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By Mingyu Ma, Lingling Liu, Liqing Chen, Houlong Liu

In this article, a 444-type heat-resistant ferritic stainless steel containing 0.05wt% Ce and 2wt% (Mo+W) was used as an experimental material and a study was carried out on the effect of rolling processes on the microstructures and texture evolution as well as on the mechanical properties and formability. The rolling processes contain hot rolling at different hot rolling finish temperatures, annealing after hot rolling, cold rolling and subsequent annealing. As for the hot rolling process, two hot rolling finish temperatures, 860 C and 770 C, were adopted, and their influence on the microstructures and mechanical properties was comparatively studied. The results showed that the microstructures after hot rolling and subsequent annealing could be refined by lowering the hot rolling finish temperature. The resultant microstructures after cold rolling and annealing were hereditarily refined. Lowering the hot rolling finish temperature can weaken the -fiber texture in hot rolled or cold rolled ferritic stainless steel strip. However, the -fiber texture was homogeneously strengthened by annealing the cold rolled ferritic stainless steel strip. Enhanced mechanical property and formability in terms of strength and average plastic strain ratio could be obtained by lowering the hot rolling finish temperature of ferritic stainless steel.

Oct 1, 2019

By Armando Vazquez Arredondo

Tenova Goodfellow Inc. has successfully installed the proprietary EFSOP® (Expert Furnace System Optimization Process) system in over 80 installations worldwide. For over 15 years, the EFSOP® System has successfully achieved its main objective of improving performance and operating costs through the reduction of electricity, oxygen, methane, injected and charge carbon use. Using the off-gas information provided by the EFSOP® System, Tenova Goodfellow Inc. has now developed a solution for detecting abnormal water events within the EAF steelmaking process. When water form enters the EAF, it immediately forms into water vapor (H2Ogas) and a proportion of the resulting water vapour will further react and dissociate to H2. Effective water detection technology must be capable of detecting BOTH forms of water; H2Ogas & H2. Tenova Goodfellow has the technology to measure in real time and simultaneously H2Ogas & H2. This paper will provide a summary on how the EFSOP Water Detection Technology® is used during the EAF operation. Details regarding the technology, software, alarm rate and information on sensibility water trial tests will be provided within this paper.

Aug 16, 2017

By Delio Amorim

Industry 4.0 concepts is the new biggest challenge on the industry nowadays and every company in every industry in every part of the globe is looking to implement this somehow on their factories and machines. To do that on the newest long rolling mills, that brings already onboard state-of-the-art technologies, is for sure a challenge of machinery builder industry, but how to become the long rolling mills built on 70’s, 80’s or 90’s part of this innovation process and connected to the new trends? This is the main mission here, to show some examples of applications that goes in this direction.

Oct 1, 2019

By Gerd Weyand

Gontermann-Peipers GmbH (GP) Germany developed a new, high alloyed steel grade for the manufacturing of back-up rolls. The advanced GP double pour casting processes provide highest flexibility in being quite open in rolls work layer chemistry and hence microstructure with no influence on core respectively neck properties. GP took the process advantage to provide a brand new back-up roll grade with remarkably reduced roll wear while operating with textured work rolls. In the meantime several successful trials have been made with this new roll grade on different Skin Pass Mills. As a result the performance of back-up roll and thus availability of mill will be improved while specific costs for mill will drop. This quite new back-up roll grade has recently been launched. As next step increasing the field of applications is under progress.

Aug 17, 2017

By Manfred Hackl, Sergey Bragin, Alois Seilinger

The demand for hot rolled strip is growing in multiple ways. To remain competitive, new and existing mills must meet arisen challenges in the best possible way. The production of hot strip is a key element of steel production. Since close to half of all steel produced is hot-rolled to strip, mills require maximum throughput and availability combined with geometrical precision and the ability to create optimum material properties. Today there is a clear trend in developing new steel grades with high-strength and improved formability, like 3rd generation AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steels), as well as a trend to produce thinner and wider gauges. This trend challenges hot strip mills because it requires new technologies which provide more flexibility in metallurgical treatment during the rolling process. In order to meet and promote these trends Primetals Technologies is currently working on different concepts and solutions. One example is the development of a new mill stand technology Flex-HI HOT which allows to adapt the last finishing mill stands by efficiently switching from 4-high to a 6-high mode with small work roll diameter based on production needs. Another solution is to apply a permanent 6-high rolling stand at the end of the finishing train. A smaller work roll diameter allows to achieve higher specific thickness reductions and deformation rates resulting in significant thinner hot-strip gauges with valuable metallurgical benefits. The developed solution concepts with technological and metallurgical benefits will be presented in this paper.

