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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 Francisco Alberto Marreiros da Rocha Filho

No processo de laminação a quente ocorre ocasionalmente a perda de ductilidade a quente que pode causar o fenômeno denominado como “abertura de cabeça” da barra durante a sequência de passes. Essa perda de ductilidade a quente pode ser severa e causar interrupções no processo produtivo. Esse fenômeno pode estar associado a diversos fatores entre eles: composição química do aço; defeitos presentes no tarugo; condições do processo de laminação; e temperatura do aço durante o processo, principalmente nos passes de desbaste e intermediários de laminação. No processo em estudo, a perda de ductilidade a quente ocorre associada à laminação de vergalhões a partir de tarugos oriundos diretamente do lingotamento contínuo. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da temperatura e da microestrutura formada ao longo do processo na perda de ductilidade a quente das barras através de um exame comparativo entre os vergalhões laminados com e sem o uso da etapa de reaquecimento.

Oct 30, 2017

By Piotr Pajaczkowski

Hydro generators installed in Itaipu Binacional power plant with 824/737 MVA rated output power (50/60 Hz) belong to the largest ones in the world. Among many unique features the generators are equipped with the largest hydrodynamic thrust bearings ever built (external diameter 5200 mm, axial load equals approximately 3600 t). This paper is an attempt to propose a new thrust bearing design with the use of the state-of-the-art technologies and simulation techniques that demonstrate a reduction of friction power losses generated by the thrust bearing. This paper is divided into two parts. Within the first one the original thrust bearing design which was implemented in the generators is described. Related calculation results based on a thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic (TEHD) calculation software used by Alstom will be presented. A comparison between measurement results gathered in the 1980’s is given. In the second part a potential solution of a more beneficial bearing design is described. The proposed thrust bearing design modification is an implementation of Alstom’s PolypadTM coating. This modern polymer (PEEK) coating material has already been used by Alstom in projects around the world for many years. This coating allows pushing the operating parameters limits toward higher temperatures and lower oil film thicknesses far beyond the limits known for the conventional bearing materials.

Jul 31, 2018

By Virgínia Morete Barbosa Bertolo

Ligas a base de zircônio são utilizadas na indústria nuclear devido à baixa absorção de nêutrons e alta resistência à corrosão em ambientes de alta temperatura e pressão. Nas condições de operação essas ligas estão sujeitas à fragilização pelo hidrogênio. Este trabalho visa avaliar o efeito do hidrogênio na liga ZirBrasil-1, produzida em forno elétrico a arco VAR (Vacuum Arc Remelting) nas condições: encruada e tratada termicamente. As análises de difração de raios-X indicam a existência de uma matriz Zr-a, hexagonal compacto, para todas as condições de tratamentos térmicos. Após a hidrogenação, ocorreu a formação de ZrH e ZrH2. Os hidretos formados são de pequeno volume e não conectados para as amostras laminada e tratada a 700°C/1 h e 800°C/2 h, sendo que a condição de 800°C por 6 h obteve a maior quantidade de hidretos por área e alguns hidretos conectados. Em todas as condições os hidretos se encontram espaçados ao longo da espessura das amostras. Os resultados de microdureza Vickers indicam a ocorrência de precipitação para tratamentos a 800°C e confirmam o efeito fragilizador do hidrogênio. A liga encruada absorve maior quantidade de hidrogênio, com início do processo de absorção ocorrendo após 12 horas, já a amostra tratada a 800°C por 6 h absorveu apenas 0,5%H e iniciou a absorção após 26 h. O conjunto de resultados permite concluir que a amostra recristalizada é a indicada para o desenvolvimento do processamento termomecânico, quando comparada a condição encruada devido ao maior tempo para início do processo de absorção e menor quantidade absorvida de hidrogênio.

