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By Paul Riches

LR Process Expert is a cost-efficient process automation system for all types of long rolling mills, including, rod, bar, section, rail, reversing mills, and flat blocks. The system performs a wide range of tasks for optimized operation – from suggesting pass schedules to calculating and downloading optimized mill settings according to the availability of rolls. LR Process Expert also monitors and collects data from the raw material stage through to the finished product. It delivers valuable mill reports to the operator staff and management so they can easily assess a plant’s performance and optimize production. Defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) help to assess a plant’s performance; this system is not limited to one plant but can enable plant-toplant performance at corporate level.

Aug 16, 2017

By Eder Quental de Araújo

É apresentado o Balanço Energético Global da Gerdau Ouro Branco 2016, com os principais indicadores de consumo energético das áreas produtoras. Além dos indicadores energéticos globais, o balanço apresenta os consumos físicos específicos de cada insumo nas diversas áreas, permitindo a análise de cada setor da usina isoladamente. Destaca-se em 2016: - Início de operação do Laminador de Chapas Grossas. - Maior produção de laminados da história da Usina Ouro Branco.

Jan 26, 2018

By Hana Livia Frota Coelho

Durante a laminação a quente a superfície de aço é exposta ao ar e água, sendo esta última utilizada para controlar a temperatura dos rolos e/ou a taxa de refrigeração do aço. Esta exposição leva à formação de uma camada de óxido na superfície das barras, que pode facilitar ou dificultar a corrosão, servindo como uma barreira ou como um caminho para íons presentes na atmosfera e, além disso, causar modificações nas propriedades mecânicas. O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar o efeito do processo de resfriamento após laminação a quente sobre o desempenho de vergalhões de aço microligado frente a propriedades mecânicas e a formação da camada de óxidos. Os vegalhões produzidos com diferentes métodos de resfriamento tiveram análise de microestrutura, tração, microdureza, dobramento, espessura da carepa formada, análise de corrosão e foram expostos à atmosfera. O progresso da corrosão foi avaliado pela observação visual do produto de corrosão formado sobre a superfície das barras. A morfologia da camada de óxido após o processo de laminação foi estudada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). As amostras que tiveram uma taxa de resfriamento maior, 63%P e 100%P, tiveram também um aumento nas propriedades mecânicas. A amostra 100%P foi a que obteve melhor comportamento frente ao ensaio de corrosão. Além disso, verificou-se que a camada de óxido inicial nas barras de aço, que são relacionados com o processo de fabricação, possuiam aderência diferente ao vergalhão, sendo a melhor condição observada nas amostras 63%P e 100%P.

Oct 30, 2017

By Danielle Gonçalves Campos

Com o ensaio de RDI (Índice de Degradação sob Redução), pode-se determinar a geração de finos durante a redução da carga metálica no alto-forno, e com o RI (Índice de Redutibilidade) determina-se a capacidade do sínter em ceder oxigênio para o gás redutor. São ensaios de extrema importância, pois com o RDI é possível medir a degradação do sínter quando submetido a condições redutoras do alto-forno, e com o RI entende-se o grau de redução da carga metálica momentos antes do início de seu processo de amolecimento. Com a instalação deste forno no Laboratório de Redução da CSN, será possível correlacionar os componentes do sínter, e de outras cargas metálicas, avaliando suas influências no produto, e, consequentemente, em suas utilizações no alto-forno.

Aug 1, 2018

By Rodrigo Alberto Moreira Gomes

Para a purificação do níquel laterítico explorado na mina localizada em Niquelândia/GO, pela Votorantim Metais Níquel (VMN), utiliza-se solução amoniacal durante a etapa de lixiviação do minério, seguindo a rota hidrometalúrgica de produção. A amônia é recuperada em torres de destilação por arraste com vapor vivo, para ser reutilizada em um novo ciclo de produção. Este trabalho apresenta a aplicação de uma tecnologia baseada em lógica Fuzzy no conjunto de 6 torres de recuperação de amônia, com o objetivo de controlar as alimentações de solução a ser purificada e de vapor. A plataforma de controle avançado utilizada, Leaf, foi desenvolvida pela I.Systems Automação Industrial, empresa localizada em Campinas/SP, e não necessita da criação de modelos matemáticos fenomenológicos para geração e sintonia dos controladores. Com a automatização da operação das torres, o consumo de vapor da unidade foi reduzido em 3,5% e a intervenção manual foi reduzida.

Sep 25, 2017

By Stefano Baf

This paper describes the main technical and process solutions applied to the extrathick and wide slab caster built at Yingkou (Liaoning, P.R. of China), as well as all the features required to achieve the surface and internal quality targets.

