Tenova TAKRAF, a subsidiary of Tenova SpA, is a major force in the bulk handling equipment market. It is a global leader specializing in the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of complete systems and equipment for bulk materials.

Tenova’s approach to technological innovation is often based on new process control and automation strategies, with the support of innovative reliable sensors and development of process mathematical models.

Environmental legislation and the need for energy reduction continue to be steelmakers’ major concerns. The use of FlexyTech burners in industrial reheating furnaces are achieving 25-45ppm NOx, well below current legislation limits, while still providing excellent temperature uniformity.

India is the world’s largest producer of DRI. However, 70% of this is produced via coal-based technologies which give inferior quality product and with more pollution than gas-based systems. An expansion of gas-based DRI production is envisaged as Indian steel output increases. Options for expansion include the ENERGIRON ZR process using both natural gas and coal gasification in modules ranging from 200kt/yr to 2Mt/yr, all of which provide a range of flexible process routes, including direct hot feeding to steel furnaces.

The recovery of hydrochloric acid from spent pickling liquor by pyrohydrolysis is both environmentally advantageous, as it removes the need to neutralise and dispose of spent acid and reduces water consumption, as well as cost-effective, as it eliminates disposal costs, reduces the cost of replacement acid and generates a valuable oxide by-product.

Suitable for both hot and cold mill strip rolls this system automatically detects and measures roll defects, classifies them according to source and acceptable threshold, then decides how much roll grinding to perform and where to re-use the roll. The benefits are longer roll life due to less grinding, while maintaining or improving plant safety and product quality.

Like all areas of the steel industry, operators of submerged arc smelting plants are requiring higher productivity, safety and reliability, coupled with reductions in energy and pollution.Tenova Pyromet’s continuous improvement policy provides furnaces with a range of innovations addressing these requirements.

To increase throughput and broaden the range of material treated at Duferco la Louvière, Belgium, a wide range pickling line (WRPL) combination push-pull/semi-continuous pickle line was successfully started in spring 2006, a longside the existing continuous pickle line.

Article in Russian - The ‘intelligent electric arc furnace’, trademarked iEAF™ is an innovative automation system, based on continuous, real-time process measurements and online process models, developed for the dynamic control and optimisation of the electric arc furnace (EAF).

Article in Spanish - A roll defect management system is described which can automatically assess the severity of a roll crack and distinguish between mechanical and thermal induced cracks thereby determining the depth of grinding and reducing the member and level of skill required by operators.