Aug 8, 2018

By Johann-Paul Stemplinger

For lubrication of open gear drives applied in rotary furnaces, often gear greases are used as well as for lubrication of gear boxes in difficult sealing conditions. The selection of the gear grease influences strongly the wear behavior. Investigations with flow greases NLGI 00 were made in a back-to-back test rig determining the weight loss due to wear acc. to the standardised procedure ISO 14635 part 3. Different influences like base oil viscosity, thickener type and additional solid lubricant type were analysed. Only the type and amount of solid lubricant shows a significant influence on the weight loss due to wear. Finally, a linear wear coefficient clT according to the calculation method of the wear amount according to Plewe is derived and can be used to transfer the test results to any gears in practice.

Jul 31, 2018

By Lucas Monteiro Corrêa e Lopes, Carolina Carvalho Nunes, Nathalia Luiza Nascimento de Carvalho

The characteristics of each ore make it impossible to predict the quality of a flotation concentrate without exploratory tests. The research begins with laboratory batch tests, and then, after advances in the determination of process conditions, the complexity of the tests increases in order to evaluate new parameters. The closed cycle test (LCT) simulate circuits with load recirculation and the greatest difficulty of this test is to stabilize the circuit and achieve equilibrium. Depending on mass availability, the types of tests that offer the highest reliability and informations about flotation in an ongoing process are mini-scale or pilot-scale tests. This work aimed to compare the results of the flotation tests in three scales (batch test, LCT and mini pilot) for the Bonsucesso ore, a new deposit, owned by Nexa Resources, that has sphalerite, zinc ore, and galena, lead ore. In the open flotation circuit of galena was obtained 27.57% content with 26.70% recovery, in the LCT test the content was 31.54% with 64.64% recovery and in the mini pilot reached 51.22 % content with 65.51% recovery. In the open sphalerite flotation the zinc content was 55.51% with 77.35% recovery, in the LCT test the zinc content was 56.71% with 84.42% of recovery and in the mini pilot of 50.02% content with 94.54% recovery.

Oct 3, 2019

By Amilton Feliciano Castro

In this work, activated carbons (ACs) were prepared using Sewage sludge as starting material. The ACs were pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere at 550 °C after independent chemical treatment with ZnCl2 or KOH with ratio of 1:1. The materials were used as adsorbents for removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The adsorbents were characterized using adsorption/desorption nitrogen isotherm, SEM (scanning electron microscopy). The results showed that copper removal could be linked to surface pH and compounds present on the surface of adsorbent. KOH-treated adsorbent has smaller surface area (186 m2 g-1) than ZnCl2-treated adsorbent (192 m2 g-1), however, KOH-treated adsorbent exhibited higher removal of Cu(II). The performance of KOH-treated adsorbent could be attributed to the presence of basic groups on the adsorbent surface. Liu isotherm model gave the best description of the equilibrium data. From the Liu isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacities at 298 K for KOH-treated, ZnCl2-treated and sewage sludge (without inorganic activation) adsorbents are 31.85, 19.79 and 3.513 mg g-1, respectively. The best desorption experiment was obtained using 1.50 mol L-1 of HNO3 as eluent. Recoveries of Cu(II) from Cu(II)-loaded adsorbents are 98.9% (ZnCl2-treated) and 95.5% (KOH-treated.

Aug 17, 2017

By Edilson Alves Maranhão, Willi Anton Buehler, Andrea Pezza

O processo de vácuo é a solução típica aplicada quando é hora de atualizar o nível de qualidade do aço de uma aciaria existente. A instalação do novo Tanque de Desgaseificação à Vácuo (VD) de 135t no Canadá e do novo RH de 150t na planta integrada no México para a produção de tubos de alta qualidade na América do Norte é um exemplo típico disso. A nova instalação inclui o mais recente conceito de design para este tipo de equipamento: operações totalmente automatizadas e menor impacto ambiental são os principais aspectos do projeto. A solução de bomba mecânica a seco continua sendo a melhor abordagem de investimento e custo operacional para a tecnologia de vácuo. Os principais aspectos do design da planta são descritos neste documento. O desgaseificador a vácuo VD é responsável pela melhoria das performances metalúrgicas, especialmente em termos de nitrogênio, remoção de hidrogênio e nível de pureza do aço. O processo a jusante e os resultados estão estritamente ligados aos desempenhos do desgaseificador a vácuo. O monitoramento de processos através da linha completa é uma prática padrão para obter uma melhoria efetiva da qualidade do produto. Os desempenhos metalúrgicos do desgaseificador a vácuo VD são analisados e comentados neste trabalho.

