Efforts to reduce heat loss in JFE Steel Keihin Steelmaking Shop

by Mikihiro Mori, Takahiko Maeda, Manabu Tano, Takashi Takaoka

Publisher - JFE Steel Corporation, Japan

Category - Engineering & IT

One aim in the steelmaking process at JFE Steel East Japan Works (Keihin) is a high pretreatment ratio of molten pig iron in order to produce ultra-low phosphorus steel. On the other hand, a second aim is a low hot metal ratio from the viewpoint of increasing steel productivity at the same amount of hot metal. To achieve that aim, it is very important to reduce heat loss. This paper describes new methods of reducing heat loss during steelmaking. A special cover made of refractory material was introduced for the pig iron ladle used to transport molten pig iron from the blast furnace to the steelmaking shop. A new crane was also installed to remove the cover from the ladle before receiving the pig iron from the blast furnace. The temperature drop of the molten iron was reduced by 26°C by introducing the cover. The method of charging steel scrap to the ladle before receiving the molten iron was also changed. The maximum amount of scrap that can be charged into an empty ladle was increased from 15t to 25t. On average, a heat loss of the molten pig iron was decreased by 3°C by changing the scrap charging method.

Please login to borrow the book.