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By Mirko Jurkovic, Thomas Hueper, Jens Kempken

The high competition scenario pushes the steel producers business. Zero defect requirements from customers force the operators for additional efforts in process control and quality management. PQA® has been developed as an advanced process and quality management assurance solution. It is focusing on the analysis of process data, equipment information, inline quality measurement devices and trend analysis. The paper describes the structure of the advanced process and quality management assurance solution PQA®; it gives insights on the expert know-how, process and quality evaluation and points out the benefits like cost reduction, improvement yield and customer satisfaction increase.

Oct 1, 2019

By Paulo Masiero

Sintered titanium carbide has been extensively used since the early 1980s for demanding wear-resistant applications and, in particular, in environments characterized by high temperature and oxidation. Thanks to its physical characteristics, especially its low density, titanium carbide (TiC) has been successfully applied in the manufacture of cassette guide rollers for hot steel rolling. However, the peculiar characteristics of the sintered Ti carbides make it difficult their redressing and hence this has always represented the limit for a more extensive application. Very often iron based alloys are preferred even if, in general, they are less cost effective just because they are easier to be redressed by turning. The availability of a simple, compact, fully automatic and reasonably priced CNC machine; specialized in the grinding of guide rollers and able to operate accurately and efficiently -both in contour and in plunge- can definitively solve TiC’s redressing problems and render its use even more widespread and attractive.

Oct 30, 2017

By Juergen Meisel

The paper will explain how to successfully implement a robotic solution from the initial idea to a working industrial solution. Primetals Technologies can call upon 10 years of experience in installation of Robot solutions in the harsh environment of steelmaking plants - the so-called LiquiRob. To enhance an existing shroud manipulation system, the idea to connect the shroud with a bayonet mechanism to the ladle nozzle was born in accordance with the requirements of a well-known steel producer. The paper will describe the development steps from the first simulations and prototype testing in the laboratory, it will show the intensive system testing under workshop conditions and will finally depict the successful integration into the plant. Furthermore, operational experience will be shown as well as the advantages of such an installation compared to other shroud manipulation systems.

Oct 30, 2017

By Dong Maolin

A great amount of high temperature off-gas, whose maximum temperature is up to 2100?, is generated during the smelting process of electric arc furnace (EAF). The dust content, which is mainly iron oxide, of the off-gas is high and worthy of industrial recovery. The heat carried by the high temperature off-gas with dust is about 11% of the total energy input of EAF, and some even is as high as 20%. The high-temperature off-gas not only takes away a lot of heat but also places a huge burden to de-dusting system of EAF. It not only reduces the iron oxide dust recovery ratio, but also causes serious pollution problems. With the development of the iron and steel industry, the proportion of molten iron for EAF gradually increases, and even more than 30% in some cases. The increase of molten iron causes increases in the amount of EAF off-gas and heat waste. As a result the problem of dust removal is worsening [1-2]. How to sufficiently recover the sensible heat of the high temperature off-gas, create conditions for efficient dust removal, thus reduce operating costs of dust removal system and the production costs is a problem which EAF steel making companies must pay attention to.

Oct 30, 2017

By Emanuelle Garcia Reis, Gustavo de Sousa, Rodney Pardo Alves

Gerdau Ouro Branco´s plate mill started the operation in 2016 with high level technology. In general, national and international plate markets are every day more rigorous about final product quality. Suppliers must be aware about dimensional accuracy, surface quality and flatness of the plates, independent of the quality standards. To guarantee the best service to this increasingly demanding and competitive market, it is extremely important to guarantee the original project conditions executing the right maintenance of the rolling mill main components. In order to maintain the product quality and avoid the production and maintenance cost increase, it is important to find ways to control the mill and the main process variables, through daily measurements of the equipment performance. This paper aims to present the influence of the main equipment variables that affect the mill operational stability and how to control and evaluate the mill performance.

Oct 1, 2019

By Danilo Gonçalves de Oliveira, Rogério Martins Pereira

Chatter is a widely studied vibration phenomenon that affects most cold mills around the world and its impact on these lines are tremendous: from productivity and quality losses to mechanical equipment damage. The investigation of its origins and how to minimize the occurrences and their impact on the equipment require special instrumentation and algorithms in order to have a detection of the vibrations as soon as they start. This paper presents three methods of identification of chatter on a Tandem Cold Mill and the actions to leave the vibration frequency range before its amplitude achieve catastrophic values.