Oct 1, 2019

By Lorena Cristina Amorim Moura

As coquerias enfrentam um grande problema que é a oxidação do carvão. Este fenômeno as afeta diretamente, pois deterioram as propriedades coqueificante do material, impactando na síntese do coque metalúrgico. Portanto, gerando perda de valor econômico, uma vez que as propriedades coqueificantes são fatores que determinam a atratividade e o custo do carvão. Sendo assim, torna-se necessário o uso de medidas para retardar o efeito da oxidação, garantindo a menor perda possível, desde a extração do carvão mineral da mina, até o carregamento nos fornos de coqueificação. Neste estudo em particular, definiu-se uma equação para previsão do decaimento de fluidez, que é a principal propriedade afetada pela oxidação, e matéria volátil de carvões em pilhas a céu aberto. Foi também desenvolvido o estudo do efeito da aspersão de uma camada polimérica para minimizar os decaimentos de fluidez e matéria volátil.

Oct 30, 2017

By Afshin Sadri

One of the main reasons for blast furnace reline is the loss of refractory lining, particularly in the hearth and taphole regions. Intense operation of the blast furnace can result in extensive refractory wear and deterioration. This can then affect the continuity of the operation and the furnace campaign life. Novo-Lipetsk (NLMK) and Hatch developed a systematic approach to monitor the condition of blast furnace hearth linings using Acousto Ultrasonic-Echo (AU-E), a non-destructive testing system developed by Hatch. Continuous and periodic inspections of blast furnaces revealed areas with accelerated refractory deterioration, formation of elephant foot, extent and speed of refractory wear, as well as cracks and other anomalies. Improvement in coke quality, stave washing, the addition of titania, and other changes were recommended and implemented to prolong furnace life while maintaining the intensity of furnace operation. This paper demonstrates how the coordinated efforts between NLMK and Hatch resulted in prolonging the blast furnace campaign life.

Aug 17, 2017

By Alex Maia do Nascimento

A capacidade de um determinado aço suportar as deformações ocorridas durante laminação sem fraturas ou trincas severas é denominada de ductilidade a quente, que é função de diversos parâmetros de processo dentre os quais: qualidade do tarugo, tipo de corte, ciclo térmico, temperatura de processo, layout do laminador, calibração, taxa de deformação e composição química. Diversos trabalhos abordam a ductilidade a quente enfatizando a influência isolada de uma variável como critério de qualidade como as conhecidas relações Mn/S e Ni/Cu através da determinação de valores mínimos. A globalização tem sido responsável pela crescente competitividade entre as siderúrgicas que, para se manterem competitivas no mercado, têm que buscar inovações, quebras de paradigmas, estratégias ousadas e assumir riscos. No presente trabalho realizou-se uma avaliação de risco com base no princípio ALARP (As Low As Reasonable Practical) através da análise conjunta das principais variáveis de processo responsáveis pela perda de ductilidade a quente de um aço utilizado para produção de barras de aço CA-50, objetivando-se uma solução otimizada de menor custo garantindo a competitividade e sustentabilidade da cadeia produtiva.

Aug 17, 2017

By Wujian jun

In the process of wire rod production, the rolled wire products must be cooled from the red-hot state to the normal temperature state. How to cool the wire rod after rolling is one of the key links of product quality control in the whole wire rod production process. In this paper, combined with the closed-loop transformation project of controlled cooling temperature of Xuanhuan iron and steel group co., LTD., the closed-loop related controlled cooling equipment (including water cooler, valve table, etc.), nozzle layout and process layout of water tank, and closed-loop software control system of controlled cooling temperature of high-line are analyzed and designed. Closed-loop system design USES temperature of cooling water cooling and water cooling two temperature closed loop regulating circuit, through temperature feedback and feedforward to achieve the uniformity of temperature adjustment, in order to prevent occur due to temperature closed loop control function with the phenomenon of a steel before and after the temperature difference is bigger, system Settings have "absolute temperature regulation" and "relative temperature regulation" selection mode. The system has a self-learning mode, which can modify the temperature feed forward formula. In addition, this paper takes the hard wire 82B rod as the test object, and studies the process parameters and the comprehensive mechanical properties of the rod before and after the water cooling system reform. The research results show that the temperature closed loop system, can ensure the rolled piece temperature control precision of plus or minus 10℃, enhances the stability of wire rod cleaner performance. It can reduce water consumption by about 186m3/h and improve the utilization rate of cooling water.