Aug 16, 2017

By Roberto Gomes da Silveira Junior, Marcos Cordeiro Fonseca, Geraldo da Conceição Morais, Manoel Gomes de Souza Neto

Sinter maximization in the blast furnaces charge has proven to be the most economically viable way to produce pig iron at Usiminas. This fact has led the company to develop projects aimed at increasing the production of sintering. In this context, the present work shows the recent experience of Sintering Machines 1 and 2 drum mixer exchanging contributing to the increase of operational productivity due to the optimization of the original design. For 13 days was the replacement of the original drum installed in 1974 by a new drum with improvements in the design of the internal and the sprinkling water system. The improvements contributed to the effective formation of micro-pellets and, as a result, increased productivity of Sinter Machines. Several aspects of the project are presented: engineering, planning, safety, manufacturing, technical quality, schedule and a comparison between the parameters of the equipment operation before and after the implantation

Oct 1, 2019

By Carlos Renato Inchoste Meure, José Ernesto Boff

Nowadays, many companies have the idea where to be occupied is to be productive, this work aims to show with practical tests that to get the best performance of the machine with tools of high performance and yield is the best option for a company to become productive and economic at the same time . The company targeted for this work began its activities in the Metallurgical branch more than 75 years, Metisa Metalúrgica Timboense serves the national and international market with several product lines. Due to its large backlog of overdue hours, a job was started in the tooling sector to make the process faster and more economical. In this context, this work has as general objective the restructuring of the critical processes of the tooling sector, aiming at a better functioning of the organization and greater satisfaction of its direct clients. In addition, this work has specific objectives, such as (1) application of high performance tools, (2) analysis and improvement of existing processes, development and application of new processes, (3) (High Speed Machining) (4) production monitoring and technical support for maintenance of new processes. Thus, after the implementation of the process improvements, it was possible to obtain a reduction of 81% in the final cost and 80.5% in the process time. In addition, with some of the new processes deployed, there was a reduction in the use of personal resources and better management of machine hour load and a significant gain in the sector response time.

Nov 22, 2018

By Eduardo Poltronieri Trés, Francisco de Assis Dutra Macedo, Gilvandro Bueno, Anderson Denadai Thomzini

The first industrial applications of roller presses at the comminution were in 1984 in the cement industry. Since then, the equipment has taken more space in the mineral industry. However, many challenges are still present in this equipment, more specifically regarding to ore breakage predictability. The application of this equipment in the pellet feed preparation is fundamental to increase the surface area (blaine index) of the mineral using reduced energy consumption. However, even after several pressing steps, it is still challenging to achieve granulometry in percentages required for the pelletizing process. Currently these levels are reached in wet milling processes, typically carried out in wet ball mills. For the of pellets formation in pelletizing plants, both pelletizing and the firing processes requires finer granulometry. The motivation of this work is to study the pelletizing process, comparing the physical quality of the pellets produced only through comminuted ore in roller press the pellets produced in conventional comminution using circuit with ball mill.

Oct 1, 2019

By Bruno Pinheiro Silva, João José dos Santos Carvalho, Flávio Túlio Busatto, Leonardo Passos Perdigão

Sinter has high participation in the blast furnaces ferrous burden in ArcelorMittal Tubarão, being therefore of paramount importance the constant control of its physical, chemical and metallurgical qualities, aiming at the fulfillment of the client required quality. With the great challenges faced by market conditions, steelmaking companies seek operational sustainability, aiming at stability and reducing costs. One of the main steps to obtain these results in the Blast Furnaces is the raw materials quality stabilization, in order to guarantee the perfect burden distribution control and a better use of the reductant gas inside the reactor, aiming a lower fuels consumption. It is known that the smaller a ferrous particle is, better its reducibility, since a larger surface area provides greater contact with the reductant agent. Based on this concept, the objective of this work is to quantify the effect of the sinter size produced in ArcelorMittal Tubarão Sinter Plant in its reducibility, and in this way enable the definition of a better sinter particle size distribution aiming at a balance between the permeability effects and gaseous yield in the Blast Furnaces. In addition, the reducibility effects on sinter size reduction were evaluated, where the 5 to 10 mm fraction was analyzed in two sinter samples, the first obtained from the conventional route and the second after crushing of the fraction over 50 mm, in order to simulate the effect of the use of a Secondary Crusher in Sintering.

Oct 1, 2019

By Denisio Miranda Custódio, Rodrigo Boyer, Josiane Lira Batista Haagensen, Raquel Teixeira Pereira, Felipe Viana Pimenta, Rossano Augusto Pilon Nunes

In the Tubarão Pelletizing Plants, anthracite is used as solid fuel, which has fixed carbon content of 72%. This paper will present the pilot scale results and industrial scale tests of an alternative fuel to anthracite, named Blast Furnace Dust. All the work was developed using samples from Arcelor Mittal Tubarão, due to it has a large source of production and is near to Vale/SA, which reduces significantly the cost for the material’s transportation. There was an impact on the variability in fixed carbon results of the slurry, mainly at the beginning of the test, reaching very high levels and put on risk the pellets physical’s quality. This variation can be explained by some operational disturbances and, mainly, by the low predictability of Blast Furnace Dust quality and lack of an adequate system for material preparation and dosage.

