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By Andreas Rohrhofer

Reliable high end automation and process optimization systems are main factors for excellent product quality, safe operation and maximized plant performance in the steel industry and its designated environmental plants. Primetals Technologies introduces new automation packages for consequent safe and cost efficient production. Many areas within the steelplant interested to be monitored and measured automatically are not implemented in the automation system due to limited access or technical reasons. A wireless, self-organizing network facilitates wide ranging data transmission in previously inaccessible areas and opens up a wide range of new opportunities. With Fluid Guard a system to detect leakages with highest accuracy and reacts properly for all kind of water cooled circuits is available, improving the safety in steelmaking process. Lance Guard can be utilized for all fully automatic and semi-automatic lance appliances, but is especially suitable for the products of Primetals Sublance Standard/2.0 and LiquiRob applications, since these systems make seamless integration particularly simple. Manual lance appliances may also be tested and diagnosed. Environmental plants have become a main part in steelmaking plants. Highest performance in combination with optimized energy consumption is the main target in Primetals Technologies’ innovations in automation optimization packages for dedusting systems. A new approach for preventive maintenance and operator assistance is introduced with the Acoustic Expert System. In combination with the new Ask cloud based system, Primetals enables a 24/7 monitoring and a whole lifetime observation of any equipment within a steelplant. Furthermore it is now enabled to check the condition of the plant at a fingertip at any time.

Aug 17, 2017

By Iara Patricia Vieira de Oliveira

O coque desempenha três principais funções no Alto-Forno sendo elas: física, térmica e química, em se tratando do papel físico, a função estrutural é de primordial importância, pois não pode ser assumida por outro combustível, com isto as indústrias avaliam a resistência mecânica a frio para garantir uma marcha estável no reator, porém os ensaios padronizados não são suficientes para avaliar a resistência do coque. Neste contexto este trabalho desenvolveu uma metodologia para avaliar de forma individual a resistência mecânica a compressão do coque nas granulometrias típicas do coque metalúrgico e como os principais defeitos, poros e trincas governam a resistência do material. Foram realizados testes de compressão, análise de microestrutura, microtextura, inspeção visual de trincas, MEV. Os resultados das análises realizadas no coque mostraram que a tensão média de ruptura aumenta com o aumento da granulometria.

Oct 30, 2017

By Huang Qiming

The CISDI-GreenEAF innovatively applies the top-side-chute for charging for improving the cold zone of electric-arc furnace (EAF) requiring preheating scrap. It can greatly reduce the operating power consumption during EAF melting by combined use of fume for preheating scrap. The enclosed charging mode and specially-designed structure contribute to less emission of dust and fume during charging while enhancing the metal yield. Thanks to the extraordinary fume temperature control at scrap preheating procedure and fume quenching technology as developed by CISDI, for restraining the regeneration of dioxin.

Oct 30, 2017

By Uwe Wilhelm

Pittini Group has contracted Danieli in 2011 for the supply and replacement of the existing EAF at Ferriere Nord Plant in Osoppo. This was a very challenging project: giving the fact that the Meltshop was operating already under very high performance level, there were many elements involved for the project to improve (reduce the amount of charges, promote highest possible chemical energy utilization, allow best optimization on existing transformer power, modification on Drop Out box and Water Cooled Duct, Hydraulic System for EAF, Scrap Bucket design to fit to new EAF with existing loading and transport system, Automation System Review and Upgrade) as well as limitations of the existing installation (limited space, lifting capacity building and cranes and the required solutions for fast shell and roof exchange). All furnace parts, as well as installation engineering, were developed and discussed carefully with the Customer to either provide proven and reliable concepts, but also to define solutions for fast installation/maintenance access and quick exchange for offline turnaround. In the end, from disassembly of existing equipment up to the first heat of the new furnace, only 38 days were necessary. First heat was made on January 24th 2013, on the 6th production day 32 heats where produced at nominal design capacity and 28 days after start up 100,000 t liquid steel have already been produced.

