The Jindal Steel and Power ltd (JSPl) has created a new world record with 42 heats in its Steel Melting Shop’s New Oxygen Furnace, claims the company.
This unprecedented steel-making feat of 42 heats in a single day was achieved on November 14 this year. Earlier Shagun Steel, China was holding the record with 40 heats in a single day, according to a company press release issued here on Tuesday.
In a tryst to augment cost effectiveness in steel making, JSPl developed a new steel making process - New Oxygen Furnace (NOF), wherein steel is made by charging upto 90 per cent of liquid Hot Metal and using only chemical energy; without the aid of Electrical Energy, it stated.
This innovative process ensures higher yield and productivity, low capital investment as compared to Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). It also leads to lower slag generation and zero electrode consumption, it stated.
As part of the transition process from Electric Arc Furnace to Zero Electric Power Furnace, JSPl installed a new high end ‘Oxygen lances’ in the Furnace along with a high precision Tilting Mechanism and launder for continuous pouring of liquid Metal into the Furnace. Charging of liquid Hot Metal from Blast Furnace into New Oxygen Furnace (NOF), was initiated for controlled and efficient steel making process.
NOF has the flexibility of converting various charge mix of raw material i.e. from 100 per cent DRI to 90 per cent Hot Metal (Zero Electric Power) into steel efficiently. The Furnace is highly adaptable and can be converted from Zero Power NOF to Normal Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and vice versa in a short span of less than 24 hours.
The hard work and dedication of the Operations Management Team at (SMS) Raigarh, collectively resulted in this accomplishment, thereby setting a new global benchmark in the steel making process, the press release stated.
This unique process innovation in steel making – NOF envisages substantial cost savings and the company is currently exploring the possibility of initiating similar modifications in furnaces across plants in Raigarh, Angul and Oman.
Chairman JSPl Naveen Jindal congratulated the team for their innovation and hard work.
Ravi Uppal MD and Group CEO and Pankaj Gautam, Executive Director- Projects and Operations, JSPl Raigarh has given credit of the achievement to the team of steel melting shop.