Oct 1, 2019

In today’s competitive steelmaking environment, the optimization and continuous supervision of the blast furnace process is of major importance. Modern probes and process measurement systems can assess the specific operation of the blast furnace. They provide a better and detailed process understanding and control. The benefits are even more important when they are combined with process models and expert systems. Everyday operation, productivity and even the lifetime of a blast furnace can be significantly improved by collecting, interpreting and acting upon such process data correctly. Only a comprehensive knowledge of the various process phenomena together with measurement of process variables inside the blast furnace enables the operators to optimize coke and fuel rates, to run the blast furnace smooth, reliable, and safe, and to make best use of the available raw materials. While the improvement of the blast furnace process with respect to productivity remains the main task, also, the timely identification of abnormalities and the assessment of process variations is an objective. This paper describes the blast furnace measurement systems that are available for everyday automatic use and provides an understanding for the possibilities of modern probes. The different applications are daily blast furnace supervision, charging process optimization, and observation of the internal state. Finally, the paper gives recommendations on probe configurations for different blast furnaces sizes, considering both a technical and an economical point of view.

Aug 2, 2018

By Alessandro Marques

Based on a short overview regarding steel defects in the final product, several refractory approaches to maintain or increase steel cleanliness are reviewed in this publication. By applying a ladle to mold approach, one potential to maintain cleanliness is to reduce the probability of air ingress by selection of a suitable slide gate system. Following this path, also the influence of a special configured impact pot is presented to maintain steel quality. Finally, higher productivity as well as cleanliness can be provided by selection of PROIL as a revolutionary product at the casting machine.

Oct 30, 2017

By Roman Vaynshteyn

In places where Blast Furnaces are usually located, climatic factors may be unfavorable. Raw materials may be exposed to e.g. rain during transport/storage, bringing moisture into the process with consequences for stability and hot metal cost. This paper describes a technology for drying and pre-heating pellets and coke in the stockhouse. It does not require additional handling or logistical equipment and does not introduce extra transfer steps and degradation. Not only can moisture content be reduced, it can be controlled to a stable level by the operator.

Aug 16, 2017

By Henry Chumienski

Next to the paper industry, the steel industry is a major user of water. Without an adequate and reliable source of “good” water, steel cannot be produced. The use of water has a direct impact on steel quality and on our environment. Used improperly, water can also add unnecessary costs. Used properly, water can maintain and improve steel quality, enhance our environment and control or reduce the “total cost of operation”. Water needs to be more than just “wet and not lumpy”. Water quality needs to be based on the end use. This paper discusses ways to manage many of the water systems. With little or no capital investment it is possible to develop operating practices that protect your initial investment, ensure that the water systems do not have a negative impact on quality or your production costs and also minimize your chance of having an environmental incident.

Jul 30, 2018

By Bart de Graaff, Victor van Straaten, Edo Engel

The hot blast system is key ancillary plant equipment with respect to safe and stable operations during a long blast furnace campaign. Hot blast stove designs have been optimized to such an extent that in some cases, their lifetimes have surpassed the campaign lengths of the associated blast furnaces by a substantial margin, with the exception of the burner and a few critical areas. This article presents recent developments with respect to designing, building new and operating existing hot blast systems for a long lifetime and at optimized performance. These developments include fundamental improvements such as dome combustion designs as well as increasingly comprehensive packages for inspection, assessment and maintenance techniques. Examples of such techniques are burner replacement with the hot blast system at operating temperature, improved double shell approaches and TOFD measurement applications.

