Thyssenkrupp steel Europe is currently testing a new blast furnace technology designed to enhance process efficiency.
The “Sequence Impulse Process (SIP)” system has now been installed at blast furnace Schwelgern 1 in Duisburg and will serve as a reference plant for marketing, tk Steel notes. Research was carried out by thyssenkrupp AT.PRO tec GmbH, a joint venture with tk Materials Trading GmbH.
“Process development work was focused on the ‘deep action’ of the oxygen,” explains Rainer Klock, manager of furnace metallurgy at the plant. “The aim is to improve gas and liquid flows in the blast furnace and thus improve efficiency. We based this on our knowledge and the targeted use of various gas-dynamic phenomena in the oxygen injection process.”
Technically, this is realised by fitting each of the 40 tuyeres on blast furnace 1 with an additional lance for oxygen injection, Kallanish understands. The 40 lances each have their own injection unit or “SIP box”.
“Improving the efficiency of the blast furnace process optimises the consumption of coke and pulverised coal as reducing agents,” adds Jörg Glebe, managing director of thyssenkrupp AT.PRO tec. “This lowers CO2 emissions and reduces costs. Replacing 5kg of coke with pulverised coal per tonne of pig iron in blast furnace Schwelgern 1 would already result in potential annual cost savings in the millions.”
The unit is holding talks with major plant engineering companies with the aim of launching the process worldwide and supporting installation in blast furnaces.
