining the basicity index and the MgO amount and with high value of hot metal ratio (high amount of phosphorus to remove).

Aug 16, 2017

By Alberto Tremea

In this period a great attention is put on roll cost and the differences in roll behavior in very few situations move the existing balances. Among many variables that are taken into account to evaluate the roll there is the consumption which is normally calculated according to the tonnage rolled. In this work there is a review of some approaches that are used to evaluate the roll efficiency together a description of a new method to make this. The main purpose of this calculation method is to help the comparison of roll results used in different mills. There is the need to have a clear and univocal reference when it’s time to think about innovative products. At now there are available roll grades with excellent technological properties but it’s necessary to have the right tools for a careful evaluation of roll behavior to take a good decision.

Jul 30, 2018

By Davide Onesti

Electrode regulation is the technology at the heart of the AC and DC Electric Arc Furnace. As such, in the last decade it underwent continuous improvement to maximize the EAF performances, in terms of process efficiency, machine utilization and operator safety. Given this background, Danieli Automation’s efforts in the field of electrode regulation have been focused on fast response to scrap cave-in, compensation of supply variations, automatic resonance detection, transformer protection, dynamic regulation of the electrical and chemical set-points, coordination and control of slagging and foaming agents, arc irradiance supervision. An extensive analysis of operator utilization and feedback was also carried out to develop an innovative system HMI. In this field, the choice of the variables shown to the user is the key aspect to allow a prompt process evaluation by the operator, who can refer to a condensed set of useful data. This paper will describe the innovative features and embedded models of the electrode regulation module (Q-REG+) and the supervision HMI, together with the effects of their application on EAF process efficiency and system usability.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jean-François Stumper, Mario Moser, Mark Kruessmann, Volker Langer, Daniel Bastos Martins Cruz, Claude Meisch

The latest generation of probes and casthouse machines provide a wealth of data that has not been available a few years ago. The evaluation of this data gives direct feedback to improve the blast furnace efficiency, the equipment maintenance and design and it allows the early detection of critical or deviating process situations. A stable operation with lower operation and maintenance costs are the final customer benefits.

Oct 1, 2019

By Richard Harvey, Robert Paul Mawer

In recent times there has been an increase in the demand from Steel plants for a technology that offers the most economical environmentally sustainable solution. In terms of blast furnace off gas cleaning this has seen a drive towards Cyclone technology replacing the older Dustcatchers. Cyclone technology can achieve dust removal efficiencies as high as 95% increasing the dust yield at the primary stage of gas cleaning. The dry dust (rich in Fe and C) can then be recycled to the Sinter Plant or Blast Furnace. Capture of dust at this stage also has the benefit that sludge generation from the secondary stage is also reduced meaning less waste to landfill and / or recovery of some of the by-products for further use. Primetals Technologies already offer a state of the art Tri-Axial Cyclone installed on many sites world-wide, however, this paper focuses on a hybrid of this technology, the DustClone. The DustClone is a low CAPEX unit that is essentially a Cyclone housed inside the Dustcatcher. This unit is aimed at operators who may be carrying out smaller scaled shutdowns / repairs that normally have a reduced CAPEX. This paper describes the technology that Primetals Technologies have developed.

Oct 1, 2019

By Andreas Cestonaro

Roll grade evolution in plate mill applications is traditionally following the development in hot strip mills. New grades normally find their way into service only after being successfully implemented in hot strip production. The majority of the plate mills worldwide are using work roll grades that have been invented before the 1980’s. But today the demands in the mills are pushed by sophisticated product mixes and longer rolling campaigns. The result of this development is a higher wear rate on the work rolls and as a consequence roll hardness is increased and advanced roll materials are used. The backup rolls are also affected by this. The wear rate is higher and the mechanical impact in terms of contact pressure and work hardening is increasing. This paper outlines the results of the roll grade development at Gontermann-Peipers and introduces new materials for work and backup rolls for plate mills.

