EUROPEAN STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION DAYS 2017 - ESTAD 2017

Today, one of the main goals in optimization of the iron and steel making processes is the consideration of environmental protection and energy saving in every plant area. Not only the processing from iron ore, reducing agents and additives has to be taken into consideration but also the handling and conveying of the materials between the different process steps. This paper provides some sustainable solutions for the iron and steel industry. For example, the application of closed raw material yards in form of silos or enclosed stockpiles requires suitable compact stacking and extracting Systems. The use of large size silo systems allows a significantly increased storage volume on the same footprint as a conventional stockpile. Each silo can be used for different material qualities and with the use of the AUMUND rotary discharge machines travelling underneath the silos, every required blend can be extracted by requirement. Such closed storage and material extraction solution suppresses any dust development. No special dust control, no risk of material losses and no fugitive dust pollution or ground water pollution can occur. Another example is the transport of hot sinter from the sinter crusher to the sinter cooler. The wide-spread application of vibrating feeders leads to the generation of fines due to the vibration movement besides the resulting maintenance requirements. With the use of the AUMUND high temperature resistant pan conveyors no additional fines are being generated as there is no relative movement between the conveyor and the hot sinter meanwhile significantly reducing equipment wear. A significant contribution to energy savings effect is the thermally insulated transport of Hot DRI in a non-oxidizing inert atmosphere. Today hot charging is expected by customers operating a DR-Shaft Furnace-EAF route. Practically all new plants are equipped with this feature. Older Plant configurations are being examined for hot charging upgrades. Energy savings up to 120 kW/t liquid steel can be achieved, Tap-to-Tap cycles will be drastically reduced and productivity of EAF increased up to 20 %. In case HBI producing routes are being used new HBI cooling methods have been developed and patented using water mist as a cooling media thus achieving smooth cooling of the HBI resulting in stable product quality and final Temperatures below 100 degrees C for optimum downstream handling and storing.