Productivity Improvement Using Twin Ladle Cart in Ladle Refining Process

by Masanori Kokita , Satoshi Fukagawa, Masayuki Yamamoto

Publisher - Steel Works- Chubu Steel Plate Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan

Category - Engineering & IT

Chubu Steel Plate (CK) is an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)-based steel plant and produces heavy carbon steel plate. CK has one of the biggest EAF in Japan that melts 200t scrap per heat, the Ladle Furnace (LF) for refining process, the Continuous Casting Machine (CCM) and plate mill.CK has been operating use only 1 handling crane in a steelmaking process. Finishing LF process, we must carry the ladle to the CCM for continue CCM process at first and the ladle after tapping to the LF process. This handling time of the ladle obstructed the productivity improvement of the whole steelmaking process. To solve this problem, introduction of the twin ladle cart system was made. In March, 2012, CK started the operation of this twin ladle cart system. Adding the new cart, we can carry the ladle after tapping (next heat) to the LF process during the previous heat. This operation has enabled minimizing of the idling time. As a result, the idling time was reduced by 11% and CCM productivity was improved by 4%. Chubu Steel Plate (CK) is an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)-based steel plant and produces heavy carbon steel plate. CK has one of the biggest EAF in Japan that melts 200t scrap per heat, the Ladle Furnace (LF) for refining process, the Continuous Casting Machine (CCM) and plate mill.CK has been operating use only 1 handling crane in a steelmaking process. Finishing LF process, we must carry the ladle to the CCM for continue CCM process at first and the ladle after tapping to the LF process. This handling time of the ladle obstructed the productivity improvement of the whole steelmaking process. To solve this problem, introduction of the twin ladle cart system was made. In March, 2012, CK started the operation of this twin ladle cart system. Adding the new cart, we can carry the ladle after tapping (next heat) to the LF process during the previous heat. This operation has enabled minimizing of the idling time. As a result, the idling time was reduced by 11% and CCM productivity was improved by 4%.

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