CONVERTER STAINLESS STEELMAKING — INCREASED EFFICIENCY WITH SOLUTIONS FROM THE WORLD MARKET LEADER

Primetals Technologies supplies the entire chain of stainless steel production technologies – from scrap preparation to the finished product. Our expertise as the world leader in stainless steelmaking technology supports producers to boost their productivity and performance.

The demand for stainless steel increases each year, as well as the price pressure. Accordingly, plant operators must invest in process optimization and expand capacity to remain competitive on an international basis. Primetals Technologies offers its customers optimized solutions for increased productivity, improved plant availability, and full compliance with environmental regulations.

CONVERTER STAINLESS STEELMAKING

For special requirements like high corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance or highest strength stainless steels have been developed. These steels are characterized by high amount of alloying elements, most important Chromium and Nickel. Typically such steels are made from stainless steel scrap which is melted in an Electric-Arc-Furnace and then processed in an Argon-Oxygen-Decarburization converter before final adjustment of temperature and chemistry of the heat is done in a Vacuum-Oxygen-Degassing station. Beside such scrap based stainless steel production hot metal and pig iron rich in Nickel are successfully used in several plants worldwide. Developing the cost optimal process route for the actual raw material base is one of the core competencies of Primetals Technologies.

Core aggregate for all production routes is the AOD converter which allows very efficient removal of Silicon and Carbon while minimizing the losses for Chromium. Majority of the total worldwide installed AOD capacity was supplied by Primetals Technologies. One reason for our market leading position in this area is our strong link between process, mechanic and automation as well as our continuous developments for further improvements of the process and the equipment. Highlights of these developments are damper to reduce vibrations during the blowing process, single shroud control for longest lifetime of the tuyeres, Vaicon Quick vessel suspension system for fastest vessel exchange, scrap charging machine or sublance for temperature measurement and sample taking.

Additionally Primetals Technologies has a wide portfolio of special converters.

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Intelligent automation for steelmaking

As a supplier of comprehensive solutions for the entire steel production route, Primetals Technologies provides automation systems for stainless steel converters covering the complete range of available refining technologies, such as AOD and K-OBM-S. Our automation solutions focus on ensuring an optimum metallurgical and process technological performance with respect to steel quality and operational costs.

Intelligent control of the converter process is performed by the application of Steel Expert - a comprehensive suite of metallurgical models. Our process optimization models increase the productivity and lead to improved and assured steel quality. The consumption of process gases and reduction agents is optimized and the refractory costs decrease.

To assure top quality stainless steel production, Steel Expert Prediction simulates the complete AOD process before the heat is actually started, using various setpoint models. Steel Expert Charging calculates a cost-optimized mixture of pre-melt portions.

During the process full control of process steps (e.g. decarburization, desulphurization, reduction) is provided and the Steel Expert Supervision dynamically calculates the current state of steel and slag throughout the stainless steelmaking process. Thus the temperature, weight and chemical analysis of steel can accurately be adapted to the planned steel quality.

Further highlighted technological packages:

• Equipment Position Manager: automatic electronic tracking of metallurgical vessels at treatment stations
• Lance Checker: closed loop test system for all types of temperature and sample taking lances

ECO Solutions for converter stainless steelmaking — Saving resources, creating value

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Energy Efficiency

TECHNOLOGY AND MODERNIZATION PACKAGES

Get striking results with incremental investments

Converter Stainless Steelmaking

Name	Short Description

Name	Short Description

Name	Short Description

Name	Short Description
Scrap Torch Cutting Machine	Environmentally clean scrap processing
Scrap Composition Monitor	Automatic identification of unwanted or dangerous ingredients in the scrap
Scrap Profile Monitor	Fully automated 3D profile and volume measurement system for scrap piles
Freeboard Monitor	Online measurement system for ladle freeboard during tapping
BOF Tapping Expert	Safe tapping for all types of steelmaking converters - LD (BOF), AOD and KOBM
AOD Optimizer	Dynamic process optimization (Level 2) for stainless and special steelmaking
Material Type Monitor	Automatic identification of the type of material on conveyor belts
Grain Size Monitor	Acoustic measurement of material grain size on conveyor belts
Discharge Monitor	Acoustic monitoring of truck or wagon discharging
Bag Cleaning Monitor	Acoustic monitoring of pulse jet bag filter plants
Equipment Position Monitor	Reliable identification and tracking of metallurgical equipment throughout the steel plant
Automatic Gas Coupling	Automatic gas coupling for ladle stirring
Bag Filter Controller	Smart control of bag filter cleaning for dedusting plants
Leakage Monitor	Leakage detection system for water cooling circuits
Lomas	Gas analysis system for very hot corrosive and dust-loaded process gases
Lance Checker	Test and diagnosis system for liquid iron and steel measuring devices
LF / RH /VD Optimizer	Dynamic Process Optimization (Level 2) for Secondary Metallurgy (LF/RH/VD)
LiquiRob for Steelmaking	Robotic solution for EAF, BOF, ladle furnace, VD
SlagMon	Reliable slag detection for optimized tapping