Fuxin Special Steel orders low energy stainless steel plant

It will be the first stainless steel plant in the world to employ the waste heat from the AOD converter and the electric arc furnace.

The new construction project at the Zhangzhou location in the southeast of the Chinese province of Fujian comprises plant and equipment for stainless steelmaking from scrap via the Duplex route, a continuous slab caster and comprehensive environmental technology systems for gas cleaning and energy recovery. The works will have a capacity of 720kt/y. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2012.

The supply scope from SMS Siemag comprises the complete basic and detailed engineering, the supply of mechanical and electrical core components, the X-Pact electrical and automation package including the process automation (Level 1) and the metallurgical process models (Level 2), all supplied items, and the supervision of erection and commissioning.

The X-Melt steel plant consists of a 160t EAF with tapping spout, a 180t AOD-L converter and a 180t ladle furnace. AOD vessel changing is performed by using the proven changing car concept. This enables the converter vessel to be changed in half the time taken using the conventional method.

The steelworks will be equipped with an innovatory X-e² energy recovery system to capture the thermal energy of the hot waste gases from the EAF and AOD to produce superheated steam.

The two energy recovery systems will supply 36t of saturated steam per hour. This will be fed into the works’ steam network for various uses. The customer will benefit from savings not only in energy but also in CO₂ emissions.

The range of grades produced by the steelworks comprises ferritic, austenitic and martensitic stainless steels.

The works layout already makes provision for a second expansion stage, allowing production capacity to be doubled.

Fuxin Special Steel Co. Ltd. is part of the Formosa Plastics Group, a private company group with head office in Taipei, Taiwan.