Oct 1, 2019

By André Luiz Vasconcellos da Costa e Silva

O sistema ferro-oxigênio alumino tem sido investigado há muitos anos em função de sua importância para a indústria do aço. Uma grande fração de todo o aço plano produzido é de aço de baixo carbono acalmado ao alumínio, não apenas pelo baixo conteúdo de oxigênio residual em solução que pode ser obtido mas, também, pela importância do alumínio residual na formação de AlN, ferramenta importante no controle de estrutura e textura obtidas. O sistema Fe-O é relativamente bem compreendido e quantificado, da mesma forma que o sistema Fe-Al. Entretanto, há discrepâncias significativas na quantificação do comportamento do sistema Fe-Al-O havendo, ainda, bastante controvérsia com respeito a equilíbrios importantes. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é (a) realizar uma revisão crítica dos experimentos e avaliações termodinâmicas principalmente do equilíbrio Al-Fe-O–Al2O3 (b) avaliar os métodos atualmente usados para descrever este equilíbrio e (c) apresentar recomendações sobre os dados, com base em sua confiabilidade e consistência.

Aug 16, 2017

By Nigel Marx

In order to understand (and ultimately to predict) the friction reduction resulting from the use of polymer solutions, the rheological properties of model polymer solutions have been measured over a wide range of shear rates. Both temporary and permanent shear thinning have been observed. By using base fluids of different viscosities it has been shown that permanent shear thinning depends more closely on the shear stress experienced by the fluid than on the strain rate. Hydrodynamic measurements have been made on the polymer solutions using a compliant ball on flat lubricated contact that operates in isoviscous-elastic conditions. The measured friction values can only be predicted with reasonable accuracy if the measured shear thinning properties of the lubricant are taken into account in the hydrodynamic model.

Jul 31, 2018

By Theodore James Kurela

Analysis of adverse technical issues has traditionally relied on a snapshot of the state of the operation complemented with both the melt shop’s archived data and eyewitness accounts of adverse events. The GrafTech ArchiTech System is helping EAF shops solve problems faster by combining continuous analysis of information with statistically based alerts of process deviations. After one year of system implementation, a number of cases have been detected and communicated to melt shops worldwide. The objective of this paper is to examine a few of these cases; the early detection, statistical analysis, deviation reporting and the resulting countermeasures implemented.

Aug 17, 2017

By Pablo Altoé Amorim, Bruno Sellitti Borges, Otávio Lube dos Santos, Arthur Pizetta David, Matheus Diogo Penido da Silva

Automation is in everywhere nowadays, including within companies and industries, and is therefore fundamental and essential for production, quality and process control of them. There are many ways to automate a production line or a machine can be through relay logic, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and even more modern microcontrollers with native Internet of Things (IoT) support can be used. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach? A PCB was created using more modern microcontrollers programmed in C, C ++ and Whiting language to simulate a replacement of a PLC in an actual machine. Having a very positive result, being able to handle the machine manually via Wi fi besides being able to also perform a real-time monitoring of the machine's motors through the mobile phone, thus entering the IoT and fitting into the Industry 4.0.

Oct 1, 2019

By Maurilio Pereira Gomes

The aim of this work was to heat treat and characterize sintered valve seat inserts (VSI). The powder metallurgy route was the only way found to substitute cobalt and lead, used in the VSI original alloy, due to their high cost and toxicological effect, respectively. The studied VSI was obtained with AISI M2 high-speed steel powder mixed with iron powder and other additives such as manganese sulphide, graphite, zinc stearate, carbides and copper, which was added by metallic infiltration. All the VSI were air quenched and double tempered, for one hour each, at seven different equidistantly temperatures, ranging from 100 °C up to 700 °C. The physical and mechanical properties were evaluated by means of the VSI apparent density, apparent hardness and crush radial strength. The chemical composition was determined through gas analysis, for the light elements such as carbon and sulfur, and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for other elements. Microstructural characterization was performed with the support of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Regarding the VSI final application, the best results were achieved with the inserts air quenched and double tempered at 600 °C.