Jul 30, 2018

By Moisés Paulo Teixeira

The use of tailings for the synthesis of new materials is a worldwide concern today. This paper approaches the utilization of tailings of soapstone (steatite) in order to produce ceramics. The results show that the addition of soapstone in a ratio over 20% in the ceramic mass has enhanced the bending resistance of the ceramic samples when they were fired at temperatures of 900°C or 1000°C.

Oct 30, 2017

By Alain Denis, Marcelo Curtes Martins, Jeferson Rocio de Oliveira

In this work we present a study of optimization of a new inhibitor for turbulence pickling line. The efficiency of inhibition was measured and the weight of loss was evaluated in four different materials to optimize the dosage of the inhibitor. In seven months we had 8.7% of reduction in pickling losses.

Oct 1, 2019

By Ronie Magno Pinheiro de Souza

A partir do segundo semestre de 2013, iniciou-se um período de maior dispêndio energético para o controle da resistência à compressão da pelota AFXX. A este problema somou-se o desafio de atingir elevados patamares de produção e chegar à produção nominal da usina. Desta forma, foi necessário fazer a partir de um complexo diagnóstico de todas as etapas do processo para encontrar a causa do problema e determinar a melhor forma de contorná-lo. Observou-se uma elevada geração de superfície específica granular somada à dificuldade de obter granulometria (-325#) na moagem, além da elevação da umidade do filter cake. Além disso, observou-se uma considerável elevação do PPC (perda por calcinação) no período, o que explica as constatações anteriores. Os objetivos do trabalho são avaliar os efeitos do aumento do PPC no pellet feed na produção da pelota AFXX e buscar explicação para a queda da resistência à compressão.

Aug 1, 2018

By Jeremy Fletcher

In today’s world, the requirement of Steel Producers to revamp and modernize their blast furnaces on-time, safely and with the latest technology is paramount. In addition they must meet the detailed design, construction and safety legislation and regulations, which can be different for the various countries around the world. Siemens MT is renowned for its ability to perform Blast Furnace rebuilds, relines and modernisations within extremely tight time frames and in a safe manner. Modular Blast Furnace construction concepts have been perfected to minimise project duration and plant downtime for furnace rebuilds. Safety and certainty are the keys for success. Siemens MT are constantly introducing new technologies into the market place including cyclone gas cleaning and triple external cone gas scrubber, along with step changes in technology such as dry gas cleaning and dry slag granulation. The economic environment and the continuing requirement for improved environmental performance, drive many of these innovations. This paper describes some of the latest rebuild reference projects of Siemens MT, along with the latest technical innovations installed on these furnaces, and some of the construction methodology used for a safe and secure rebuild.

Aug 1, 2018

By Thorsten Müller

In order to increase the production of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) as well as to fulfill the growing expectations of various industries served, steelmakers must have wide- ranging know-how in terms of plant technology, operation, processes, quality control and, last but not least, know-how for AHSS including certification procedures. MET/Con is highly focused on the production of coated AHSS with tensile strengths higher than 600 MPa. Common heating and cooling technologies are unable to handle high alloyed steel grades – pre-oxidation and rapid cooling technologies have been developed to face these new challenges. MET/CON and Drever International have the knowledge to produce newest steel grades with these technologies.

Jul 30, 2018

By Alberto Eloy Anduze Nogueira

A pelotização é o método de aglomeração de minério que oferece o melhor custo benefício. No processo, é necessária a adição de um aglomerante para conseguir as propriedades desejadas. Entre estes, o cimento é um dos destaques pela facilidade e custo. A adição de pozolânicos no concreto na construção civil para o aumento da resistência é de longa data. Neste trabalho, se estuda o efeito da adição de 1% de SiO2 ou bentonita na mistura das pelotas autorredutoras. Realizam-se ensaios de compressão a frio, compressão após tratamento térmico 950°C, Teste de abrasão a quente, teste de quedas, além de difração de raios-X. Como resultados obteve-se um incremento da resistência a compressão a frio e a abrasão a quente com a adição da bentonita, porém com ambos pozolânicos tem-se uma perda de 50% na resistência a compressão após tratamento térmico a 950°C.