Jul 30, 2018

By Matheus Teixeira Fraga

É comum o uso de modelos matemáticos no intuito de prever a qualidade do coque, sendo a maioria dos modelos atualmente disponíveis baseada nas propriedades dos carvões. Para este trabalho foram feitas misturas binárias e ternárias de carvões com variados teores de matéria volátil, a fim de se produzir coque em escala laboratorial. A reatividade ao CO2 em termobalança e resistência mecânica em tambores foi avaliada. Dois modelos para previsão de indicadores de qualidade do coque foram avaliados, o modelo aditivo e o modelo de interação. A partir da metodologia desenvolvida em laboratório foi possível produzir, avaliar e comparar coques feitos a partir de diferentes carvões e misturas. O modelo aditivo mostrou uma boa capacidade de prever a reatividade dos coques. No entanto, para os índices derivados dos testes de tambores os valores calculados mostram uma diferença importante em relação aos experimentais, indicando interação dos carvões no processo de carbonização. Nos resultados do modelo de interações, os valores calculados para reatividade e resistência mecânica, se comparados com os resultados do modelo aditivo, mostraram uma melhora na capacidade de previsão da qualidade do coque. O modelo de interações se apresenta como uma ferramenta interessante na seleção e mistura de carvões.

Aug 17, 2017

By Bruno Deves Flores

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar a influência da adição de carvão vegetal e do seu tamanho de partícula na reatividade do coque. Para isso, um carvão vegetal de eucalipto foi adicionado a um carvão médio volátil americano em três teores (3%, 5% e 8%) e em duas faixas granulométricas distintas (abaixo de 1 mm e entre 3 mm e 4 mm). O carvão individual e as misturas de carvão/carvão vegetal foram carbonizados em um forno de escala laboratorial (1 kg). A reatividade dos coques produzidos e do coque de referência foi avaliada e comparada usando análise termogravimétrica. Também foram realizadas análises morfológicas através de microscópio óptico e eletrônico, usando amostras antes e após os ensaios termogravimétricos. Baseado nos resultados, a influência da introdução de carvão vegetal na reatividade do coque foi analisada e discutida neste trabalho.

Aug 1, 2018

By Andrea Codutti, Gianni Tiussi, Andrea Tonnicchi, Morris Codarin

Essar Algoma Steel, Canada, awarded Danieli Transimissions a strategic order for the upgrade of the main drive spindles belonging to the most loaded stands of the Hot Strip Mill, F1-F2, F5 and F6. Featuring special heavy duty design and advanced torque monitoring system, these spindles replace existing competitors’ grease lubricated design with the efficient continuous oil lubricated solution to withstand the tough working conditions, increase life expectations and provide room for a product mix extension. The first couple of spindles have been installed in September 2017 by the expert Service team and are showing already good and reliable performance. Progressively all the others are being installed.

Oct 1, 2019

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 Greisson Peixoto Rangel

A variação da resistência à compressão de argamassas geopoliméricas foi estudada em função da razão ativador/precursor e da molaridade da solução ativadora. As argamassas estudadas foram confeccionadas com metacaulim (precursor) ativado com solução composta por hidróxido de potássio e água destilada, e areia normal brasileira. De acordo com os resultados, a resistência aumenta com a diminuição da razão ativador/precursor e com o aumento da molaridade da solução ativadora. Além disso, os valores encontrados condizem com os presentes da literatura e com possíveis aplicações para argamassas de múltiplo uso.

Oct 30, 2017

By Natalie Chaves de Siqueira

Aços inoxidáveis austeníticos fundidos por centrifugação, da classe HP, são comumente utilizados na indústria de óleo e gás para a fabricação de tubos usados em fornos de reforma e pirólise. Essas ligas possuem uma elevada resistência à oxidação, elevada estabilidade térmica e elevada resistência à fluência em altas temperaturas, sendo esses requisitos necessários para aplicação nos fornos. Mudanças microestruturais, conhecidas como envelhecimento, podem ocorrer durante a operação, influenciado na resistência à fluência. Desta forma, a caracterização dos estados de envelhecimento de uma liga HP torna-se necessária para avaliar a sua vida remanescente. O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar duas condições microestruturais de uma liga HP com a microscopia eletrônica de varredura e o ensaio não destrutivo de ultrassom. O processamento do sinal ultrassônico, utilizando a Transformada Rápida de Fourier (Fast Fourier Transform – FFT), foi realizado sobre o segundo eco de fundo do sinal ultrassônico, permitindo correlacionar a análise espectral do sinal com a microestrutura do aço HP. De acordo com a metodologia proposta, os dois estados de envelhecimento foram caracterizados através do processamento do sinal ultrassônico.