Oct 30, 2017

By Rob van Opbergen, Edo Engel

The highly dynamic economic climate of recent years has tightened the operating envelope for steel producers world-wide. Steel producers continue to experience immense pressure to respond quickly to changing circumstances and the focus has shifted towards efficiency improvement and maximizing flexibility in operations. The ability to safely stop, restart and ramp-up production facilities has become essential. Establishing this level of flexibility, without sacrificing efficiency, requires sound process control, fit-for-purpose process management practices and solid know-how and experience regarding special situations in blast furnace ironmaking operations. The same business environment that demands this increased flexibility has made it increasingly difficult for steel producers to sustain sufficient knowledge about these situations. While many experienced, senior operational staff have retired, a new generation of ironmaking specialists has acquired its hands-on experience over more recent decades, during which these process situations have been much less frequent than before. Over the past 10-15 years, the requirement in the industry for external operational support during e.g. blast furnace blow–downs, salamander tapping and restarts after planned and especially unplanned stops, has become increasingly frequent. This article presents a number of these cases from a process management perspective as well as with regard to project organization and optimized cooperation between internal and external teams of experts.

Oct 1, 2019

By Kenneth Williams

Cargas a granel, incluindo finos de minério de ferro, devem ser embarcadas de acordo com as diretrizes acordadas entre os membros da Organização Marítima Internacional (IMO). Uma medida de segurança crítica é o Limite de Umidade Transportável (TML), exigido para cargas do Grupo A (cargas que têm tendência à liquefação). Diversos acidentes com navios envolvendo finos de minério de ferro da India, cuja causa suspeita-se ser a liquefação da carga, trouxeram à atenção o tema do TML de finos de minério de ferro. Um trabalho extenso de pesquisa foi desenvolvido pelos principais produtores de minério de ferro da Austrália e do Brasil para dar suporte à IMO no desenvolvimento de normas para o embarque desse tipo de material. Com essa finalidade, mineradoras patrocinaram o projeto AMIRA P1097, que foi conduzido pela TUNRA Bulk Solids (TBS) e o Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technology (CBSPT), CSIRO e a Universidade de Auckland, com a gestão do projeto sendo feita pela Creative Process Innovation, a fim de estabelecer uma abordagem modificada de testes de TML específica para finos de minério de ferro. Esse estudo deu suporte aos resultados dos testes e conclusões do Technical Working Group do IMO, que publicou suas conclusões e descobertas em Setembro de 2013.

Aug 16, 2017

By Osvaldo Guilherme Comineli

An extensive investigation into the role of low copper contents on the hot ductility of C-Mn-Al steels has been carried out in order to better understanding the problem of “hot shortness”. Previous work has suggested that this problem results from the build up of Cu that occurs at the surface of the steel as a consequence of the preferential oxidation of iron. This causes the formation of a Cu-rich film of low melting point. A nickel addition has been reported as a solution to the problem, since it increases the solubility of copper in the austenite. After hot tensile testing to failure, samples of Cu-containing steels have been examined using optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Recently published results indicate that copper, in addition to precipitating out as CuS, also segregates to MnS inclusions forming a shell around them. This does not seem to impair the hot ductility under an inert atmosphere, but may have serious consequences under an oxidising environment and lead to “hot shortness”. The influence of nickel in improving the hot ductility seems to be due to it forming a higher melting point alloy with the segregated copper. Data from this incomplete work also suggests that Ni reduces the precipitation of CuS particles. Current investigation carried out using confocal microscopy still to be completed will improve the understanding of the role of copper and nickel on the problem of “hot shortness”.

Aug 8, 2018

By Carlos Gonzalez-Rivera

An alternative cooling curve analysis method focused on the experimental determination of the latent heat of phase changes and phase transformation kinetics is proposed in this work. The method analyses the cooling process of a metallic sample, initially liquid that is contained into a cylindrical metallic mold, both of known weight, thermally isolated at its top and bottom. The method is based on an energy balance associated with the experimental measurement of the temperature change of the sample and the mold during their cooling process. From the numerical processing of the cooling curves, are obtained approximate values of the acting global heat transfer coefficient as a function of temperature in order to describe quantitatively the energy exchange of the metal/mold system with its surroundings. These relationships and other experimental data are used to process the cooling curve of the sample and the mold during solidification, in order to obtain the latent heat of solidification.The method was applied experimentally to zinc and tin of commercial purity, initially liquids and contained into stainless steel molds in order to determine its ability to measure the latent heat of solidification. The obtained results suggests that this method shows a good potential to characterize the solidification of metals.

