A new 140 metric ton twin ladle furnace will be added to the two existing 120 metric t twin ladle furnaces, which were also supplied by Primetals. The additional ladle furnace will enable the entire annual production capacity of 2.8 million metric t of liquid steel to be treated. Also, the new ladle furnace will improve liquid steel quality for use in a continuous casting machine and allow for development of high value added products.
With an annual production of over 38.4 million metric t, Jiangsu Shagang is the largest private steel producer in China. The production capacity is 39.2 million metric t of steel and 37.2 million metric t of rolled products. The range of products includes heavy plates, hot-rolled coils, steel wire, ribbed steel and special round steels.
Steel is produced in Jiangsu Shagang with the aid of LD converters. The new 140 metric t twin ladle furnace from Primetals will be used to help set the desired steel grades and the correct casting temperature for the downstream bloom caster. Some melts will pass through the ladle furnace twice, once before and once after vacuum treatment. A transformer with a rated power of 26 MVA will provide the electrical energy for the ladle furnace. This will enable heating power of over 4 °C/min to be achieved.
Primetals will be responsible for engineering the twin ladle furnace and supplying key components. The scope of supply also includes the associated electrical and automation equipment, such as the Melt Expert electrode control system and associated level 2 models. Primetals will also supervise installation and commissioning, and train the customer’s staff.
_{(Source: Primetals Technologies, Limited)}