Oct 1, 2019

By Edilson Alves Maranhão, Willi Anton Buehler, Andrea Pezza

O processo de vácuo é a solução típica aplicada quando é hora de atualizar o nível de qualidade do aço de uma aciaria existente. A instalação do novo RH de 150t na planta integrada no México e do novo Tanque de Desgaseificação à Vácuo (VD) de 135t no Canadá para a produção de tubos de alta qualidade na América do Norte, é um exemplo típico disso. A nova instalação inclui o mais recente conceito de design para este tipo de equipamento: operações totalmente automatizadas e menor impacto ambiental são os principais aspectos do projeto. A solução de bomba mecânica a seco continua sendo a melhor abordagem de investimento e custo operacional para a tecnologia de vácuo. Os principais aspectos do design da planta são descritos neste documento. O desgaseificador a vácuo RH é responsável pela melhoria das performances metalúrgicas, especialmente em termos de nitrogênio, remoção de hidrogênio e nível de pureza do aço. O processo a jusante e os resultados estão estritamente ligados aos desempenhos do desgaseificador a vácuo. O monitoramento de processos através da linha completa é uma prática padrão para obter uma melhoria efetiva da qualidade do produto. Os desempenhos metalúrgicos do desgaseificador a vácuo RH são analisados e comentados neste trabalho.

Oct 1, 2019

By Samuel Filgueiras Rodrigues

An austenitic stainless steel ISO 5832-9 was deformed in a torsion test machine over the temperature range of 1,000°C – 1,200°C and strain rates of 0.05, 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0s-1. The Steel plastic behavior was studied by analyzing the flow curves shapes and using the constitutive equations under the conditions of thermomechanical treatment. The curves initially presented an increase in stress characterized by hardening work, followed by a drop in stress to an intermediate level that reached or not, for certain conditions, the steady state softening. The plastic flow curves of ISO 5832-9 steel displayed in three different ways: (i) Curves with continuous softening presenting plastic instability for low temperatures and high strain rates; (ii) curves type flat, here after the peak there is little variation of stress with strain presenting softening mechanism by higher contribution of dynamic recovery at low temperatures and low and intermediate strain rates; (iii) curves with softening after the critical deformation favored by high temperatures and low strain rates. These behaviors indicate the influence of the stacking fault energy (SFE) and precipitated particles on the softening kinetics of this steel.

Aug 8, 2018

By John Ross Middleton

Based upon 30 years+ experience in the Development, Implementation and Ongoing Support of Computer based Melt Shop Management Systems in about 40 plants in the UK, Europe and the USA, consideration of the overall facilities of a state of the art, comprehensive, Integrated Melt Shop System covering Melting and Secondary processes for all grades of steels and superalloys; the scope of functionality of these systems, covering Raw Materials and Consumables Procurement and Inventory Management, Laboratory Management, Melt Shop Scheduling, Furnace Charge and Additions Optimisation, Level 1.5 to Level 2.5 Materials Optimisation and Process Control Calculations, Process Data Recording, Management of Ladles, Furnace Bodies, Vessels and Moulds, Comprehensive Management Reporting and Integration with Corporate ERP Systems. The second section of the paper reviews the key ‘Success Factors’ to achieve rapid, successful implementation, comprehensive, fast response user support, continuing system improvement and maintaining ‘perfect fit’ of system to operations in an ever changing future technical, operations and business environment.