Oct 30, 2017

By Yasser Ghobara

Phosphorus is a problematic impurity that has challenged steelmakers for decades. Steel producers have developed specific technologies to eliminate phosphorus prior to and during steelmaking. These process technologies reduce phosphorus to various degrees and increase the cost of making steel. The state-of-the art dephosphorization technologies are described and operating costs compared for each of the established technologies. Costs are discussed in terms of price penalties for high P iron ore and selling premiums for low P steel. From this, strategies to control P in a cost effective manner are described.

Aug 17, 2017

By Daniele Tolazzi

In today’s highly competitive market situation, it is of outmost importance for EAF steel makers to optimise their processes in order to reduce operating costs and to improve safety and reliability of the equipment. The laser based off-gas analysis technology, With laser units installed on the fix duct, downstream the combustion gap, uses the “Tuneable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy” (TDLAS). The system performs real-time off-gas emissions measurements of CO, CO2, O2, H2O and temperature. A closed-loop operation is in place for dynamic control of the chemical energy package combustion/post-combustion of CO, H2 and CH4 gases into the EAF furnace shell. A statistical framework which builds on a data analysis engine, based on Danieli Automation Q3Intelligence technology, evaluates the “fingerprint” of the process represented by average and deviation trends of both gases and other process parameters. Process fingerprinting is conceived both for offline profile optimisation and on-line control of the refining process. This paper describes how the technology has been applied and the results achieved at ACCIAIERIE BERTOLI SAFAU (Italy) 100 t AC Electric Arc Furnace.

Aug 16, 2017

By Ian James McDonald

Each year, approximately 400 million tons of blast furnace slag is produced worldwide with a tapping temperature of around 1,500°C. It is normally used as a substitute for cement clinker or as an aggregate material in road construction. Currently, the slag is granulated in wet-granulation plants using large volumes of water and to date, it has not been possible to utilise the remnant heat energy of the molten slag, which amounts to approximately 1.8 GJ of energy per ton. However, in an R&D project currently underway led by Primetals Technolgies and industrial partners, a new dry atomising technology is being investigated to use air to cool molten slag and recover the lost heat energy. The resultant pelletised slag fulfils the same criteria as wet-granulated slag for use in the cement industry. Phase 1 of the project has now been completed where a technical plant was set up at the University of Leoben in 2012. A series of dry-slag granulation campaigns were carried out using remelted blast furnace slag. The elevated offgas temperatures and the quality of the slag product as verified by the FEhS Building Material Institute have shown the process suitability as an industrial application and the decision was taken to escalate the project from large laboratory scale to a full size pilot plant. The phase 2 development of this plant is now underway and is scheduled for installation at the site of an industrial partner in early 2016 where full slag flow will be fed directly to the plant from Blast Furnace ‘slag runners. This paper will show the development path taken to date and the planned route to our goal in 2016 of being the first to industrialise the ‘game changing’ process of dry Slag Granulation with Heat Recovery from the slag.

Aug 16, 2017

By Pedro Jorge Walburga Keglevich de Buzin

The steel production in mini mills generates several process residues, among them the electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). This residue has as main elements Fe, O, and Zn, being classified as hazardous by the presence of Pb and Cd. In recent years, a rise in the chlorine content of this residue was observed, motivated by the increased use of scrap with impurities bearing this element. In this work, a qualitative assessment of the presence of chlorine in the electric steelmaking process is made. Complementing it, theoretical considerations based on the computational thermodynamics tool FactSage show the effects of the chlorine on the mineral species in EAFD and on gaseous species in the gas phase (HCl and Cl2). For this study, PVC polymer was used as the chlorine carrier substance which contaminates the EAF charge; presence of other minor elements in the system such as K, Na and Pb were also considered.

Aug 7, 2018

By Alberto Lainati

The Bar Reducing and Sizing Technology has a core function in the value-chain for the production of rolled SBQ (Special Bar Quality) products. The EVO 2+4-roll is based on the compact combination of a 2-roll high-reduction module followed by a 4- roll low-reduction module for precise sizing. The EVO 2+4-roll mill, allows to gain significant technical and economical advantages in the hot- and post-rolling process routes: dimensional and surface accuracy, quick adaptability to processing variances and to small lots requirements, superior technological features of as-rolled product, competitive capex and opex. The EVO 2+4 unit has a very compact design, which makes it suitable both for new mills and upgrade applications.

Aug 17, 2017