Aug 1, 2018

By Rainer Hüsken

Over the last decades long BOF campaign lives have successfully been established due to improved quality of the refractory material and due to intensive use of slag splashing. On the other hand, steelmakers are more and more faced with elevated phosphorous contents in the hot metal. This phenomenon is a global tendency caused by the increasing pressure to utilize cheaper iron ore sources. In India, iron ore sources have traditionally elevated phosphorous contents. The phosphorous removal challenge calls for using bottom stirring at the BOF converters, as these combined technology of top oxygen blowing and inert gas stirring through the bottom, helps significantly to improve bath mixing and thus in shifting the process towards the optimum metallurgical equilibrium conditions. All this is common knowledge and daily business in the steelmaking shops all over world. Unfortunately, focusing on a long BOF refractory campaign by means of slag splashing and maintaining optimum conditions for high efficient bottom stirring are naturally conflictive aims. Applying slag splashing causes unavoidable bottom built-up which in turn covers or even blocks the bottom tuyeres. Most of the steelmaking shops today are either operating slag splashing without bottom stirring or bottom stirring without slag splashing. Some are trying slag splashing with bottom stirring but mostly only for a certain short period of the whole campaign. Baoshan Meishan Steel is an integrated steel plant, located in Nanjing (China). The plant is operating two BOF shops (3x 150t and 2x 250t), producing various steel grades. Because of the iron ore source used, the hot metal phosphorous content is rather high with up to 2,000 ppm. In order to achieve low phosphorous contents in the molten steel below 200 ppm, Meishan uses the TBM (Thyssen Bottom Metallurgy) bottom stirring technology in both of their steel plants, successfully applying slag splashing and efficient bottom stirring for campaigns up to 10,000 heats. This paper describes the operation procedures, strategies, and the maintenance concept established at Meishan Steel which is suitable to meet both conflicting targets at the same time.

Jul 30, 2018

By Alessandro Martinis

The performance requirements for modern steelmaking facilities are ever more stringent, as customers and markets are continuously pushing for technologies which allow having high quality steel produced in an economic and sustainable way. In the details, this paper has the aim to present the excellent results obtained by integrated steel plant where an EAF is fed with high quality hot ENERGIRON DRI. The recent technology developments, combined with the affirmed basic process design, contributed to further maximize the energy of the DRI, reaching the EAF at temperatures above 600°C with a carbon content up to 3.5%, as confirmed by plant data. These improved input material characteristics resulted in reduced electrical energy consumption and increased liquid steel production.

Aug 16, 2017

By Gerhard Finstermann, Ichiro Maeno, Takehiko Saito, Hironori Shimogama, Konrad Krimpelstätter

Automobile manufacturers are developing Electrified Vehicles with light steel body structure designs that reduce mass and therefore greenhouse gas emissions over the vehicle’s entire life cycle. This raises the demand for the production and development of Advanced and Ultra High-Strength Steels (AHSS / UHSS) and Electrical Steels with increased permeability and reduced core loss to improve energy conversion efficiency. To meet this requirements the steel market is tending towards new generations of AHSS with improved formability (3rd generation AHSS) and high-silicon steels with higher strength and thinner products. With this growing demand for advanced high-strength steels and electrical steels, producers are faced with a unique and interesting challenge in producing materials that strain or exceed the capabilities of existing mill equipment and automation designed to produce low- to medium-carbon sheet. While specialty steel producers have known for decades how to process special high-strength steels and thinner gauges, this equipment typically does not offer the yield and productivity desired by the market, necessitating innovation in re-engineering existing equipment to meet the market demands more economically than new construction. In the case of cold rolling, this can be supported through variable roll geometries, more effective roll-gap lubrication technologies, application of strip heaters (Warm Rolling) to reduce risk for edge crack propagation and strip breaks as well as continuous rolling managed by state-of-the-art automation technologies.

Oct 1, 2019