Jul 29, 2018

By Mühlböck Marlene

Increasingly stringent global environmental regulations are forcing steel producers to continually improve the efficiency of sinter waste gas treatment. With the Selective Waste Gas Recirculation (SWGR) system from Primetals Technologies, lower production costs can be achieved and the size of downstream waste gas cleaning units can be reduced for investment savings. SWGR features the extraction and reuse of hot sinter off gas from selected wind boxes along the sinter strand, which contributes to improved energy efficiency and off gas treatment in the sintering process. With the next generation of SWGR, Primetals Technologies can provide an energy optimized, emission optimized and environmentally friendly solution that meet customer requirements and country specific regulations. This paper demonstrates the latest developments in selective waste gas recirculation, especially results from pot grate tests and comparison from lab to real plant data. Furthermore theoretical finding and mathematical modelling is presented.

Aug 16, 2017

By Liao Jianfeng

The Baosteel Zhanjiang 5,050m3 blast furnaces have been built with highly independent integration and innovation technologies and represented the state of the art of the world’s huge BFs. The proper of BF1 and BF2 is designed with long-campaign technology; both BFs share the same set of stockhouse, water and PCI systems; the BCQS serial-hopper no-bell top, TRT and blower are all local equipment as applied; four top-combustion stoves systems are matched; the BFG is cleaned by fully dry process; and the automation control system for the main process is self integrated. The BFs have been started up and performing with sound indicators. Their smooth proceedings symbolize China’s huge blast furnace ironmaking technology ascending a new high.

Oct 30, 2017

By F. D. Rodriguez, J. Ramirez Cuellar, J. Salinas Reyes, C. Gómez-de-la Garza

The Pickling Line and Tandem Continuous Mill (PLTCM) at Ternium Pesquería Facility with a Five Stands, Six High configuration started in 2013. Manufactured by PRIMETALS, to produce steel to exposed automotive market, Turnkey project, with supervision of best practices from Nippon Steel. The main equipment that the process has are; Laser welding machine, 3 loopers, Scale Breaker, jet Pickling tanks, Inspection Station and COGNEX System Side Trimmer (flying width change), Type of Mill: UCMW(S) Carrousel, 2 Tension Reels. The principals goals are, Simulate production programs, validate materials for thin thicknesses before processing, low Re-welds, optimization use Cognex, good performance in Thickness, flatness and productivity.

Oct 1, 2019

By José Adilson de Castro

In this paper a new technology for a compact iron ore sintering machine is analyzed. The compact sintering process is based on the massive injection of gaseous fuels and the solid fuel is only agglomerated fine charcoal obtained by biomass. The solid fuel used in this study is obtained by agglomeration of fine charcoal produced from elephant glass which has very short period for production and CO2 capture(less than 6 months in tropical climate). To overcome the lower heat supply into the combustion front of the sintering process the simultaneous injection of oxygen and gaseous fuel is proposed. The proposed methodology is to combine the solid fuel (agglomerated fines charcoal) and steelworks gases in a compact machine to enhance heat and mass transfer with high productivity (about 5 times the conventional large machine). A multiphase mathematical model based on transport equations of momentum, energy and chemical species coupled with chemical reaction rates and phase transformations is used to analyze the inner process parameters. A base case representing a possible actual industrial operation of the sintering machine is used in order to compare different scenarios of practicable operations which represents advanced operations techniques. The model was used to predict six cases of combined operation with biomass and fuel gas utilization with oxygen support.

Aug 2, 2018

By Andreas Jungbauer

The Chinese steel producer Rizhao Steel is now focusing on the highly attractive local and export markets for high-quality, thin-gauge strip products. The first line of five Arvedi ESP plants began operations in the spring of 2015. The new casting-rolling complex is designed for a total annual production capacity of 11 million tons of highquality, ultra-thin, hot-rolled strip products with widths of up to 1,600 mm and thicknesses down to 0.8 mm. The energy consumption and related costs are reduced by up to 45% compared with conventional casting and rolling processes. This also means a major reduction in CO2 emissions. During the project phase, the plant personnel from China received extensive training at the licensor’s plant – Acciaieria Arvedi S.p.A. in Italy – to prepare them to deliver the best operational performance with the new state-of-the-art endless casting-rolling facility. The plant setup, the training and support program, as well as the latest results from the start-up are presented in this paper.

