Chinese steelmaker Chengdu Changfeng Steel Group (Chengdu Changfeng) has contracted Primetals Technologies of Austria to supply an EAF Quantum electric arc furnace and a ladle furnace for its plant in Dujiayan city, Sichuan Province, China.
The order marks Primetals’ ninth EAF Quantum for China.
Primetals’ EAF Quantum furnace is designed to handle scrap steel of varied composition and quality. Its electrical energy requirement is claimed to be ‘extremely low’ because the scrap is pre-heated. “This reduces both the operating costs and the CO2 emissions. The twin ladle furnace sets the desired steel grades and the correct casting temperature,” explained Primetals.
Chengdu Changfeng is a medium-sized state-owned enterprise based in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The company operates three steel branches, one oxygen production company, and one mechanical manufacturing and processing company. For the new EAF Quantum electric arc furnace and the twin ladle furnace, Primetals Technologies will supply the complete mechanical and electrical process equipment and the automation technology. This includes the automated scrap yard management, the automated charging process, automation of the oxygen injection and sand refilling, as well as the Level 2 automation, which makes the plant ready for Industry 4.0.
The new furnaces are scheduled to be commissioned in early 2020.
The EAF Quantum is claimed to combine proven elements of shaft furnace technology with ‘an innovative scrap charging process, an efficient preheating system, a new tilting concept for the lower shell, and an optimised tapping system’. According to Primetals, this all adds up to very short melting cycles.
The Quantum furnace’s electricity consumption is claimed to be ‘considerably lower than that of a conventional electric arc furnace’. Factor in lower consumption of electrodes and oxygen, and there’s an overall advantage in the specific conversion cost of around 20%. In comparison to conventional electric arc furnaces, says Primetals, total CO2 emissions can also be reduced by up to 30% per metric ton of crude steel. An integrated dedusting system with modern automatic off gas control fulfills all environmental requirements, the company claims.