Title

The VAI-CON® Link Suspension System from Development to Six Years of Experience

The VAI-CON® Link Suspension System from Development to Six Years of Experience

Authorship

Furter, G.; Sadler, T.; Staudinger, G.

Furter, G.

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Sadler, T.

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Staudinger, G.

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5300-0060

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Abstract

Since the invention of the LD process in 1949 by VOEST-ALPINE in Linz, Austria, VAI has continuously improved the process as well as the equipment itself. One of the most important parts of the modern converter equipment is the converter suspension. Since the very beginning VAI has developed and applied statically determined suspension systems. This means the converter is stably suspended in the trunnion ring, but any deformation, caused for example by thermal expansion or long-term deformation, is not hindered at all. Hence, no additional stresses are introduced to the system from deformation. In the beginning a bracket type system was used, and later the so-called VAI-CON® Disk system was applied very successfully. The increase in the revamping business of recent years, however, has led to the development of a new suspension system—the well-known VAI-CON® Link suspension system. The first installation went into operation in December 1997 in a 170-ton LD converter at ISPAT ISCOR Newcastle in South Africa. VAI currently has 24 references worldwide. The suspension system runs completely free of maintenance. The solid design of the suspension elements even allow them to withstand burn-throughs without any major damage. Even when they come into direct contact with liquid steel, the main components are not damaged at all and need not to be replaced. Experience gained at ISCOR and SSAB Lulea (Sweden) has demonstrated this impressively. This paper describes the results of a system inspection after five years of operation. The largest North-American steel producer, US Steel, has recently decided to install this system in a 180-ton LD converter at Kosice in the Republic of Slovakia.

Since the invention of the LD process in 1949 by VOEST-ALPINE in Linz, Austria, VAI has continuously improved the process as well as the equipment itself. One of the most important parts of the modern converter equipment is the converter suspension. Since the very beginning VAI has developed and applied statically determined suspension systems. This means the converter is stably suspended in the trunnion ring, but any deformation, caused for example by thermal expansion or long-term deformation, is not hindered at all. Hence, no additional stresses are introduced to the system from deformation. In the beginning a bracket type system was used, and later the so-called VAI-CON® Disk system was applied very successfully. The increase in the revamping business of recent years, however, has led to the development of a new suspension system—the well-known VAI-CON® Link suspension system. The first installation went into operation in December 1997 in a 170-ton LD converter at ISPAT ISCOR Newcastle in South Africa. VAI currently has 24 references worldwide. The suspension system runs completely free of maintenance. The solid design of the suspension elements even allow them to withstand burn-throughs without any major damage. Even when they come into direct contact with liquid steel, the main components are not damaged at all and need not to be replaced. Experience gained at ISCOR and SSAB Lulea (Sweden) has demonstrated this impressively. This paper describes the results of a system inspection after five years of operation. The largest North-American steel producer, US Steel, has recently decided to install this system in a 180-ton LD converter at Kosice in the Republic of Slovakia.

Keywords

Converter, Suspension system, Revamping, maintenance free

Converter, Suspension system, Revamping, maintenance free