Oct 30, 2017

By Fabricio Sartori Trani

Os rolamentos da máquina de lingotamento contínuo de placas foram inspecionados após campanha do segmento. O tempo de operação foi de uma campanha (1,5 ano ou 1,5 milhão de toneladas produzidas). Nos mancais centrais dos rolos longos, foram inspecionados 14 rolamentos, sendo 2 deles SKF com microestrutura bainítica e os demais 12 de outro fabricante, com microestrutura martensítica. Os rolamentos SKF eram de classe de desempenho Explorer e aprimorados, ficando evidenciado modo de falha seguro, diferentemente dos demais rolamentos, que apresentaram fadiga subsuperficial acentuada (descascamento), fraturas por fadiga e superaquecimento. A aplicação de lingotamento contínuo é bastante crítica para rolamentos, pois contempla sobrecarga, cargas de choque, contaminação por água e particulado sólido e altas temperaturas de operação. Ainda assim, a vida em serviço dos rolamentos com microestrutura bainítica foi estendida.

Aug 17, 2017

By Andrea Zanon

Recently steel manufacturers have significantly focused their attention on safety and working conditions thanks to new labour laws, comprehensive operators’ knowledge and increased company social responsibility. Even with a reduced budget, investments on safety are now widely approved. Mill constructors aim at developing upgraded solutions to comply with these new requirements. In some cases mill constructors can even anticipate customers’ requests and consequently put into the market innovative solutions. In this text we will analyze some advanced solutions developed by Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche Spa - the leading company in long-product rolling mills - aimed at improving working conditions on wire-rod block settings. In particular, we will focus on rolling guides installed on fast-finishing blocks and on servo-assisted device for rolling rings changing. In fact, this equipment has shown effective benefits on our test plants and has mainly cut out the tendency of the personnel to be absent due to backache. This paper will first present standard working conditions, will then introduce the newest equipment developed by Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche Spa, will analyze its operation and finally will describe in detail the benefits that can be reached with its use.

Jul 30, 2018

By Patrick Hansert

Safety was always in the focus of Badische Stahlwerke, however at the same time productivity has to increase as well in order to compete in a tough world market. In 2015 BSW produced over 2.2 Mio tons with two EAFs, leading to tap-to-tap times in average of under 40 minutes. Our philosophy has always been, that our most important success factor are the people: therefore we have to improve the working conditions as much as we can. Starting in 2012 Badische developed a robot that can support this goal. The first step was to use it for temp/sample taking, but the unit had to become a multi-tasker. Only 2 years later the first automated cartridge changer was installed at a customer site in Scandinavia, in late 2015 then the next tool was implement: tool changer allows now to use also a camera to check the condition inside of the heat after tapping. More tools are designed currently and will be implemented shortly. This paper describes the current installations and experiences as future applications.

Aug 17, 2017

By Norbert Asamer

At various stages during the hot rolling process, the different rolled products – blooms, billets, bars, respectively sections, but also slabs or plates – need to be cut. While the cross sections of these products are being reduced during each rolling pass, the lengths are being increased accordingly. Thus, it becomes necessary to cut the products to shorter lengths suitable for the next steps of production by state-of-the-art designed dry abrasive cut-off machines.

Jul 30, 2018

By Santiago Faucher

Molten slag from pyrometallurgical furnaces is tapped at high temperature, carrying a large amount of thermal energy. But the common slag dumping and water granulation methods used for slag treatment do not permit energy recovery. Furthermore, water is present in these processes and while operations are designed to minimize risks of steam explosions, from the contact of slag with water, these common slag handling practices have never been inherently safe. Common handling practices do permit some slags to be sold, but often in low volumes at low prices. Dry granulation offers advantages over these common slag handling practices, including the production of by-products, the recovery of thermal energy, and the eliminated consumption and safety hazards of water. For these reasons, there have been various studies in dry granulation and heat recovery, but most have never been brought to commercial scale due to scalability and cost challenges. Ecomaister- Hatch has developed and brought to commercial scale a reliable and simple dry granulation and heat recovery technology. Here we review common slag handling practices, the developments in dry slag granulation over the last three decades, introduce the Ecomaister-Hatch dry slag granulation process, and elaborate on future applications of the technology in the processing of argon oxygen decarburization and blast furnace slags.