Oct 1, 2019

By Ismael Vemdrame Flores, Lindaura de Souza Cândido D’ Avila, Maurício Covcevich Bagatini, Arthur Felipe Lino Oliveira, Rafael Adriano Lopes Júnior

The use of pellet feed to adjust the chemical quality of the sinter is an alternative to the depletion of iron ore reserves. However, the addition of ultrafine in the sintering process can cause decrease of permeability and consequent drop in machine productivity. In this context, the present work investigated the addition of natural and ground pellet feed, evaluating its effects on cold agglomeration for sintering and quality of quasi-particles produced. Eight typical mixtures with industrial composition were produced in the laboratory, replacing Sinter Feed with different percentages of Natural Pellet Feed (NPF, 91% <150 μm) and Ground Pellet Feed (GPF, 83% <44 μm). The mixtures were subjected to cold agglomeration tests and the quasi-particles produced were evaluated by screening, shatter test, permeability test and disintegration into primary particles analysis. There was a decrease in the mean particle size of quasi-particles and reduce in permeability with addition of the ultrafines. The addition of NPF favored the layering mechanism in larger quasi-particles. The coalescence mechanism occurred for larger additions of NPF and GPF, being more expressive for GPF additions.

Oct 1, 2019

By Lilian Silva Costa, Laila Bonzi Ramos, Marcela Lessa de Freitas, Igor Quaresma Vianna

The eighth pelletizing plant, located at the Tubarão complex Industrial Unit of Vale S/A in Vitória-Espirito Santo-ES, processes a pellet feed primarily composed of compact and friable itabirite from Itabira and Brucutu concentration plants, located in the iron quadrangle in Minas Gerais-MG. The use of hydrated ores in the composition of the fine piles, such as Brucutu's common fines amphibolite itabirite (FABR), and Fábrica Nova pellet feed (PEFN), contributed to increase the energy efficiency of comminution, increasing the production of tumbling ball mills, minimizing the impacts during a mill preventive maintenance.

Oct 1, 2019

By Thiago Pinto Silva, Leandro Rocha Lemos, Luiz Fernando Andrade de Castro

This paper shows an evaluation about effect of dispersant sodium silicate along to limestone, in the form of pulp, on the cold agglomeration process for iron ore sintering. Before that, it was verified the effect of pH, solids content and amount of dispersant on the stability of the system (limestone, water and sodium silicate). It was found that the lower the solids content, the more alkaline pH and the amount of sodium silicate equal to 20 l for each 1t of limestone, was the level of dispersion of the system. The influence of the limestone pulp with dispersant depended on the granulometry of the ore mixture and the type of technological route. For the thinner type (42,8% <0.15mm), the limestone pulp with dispersant reduced the resistance of the adherent layer of the cold agglomerates, regardless of the technological route. However, for the coarser type (24,7% <0.15mm), the limestone pulp with dispersant increased the average size of the aggregates, preserving the resistance of the adherent layer when manufacturing with two intensive mixers in series.

Oct 1, 2019

By Walter Luiz Castro dos Santos, Leandro Resinentti Zanon

In the production of iron ore pellets, one of the factors that strongly influence the cost of ore-pellet processing is the specific consumption of natural gas that occurs during the thermal processing stage of the pellets. The filtration process is the step where the adequacy of the moisture percentage of the retained pulp occurs, so that subsequently there is the processing in the subsequent stages of the pellet formation and hardening of pellets. The water contained in the raw pellet is withdrawn at the stage of thermal processing. For this purpose, the literature indicates the demand of 600 Kcal/kg of water for the heating and vaporization of the moisture of raw pellets. The statistical analysis of the performance data of a pelletizing plant showed that for each decrement of 0.1% of water in the retained pulp is equivalent to the reduction of 0.091 Nm3 in the consumption of natural gas per tonne of pellets produced. Thus, the proper performance of the filtration stage is essential to reduce the percentage of pulp moisture retained and consequently to increase the energy efficiency of the pelletizing furnaces. The aim of this article is to present the main steps in conducting a work to increase the filtration performance to reduce the percentage of retained pulp moisture and the positive impacts on the specific natural gas consumption of a plant Pelletizing.

