Russian steelmaker PAO Severstal, one of the world's largest vertically integrated steel and mining companies, has launched coke battery No. 11, a new 700kt/yr unit using coal charge ramming technology, at its Cherepovets Steel Mill. The new unit will increase coke production to meet increasing cast iron output and, consequently, higher steel production volumes.
Alexander Shevelev, CEO of Severstal, commented: "We have invested more than 34 million rubles in the construction of coke battery No. 11, a project that aligns with market trends and meets our strategic priorities. We aim to be a cost leader, use our own raw materials efficiently, and adapt flexibly and quickly depending on the economic situation. Mastering coal charge ramming technology will enable us to use low-value grades of coal without reducing the quality characteristics of coke. In this way, we are increasing our stability and competitive advantage, while also working towards our goal to produce green steel. With the launch of the first block of the coke battery, we can confirm that Severstal's major investments in upgrading our technology chain are beginning to take effect.”
Severstal claims to be the first steel company in Russia to apply the innovative developments of Luxembourg-based PAUL WURTH in the construction of a coke battery. Modern solutions enable the quality of the coke to be maintained, even when using raw materials with lower quality and cost. A key component of coke battery No. 11 is a ramming loading and ejecting machine (TZVM). This machine, when operating with the correct charge and required characteristics, provides the ramming capability.
According to Severstal, the quality of the coke will be assured, among other things, by a special dry coke quenching unit. The technology guarantees high fuel quality for blast furnaces, since it involves additional calcination and stabilization of the entire coke volume. The USTK unit ensures the absence of moisture, undesirable in the process of blast furnace melting, and increases the cold strength.
In a first for the Russian steel industry, says Severstal, all the unit’s machines are fully automated. For example, the software module creates a signal when the door of the coke pusher can be removed, eliminating the human factor and optimizing staff efficiency. The minimum service life of the coke battery is 40 years.
For Severstal, the environmental advantage of the project is crucial; the system of dust-free delivery of coke from the chamber will provide air quality of up to 10 mg/m3 - the level of the cleanest steel enterprises in the world. The battery complex is equipped with smoke-free loading systems for coke batteries. The design of the furnaces will allow the coke battery to operate with virtually no unplanned releases of gas emissions. As a result of these measures, the specific emissions from the coke battery No. 11 complex will be 20% lower compared to the total specific emissions of coke oven batteries No. 7-10.
The coke battery No. 11 project involves the construction of two blocks, each consisting of 56 furnaces. The unit’s total capacity will be 1.4Mt/yr. Construction work for the second battery block has already commenced on-site, with the launch scheduled for 2021.