Consteel technology is gaining ground because of its sustainability advantages and feedstock flexibility, and a new mini-mill in Brazil will be the first to use a combination of scrap, pig iron and hot metal.

This paper reviews three of Tenova’s energy saving technologies for electric arc furnaces and reheat furnaces arguing that improvements in existing technologies through its in-house R&D as well as strategic acquisitions of high performance technologies best serve its customers."

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).

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

The Goodfellow Expert Furnace System Optimization Process (EFSOP®) is a dynamic control and optimization system, originally developed for the electric arc furnace (EAF) that is based on the real-time measurement of off-gas composition and process data. Through funding provided, in part, by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), EFSOP® is being applied to BOF steelmaking, Cement and Thermal Power industries.

Nine new Consteel systems were ordered in 2007. This EAF technology is booming in Europe, Asia and again in the United States, where it was originally conceived and engineered 19 years ago. There are now 31 installations in place or under construction in 13 countries. The drivers behind this remarkable success include the outstanding environmental features, reduced electricity consumption and an increase in productivity.

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 installation of two Goodfellow EFSOP systems at Riva Acciaio SpA has resulted in improved electric arc furnace performance in terms of output and productivity, and reduced consumption of consumables, particularly natural gas, carbon and oxygen.

A Roll Shop Management System manages information about rolls, chocks, bearings and grinding wheels. Because of such systems, automation in roll shops has advanced from simply reducing manpower and costs to now supporting day-to-day decisions.

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, alongside the existing continuous pickle line.