Aug 16, 2017

By Tadeu Messias Donizete Borba

A soldagem com elevado aporte térmico é uma das alternativas adotadas pelos estaleiros para aumento da produtividade nas operações de união de materiais. No entanto, os ciclos térmicos gerados durante a soldagem podem provocar transformações microestruturais prejudiciais à tenacidade na zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC). Este estudo teve como principal propósito realizar a caracterização microestrutural e avaliar as propriedades mecânicas da ZAC do aço naval Sincron EH36 produzido na Usiminas por laminação controlada seguida de resfriamento acelerado em comparação com um aço de mesma classe de limite de escoamento produzido convencionalmente, ambos soldados pelo processo ao arco submerso em dois níveis de aporte térmico: 76 e 130 kJ/cm. Foi observado que a presença de uma microestrutura mais refinada nas diferentes regiões da ZAC, associadas ao menor tamanho de grão do metal base e ao menor carbono equivalente, foram os principais fatores que contribuíram para a excelente tenacidade da ZAC do aço Sincron em comparação ao aço convencional. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que é possível obter juntas soldadas com excelentes propriedades mecânicas ao se empregar aço Sincron para a soldagem com altos aportes de calor, e sua utilização pode ser uma estratégia para otimização dos tempos e custos de fabricação na indústria naval.

Aug 8, 2018

By Armando Vazquez

When water enters the EAF, some chemically dissociates to H2 while some remains as H2O vapor. Depending on operating conditions the levels of combustible gases (CO and H2) and H2O are continually changing throughout the course of any individual heat and on a heat-toheat basis. The EFSOP® system has been implemented in more than 80 installations as a powerful tool to reduce furnace operation costs but with water detection technology the off gas technology is a valuable solution to improve safety. This paper describes the latest results when using Tenova Goodfellow’s new standalone water detection technology that for the first time provides real-time analysis of both H2O vapor and H2 from start-to-end of a heat. It involves a newly designed water cooled probe and heated line that eliminates condensation during off-gas sampling and an analyzer equipped with a proprietary system for analyzing both H2O vapor and H2.

Jul 30, 2018

By Ryoma Fujiyoshi

In this article, the technologies of highly durable MgO-C bricks for the scrap impact zone and bottom blowing tuyere of converters are demonstrated. On the bases of our recent investigations, wear of scrap impact zone and bottom tuyere are explainable in terms of crack initiation and propagation. Theoretically, crack propagation in brittle material is regarded as generation of new crack surface area. It occurs when the elastic strain energy stored in the material exceeds the energy required to generate a new crack surface area. Since the overall energy consumed for crack propagation until fracture is evaluated by fracture energy, materials exhibiting high fracture energy can be regarded as materials with high fracture resistance. Therefore, two fracture energy-improving technologies for MgO-C bricks were developed. One is matrix reinforcement and the other is carbon bond enhancement. These technologies were applied to bricks for the scrap impact zone and bottom tuyere. As a result of commercial applications, notable decreases in wear rates were recognized for high fracture energy materials for the scrap impact zone and bottom blowing tuyere of converters.

Oct 30, 2017

By Jorge Madias

Se analizan las distintas alternativas para la producción de barras de refuerzo de hormigón: endurecimiento por solución sólida (“dureza natural”); endurecimiento por temple y autorevenido en línea (Tempcore, Thermex, etc.) y endurecimiento por precipitación (microaleación con niobio, vanadio o titanio) y su influencia sobre la performance de las barras, en lo que hace a la resistencia a la corrosión, al fuego y a los sismos.

Aug 17, 2017