Siemens to modernize NatSteel finger-shaft electric arc furnace in Singapore
23.04.2012, 01:00
Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd (NatSteel) to comprehensively modernize the finger-shaft electric arc furnace in its Singapore Works. The project involves installing a new FAST (furnace advanced slag-free tapping) system, renewing the furnace shaft and the lower shell, and bringing the automation of the arc and ladle furnace up to the state-of-the-art. This will increase productivity and reduce the specific power requirement of the furnace even further. Commissioning is planned for March 2013.
Siemens supplied the 80-ton finger-shaft furnace currently run by NatSteel in Singapore. The furnace has a round bottom tap and a maximum input power of 56 MVA. This furnace is already achieving consumption figures of less than 290 kilowatt-hours per ton of steel, which makes it one of the most efficient furnaces in the world.
In order to increase the productivity of the furnace and even further reduce the specific energy requirement, Siemens will install new mechanical equipment based on the Simetal EAF Quantum solution platform specially developed for electric arc furnaces, and new automation equipment. The main feature of the furnace modernization will be the installation of the FAST system, as well as a new anode. The lower shell of the furnace will also be adapted, and the opportunity will be taken to automate the plugging of the tap hole. The FAST system helps to reduce the tap-to-tap time, and so increase productivity by around six percent. At the same time, the specific energy input falls by some five kilowatt-hours per ton.
The furnace shaft will also be modernized and the offgas ducting improved, which will minimize pressure loss. An integrated dust precipitation chamber below the furnace platform will reduce the cost of cleansing and make working safer. The scrap bucket will be positioned fully automatically in future. The project also includes upgrading the basic automation of the ladle furnace in the Singapore steel works from Simatic S5 to Simatic S7. Siemens will also be responsible for supervision services during installation and commissioning of all the new equipment.
NatSteel is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Tata Steel, and one of the leading steelmakers in the Asia-Pacific Region. The company has 3,000 employees at locations in Singapore, China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Australia, and produces over two million tons of steel products per annum, mainly for the region's construction industry.
Further information about solutions for steel works, rolling mills and processing lines is available at: http://www.siemens.com/metals
You can find the picture on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com/mt-picture/IMT201204149
(Computer-animated representation of the NatSteel finger-shaft electric arc furnace modernized by Siemens in Singapore)
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the Sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency, and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/industry
The Metals Technologies Business Unit (Linz, Austria), part of the Siemens Industry Sector, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of plant construction and engineering in the iron and steel industry as well as in the flat rolling segment of the aluminum industry. The Business Unit offers a comprehensive product and service portfolio for metallurgical plants and equipment as well as integrated automation and environmental solutions covering the entire lifecycle of plants. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/metals
Based on Siemens (Industry Sector, Metals Technologies) information