Oct 1, 2019

By Edo Engel

Blast furnace No. 3 at Zaporizhstal in Zaporozhye is rebuilt in 2016-2017. The Ukrainian company is targeting increased production and availability, mainly through the use of new technology. Zaporizhstal awarded a contract for a new Top Charging Unit to Danieli Corus, after comparing all available technologies. Reliability of the chosen charging device is pivotal, since long outages may be required for maintenance/replacement jobs, which strongly affects the availability of the blast furnace. This article describes the Top Charging Unit including DANCU (Danieli Charging Unit) - a robust hydraulic system. The main focus employed by Danieli and Danieli Corus during the development of this system has been availability and maintainability of equipment. This chute type charging unit has only few major moving parts, none of which is complex or vulnerable. The article also describes the main challenges of the project at Zaporizhstal, such as the use of hot sinter.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jorge Madias

Neste trabalho se leva a cabo uma revisão da literatura sobre defeitos em beam blanks. O foco é no mecanismo de formação e as soluções propostas para diminuir sua ocorrência. Os defeitos superficiais incluidos são as trincas longitudinais e transversais, bleeding, pinholes e escória. Os defeitos internos levados em conta são os blowholes, as trincas centrais e as trincas nas pontas das abas. A revisão incluie as técnicas utilizadas para pesquisar os defeitos: caracterização metalográfica, CFD, modelagem termodinâmica e termomecânica, etc. As medidas adotadas estãorelacionadas a mudanças no sistema de lingotamento (por exemplo o design da vâlvula submersa), design do molde, mudanças e regulação do resfriamento secundário, suporte dos veios.

Oct 30, 2017

By Alexandra de Almeida Diego

O controle da transferência de calor é uma das principais funções que o fluxante exerce durante aplicação no molde de lingotamento contínuo. O fluxo de calor na interface placa / molde deve estar adequado aos parâmetros de processo e ao tipo de aço, caso contrário pode provocar preferencialmente alarmes de agarramento em aços baixo carbono e trincas longitudinais em aços médio carbono, podendo levar até ao breakout. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de caracterizar os filmes de escória aplicados em aços baixo (Filme BC) e médio carbono (Filme MC), ambos comerciais, utilizando as análises de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) com Energia Dispersiva de raios-X (EDS) acoplado e Difratometria de raios-X (DRX). As diferenças entre os filmes de escórias foram discutidas e relacionadas aos dados presentes na literatura.

Aug 16, 2017

By Ricardo Miranda Alé

Aços resistentes ao serviço ácido (sour service), com requisitos adicionais de alta resistência mecânica e tenacidade, têm sido especificados para aplicação em gasodutos do Pólo Pré-sal da Bacia de Santos. O desenvolvimento de aços que atendam a estes severos requisitos, visando à fabricação de tubos de elevada espessura, constitui um enorme desafio para o fabricante do aço. No presente trabalho, é apresentado o desenvolvimento do aço API 5L-X65 Sour Service para esse tipo de aplicação, onde são descritas as principais ações realizadas no processo de produção que permitiram o sucesso no desenvolvimento do produto, confirmado pelas excelentes propriedades obtidas nas chapas e nos tubos.

Aug 8, 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 Jerin Russell

This paper presents a new instrument for real-time detection of excessively coarse material in the overflow pipes of individual hydrocyclones using a non-invasive acoustic measurement technique. The hydrocyclone is an important device used in mineral processing beneficiation circuits for classification of mineral slurries by particle size. It separates a single input stream into two output streams; an underflow of coarse particles that undergo additional grinding for further size reduction, and an overflow stream of finer particles that typically goes directly into a flotation circuit for recovery of the desired mineral. However the hydrocyclone is a major piece of equipment in the beneficiation process that has no instrumentation for directly measuring its performance. The parameters currently measured – inlet pressure, feed flow rate, feed flow density – are common to the entire hydrocyclone cluster which typically has three to twelve hydrocyclones. Thus no information is available to detect individual hydrocyclones that are operating poorly. The system described in this paper detects the presence of unwanted excessively coarse material in the overflow stream of a hydrocyclone using sensors mounted to the exterior pipe surface. It provides real-time monitoring, trending and alarming of the coarse material level. This enables operators to identify poorly performing hydrocyclones, and enables corrective action to reduce or eliminate the coarse material discharge. Improving the classification efficiency of individual hydrocyclones will improve the overall classification efficiency of a hydrocyclone cluster. This leads to less variation in the particle size distribution and slurry density in the flotation feed, which will in turn improve overall mineral recovery. The reduction of unwanted coarse material in the flotation feed reduces the accumulation of that material in flotation cells. This can lead to equipment damage, and unplanned shutdowns due to events such as blocked dart valves.

Aug 16, 2017