12.05.2021. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG (tkSE) has awarded Tenova LOI Thermprocess, a global operating company in the field of heat treatment plants, with another order for the revamping of burner technology at the continuous galvanising line located in Bochum, Germany.
Modernisation
This modernisation is an important cornerstone in enabling thyssenkrupp Steel to produce high-strength steels (AHSS) in Bochum in the highest quality and with increased production capacity for further use in the automotive industry. In order to meet market requirements and reduce both emissions and energy consumption, the furnace will be equipped with new burners that meet even highest requirements by targeting the lowest possible NOx-emission levels (lower than 140 mg/Nm³ (@3%O2 reference)) during production. In addition, the heating system will be upgraded in order to increase the target strip temperatures to > 900 °C.
Continuous galvanising line in Bochum
Plant in Bochum, Germany. Photo: thyssenkrupp
For LOI Thermprocess, this is the third consecutive modernisation order received for the continuous galvanising line in Bochum, proving the company’s successful R&D development strategy. With a production capacity of 540,000 t/a of high quality galvanised steel it is one of the core production lines of thyssenkrupp Steel for the production of car body parts and AHSS-steels.
The line was commissioned in 1992, and since 2014 major parts have been upgraded with the latest state-of-the-art technologies. In the first phase, the pre-heating and over-aging sections were modified to improve the annealing cycle in over-aging regarding larger heating capacity and improved temperature homogeneity. The energy recovery in the pre-heating section has nearly doubled and therefore the carbon footprint of the line was significantly reduced.
In 2017, a major step towards production of AHSS was realised through a substantial revamp of the fast cooling section. A new set of nozzle boxes, fans and heat exchangers were added to the existing equipment. The system is designed for highest heat transfer coefficients and lowest strip vibrations, even with enlarged strip length without roller support.
Modernisation strategy
Dr. Carsten Groß, team leader of FBA7 at thyssenkrupp Steel:
“The modernisation step that is now pending is important in order to meet our customers’ upcoming requirements for hot-dip galvanised materials. We are also relying on Tenova LOI’s experience and expertise in the field of burner technology for this project. The upgrade of our FBA7 is part of the modernisation strategy at the Bochum site.”
Sascha Bothen, Head of Sales LOI Group:
“Together with tkSE, we developed a well-defined modernisation strategy with intense R&D effort in different steps. This project proves that innovative revamping solutions can give an economic and technological benefit even for plants that have been in operation for a long time.”
(Source: Tenova LOI Thermprocess)