Oct 1, 2019

By Paula Maria Gomes Cunha Leão, Flávio de Castro Dutra, Fabrício Vilela Parreira, Silvio Maranha

In the iron ore beneficiation, tailings are inherent in the concentration processes to which the ores are subjected for the production of commercial products. The large generation of tailings has been motivating the study of technological alternatives for its reuse, with the development of processes that contemplate the concentration of fine ore particles present in the tailings, such as the reintroduction of these particles in the process of manufacture of the iron and steel itself, through the agglomeration techniques such as briquetting. The aim of this article is to study the technical feasibility of the production of iron ore tailings and coking coal briquettes for use in reduction reactors, through a systematic review of the literature on agglomeration, briquetting and self-reduction processes, covering the main variables that influence the production of high quality briquettes, such as binders use, binder behavior of coking coal, coal granulometry, iron ore and coal proportion, compacting pressure and temperature of thermal treatment and the effects of these variables on briquettes final properties.

Oct 1, 2019

By Davi Silva Braga, Alexssander Lopes Sampaio, Rodrigo Carneiro de Oliveira

Vallourec was world pioneer in the deployment, development and consolidation of technology for the use of pulverized charcoal as the main energy source on the first Grate-kiln pelletizing plant in Brazil. The objective of this work was to delve into the subject and to bring more information about this innovative practice of Vallourec that has been attracting the attention of other companies in the steel industry. Industrial tests confirmed the technical feasibility, taking Vallourec ahead in the project of adaptation and investment. With consolidated data of two years and five months from the beginning of the implementation, the main benefits are the average reduction of CO₂e emissions by 50%, cost reduction higher than expected and return on investment in just 19 months.

Oct 1, 2019

By Artur Frederico Fonseca da Cruz, Jael Moutinho dos Santos

The problem of iron ore sticking and premature wear on screening rolls on balling systems is recurrent. The importance of the "screening" function of the roller classifier is fundamental, since in perfect conservation state and operation it is possible to ensure the performance improvement of the most expensive phase in the pelletizing production chain, the thermal processing. The present works target is the identification of possible causes of iron ore adhesion in classifier rollers and develop a methodology to evaluate and quantify the iron ore sticking mechanism on the classifier surface. For this purpose, iron ore and additives were collected at four different pelletizing plants in terms of iron ore origins and process flows, three different rollers were chosen for testing around the adhesive energy at the iron ore mixture/rolls surface interface. As results, it was possible to construct methodologies to evaluate the aggregability, it was observed the importance of "specific moisture" definition and knowledge on the adhesive energy increase, besides presenting the better performance of rolls with tungsten carbide coating than other evaluated.

Oct 1, 2019

By Luís Marcelo Marques Tavares, Gilvandro Bueno, Túlio MoreiraCampos

The HPGR development and application in the minerals industry resulted in an important increase in its application in iron ore pellet feed processing in the last decades. Vale SA was one of the pioneers in application of the HPGR in integrated plants, currently operating with six HPGRs in the pelletizing plants of Complexo de Tubarão (Vitória, ES). The work uses the mathematical model of the HPGR, proposed by Torres & Casali and modified by the present authors, to predict the performance of two industrial pellet feed HPGR units of the Complexo de Tubarão. Besides model validation, results of process simulations are shown in order to optimize the pellet feed pressing according to industrial demands, presenting different scenarios that are more attractive to HPGR operation. Simulations showed that it is feasible to reduce the specific surface area of the HPGR feed from 1770 cm²/g to 1570 cm²/g, allowing to produce a pellet feed of the same quality in its product (1911 cm²/g) and therefore reduce the work done by upstream ball milling.

Oct 1, 2019

By Larissa Rodrigues de Carvalho Rocha, Mauro Vivaldino Fernandes, Beatriz Fausta Gandra

A composição química do gás redutor afeta, de forma marcante, sua difusividade através do leito e a capacidade de redução da carga metálica. Associado a isto, o cenário econômico e ambiental indica a necessidade de se buscar cada vez mais elevada produtividade dos altos-fornos, com baixo consumo de combustível e menor emissão de CO2. Para tanto, as empresas têm buscado operar com elevada taxa de injeção de carvão e, em casos de política favorável, intensificar o uso de gás natural em altos-fornos. Nestes casos, a quantidade de material reduzida via H2, em comparação ao CO, é aumentada. No presente trabalho, são apresentados os resultados de ensaios em amolecimento e fusão (A&F) de dois tipos de granulados, de um tipo de pelota e de um sínter industrial, utilizando-se como redutor um gás com diferentes teores de H2 (0% a 12%). Verificou-se que, para o granulado, não há uma tendência definida. Embora um maior teor de hidrogênio possa favorecer a redução, isto não refletiu em melhor permeabilidade do leito. No caso da pelota estudada, houve leve tendência de melhora nos parâmetros avaliados quando se tem o gás mais rico em hidrogênio. No entanto, seu desempenho em A&F foi muito aquém daquele esperado para este tipo de carga, uma vez que apresentou elevada resistência à permeabilidade associada à baixa redutibilidade até o início do amolecimento. Para o sínter, foi identificada evidente melhora nos aspectos de redução e de permeabilidade do leito.

Oct 1, 2019