Title

REDUCTION OF ELECTRODE BREAKAGE DURING OPERATION IN A 130 TON EAF FROM ARCELORMITTAL RESENDE – CASE STUDY

REDUCTION OF ELECTRODE BREAKAGE DURING OPERATION IN A 130 TON EAF FROM ARCELORMITTAL RESENDE – CASE STUDY

Authorship

WANDEKOKEN, THIAGO PINTO

WANDEKOKEN, THIAGO PINTO

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5300-39891

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Abstract

SINCE TAKING OVER OPERATIONS AT THE RESENDE PLANT, IN 2018, THE ARCELORMITTAL GROUP HAS PROMOTED ACTIONS TO REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRODES IN THE ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE (EAF). IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 2020, A WORK GROUP WAS CREATED TO ANALYZE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE HIGH CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRODES. THIS WORK GROUP FOUND A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SKULL FORMATION IN SOME REGIONS OF THE ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE (EAF) AND ELECTRODE BREAKAGE. THIS PAPER AIMS TO PRESENT THE METHODOLOGY CARRIED OUT BETWEEN LUMAR METALS AND ARCELORMITTAL RESENDE TEAMS IN THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PROBLEM, AND PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF ACTIONS TO AVOID THE FORMATION OF SKULLS IN THE EAF AND CONSEQUENTLY TO AVOID ELECTRODE BREAKAGES. THE RESULT OF THE ACTIONS PROPOSED BY THE WORK GROUP WAS A CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION IN THE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRODES AND ALSO GREATER PROCESS STABILITY, DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN ELECTRODE BREAKAGE EVENTS.

Since taking over operations at the Resende Plant, in 2018, the ArcelorMittal Group has promoted actions to reduce the consumption of electrodes in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). In the last quarter of 2020, a work group was created to analyze the possible causes of the high consumption of electrodes. This work group found a strong relationship between skull formation in some regions of the electric arc furnace (EAF) and electrode breakage. This paper aims to present the methodology carried out between Lumar Metals and ArcelorMittal Resende teams in the characterization of the problem, and planning and execution of actions to avoid the formation of skulls in the EAF and consequently to avoid electrode breakages. The result of the actions proposed by the work group was a considerable reduction in the consumption of electrodes and also greater process stability, due to the reduction in electrode breakage events.

Keywords

ELECTRODE BREAKAGE, ELECTRODE CONSUMPTION, Chemical energy, EAF SKULL FORMATION.

ELECTRODE BREAKAGE, ELECTRODE CONSUMPTION, Chemical energy, EAF SKULL FORMATION.