Aug 17, 2017

By Patrizio Damiano

Competitiveness in Electric Arc Furnace production is pushing steelmakers to increase the throughput at the lowest expenditure. The technological challenge is therefore to operate the existing facilities at their top capabilities and to exploit materials and energy sources at the upmost yield and efficiency. Moreover, seizing the opportunity offered from the price variability of metallic feedstock calls for flexible practices, versatile equipment and tools to rapidly tune the melting profiles without hindering steel quality and equipment lifetime. The innovative Danieli Q-MELT Automatic EAF system addresses these aspects implementing a centralized control system which interacts with multiple technological packages. Each of these cutting-edge technologies focuses on one aspect of the EAF cycle, increasing machine availability and resource efficiency, by means of electrode regulation and foamy slag control, charging optimization, off-gas analysis and closed loop injectors control. Moreover, these modules provide the process supervisor application (Melt Model) with important information regarding the process status, thus allowing the adoption of a unified control strategy. The supervisor implements a robust statistical approach to identify process deviations in real time. The first results and technology perspectives inferred from the field immediately after the start-up are described in this paper.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jean François Stumper

This paper presents the TMT “3D TopScan” profilemeter, which is a Radar-based profilemeter that measures the total burden surface within a few seconds and on a continuous basis. This equipment is based on an electronically steered solid-state radar scanner, such that a very large amount of surface data is collected within short time intervals. These new electronically steered antenna systems are the key to meet the demands for both accuracy and speed. The TMT probe is installed at a fixed location at the top cone, such that it does not interfere with the charging, enabling a continuous measurement and a compact design.Blast furnace charging optimization can be achieved based on its measurement data. The burden surface is continuously measured every few seconds, enabling the blast furnace operator to detect any details including asymmetries or irregularities in the surface pattern. A variety of process analysis tools are available. Due to the continuous and fast measurement, the burden descent speed can be supervised without process interruption on an ongoing basis. More accurate process models (layer models) than ever are obtained which fully consider the unsymmetries.This technology, developed by TMT Tapping Measuring Technology, is successfully in operation at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH at their blast furnace B. The probe and the data evaluation tools combine today’s technological capabilities in measurement technology with the practical requirements of blast furnace operation.

Aug 16, 2017

By Karl Berger

The paper gives a comprehensive overview of the historical development of various metal rolling technologies and also describes the influence to industrial and socio-economic developments. The rolling of steel, in particular of rails, beams, rebar, strip and plate has enabled the large scale transport and travel, the building of bridges and buildings, the manufacturing of ships and cars. All this has changed the face of the world significantly. Further the paper approaches technological highlights in the design, manufacturing, drive and control of modern mills and the various types developed to create industrial economic units for the different markets and customers’ requirements. An outlook of future challenges is as well discussed in the paper. Various solution approaches for the rolling technologies, from continuous improvement of existing plants to more radical new concepts like endless rolling, near net-shape casting and rolling are approached. A positive conclusion is drawn that rolling technologies will remain a valuable area for engineers with scientific and economic challenges, but also a clear vision for positive contribution to further industrial and social development.

Jul 30, 2018

By Heloíza Döering Gasparin

Os efeitos de elevadas temperaturas e do tempo de exposição sobre as propriedades mecânicas de um ferro fundido cinzento hipoeutético foram avaliados em amostras de dois ferros fundidos da classe FC300, de mesma base, com diferentes percentuais de molibdênio. Ensaios de tração até ruptura a quente foram realizados em corpos de prova com diâmetro de 10 mm, usinados de um pino bruto de 30 mm de diâmetro. Os ensaios foram realizados a frio (temperatura ambiente) e a quente (200°C, 300°C, 350°C, 400°C, 450°C, 500°C e 550°C). Os tempos de exposição a elevadas temperaturas, após homogeneização térmica do material, foram de 0, 60, 90 e 120 minutos. As amostras com maior percentual de molibdênio (0,27% em peso) apresentaram melhores propriedades mecânicas para todas as condições ensaiadas. De acordo com a literatura a redução na resistência mecânica com a elevação da temperatura é atribuída à ocorrência de decomposição da perlita, como resultado da difusão do carbono vindo da cementita às lamelas de grafita, que é o responsável pelo aumento da quantidade de grafita no material. As análises metalográficas evidenciam a ocorrência deste fenômeno. Aumentos no tempo de exposição a temperaturas elevadas também contribuíram para a degeneração da perlita.

Aug 7, 2018

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