An in-depth report on CISDI’s role in the modernisation of a giant blast furnace at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih has been published on the Ukrainian company’s website.

To ensure a smooth progression of BF9’s construction, CISDI had dispatched its specialist team to the site to discuss design and core equipment. Strict pandemic safety measures are in place.

ArcelorMittal applauded CISDI’s expertise and commitment, describing the company as “the world leader in the implementation of engineering projects for the steel industry”.

A screen shot from ArcelorMittal’s web page

The online article, published on March 23, explained that CISDI’s specialist team had been due to arrive at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih’s production site last year to discuss and plan the first stages of the project. But the COVID-19 pandemic, and global quarantine restrictions, had forced postponement.

As a result, a new project schedule was set up and the team from CISDI had arrived on March 22 with the intention of spending up to three months in Kryvyi Rih to carry out basic engineering and preparation of the Stage P and EIA report. 
Representatives from Ukrainian companies STEM and M. Technology joined the welcoming group for CISDI’s specialist team.

The article outlined details of the contract to upgrade BF9. Signed with CISDI in 2019 and worth US$30million, it includes engineering development, critical equipment supply, supervision during erection and commissioning, plus training of plant personnel.

Gowtam Pinapotu, AMKR’s Blast Furnace No. 9 reconstruction project manager, was quoted as saying: “Reconstruction will allow us to introduce new technology to the production of hot metal - we will build a modern blast furnace, which will have compliance to environmental norms. Our Chinese partners have a wealth of experience in implementing such projects. This is a truly professional team.”

CISDI’s project manager Dong Long Louis commented in the article: 
“We have many tasks ahead, but our team includes highly-qualified specialists able to cover the entire technological process of a blast furnace. We have already visited the furnace and acquainted ourselves with the complexities.”

No. 9 is the largest of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih’s four blast furnaces and produces around a half of the plant’s hot metal output.

With a working volume of more than 5,000m³, it is one of the biggest in Europe.

A complex modernisation will enable the furnace to work more efficiently for the next 20 years.

It will have a maximum PCI rate of 200kgs per tonne of hot metal and operate with a reduced coke equivalent (fuel consumption will rely on gas, coal, and coke), resulting in a reduction in the cost of hot metal. 

In-depth on-site analysis has led to the decision to modernise the aspiration system using bag filter technology and install two new axial cyclones to replace the current dust catchers.

Reconstructing the dedusting units will significantly improve environmental performance - dust emissions will fall to less than 35 mg per normal cubic metre (mg/Nm³) and gas cleaning will be improved to reach a maximum of 5 mg/Nm³.

The project will also achieve 100% granulation of slag from the blast furnace and modern dewatering drum technology will optimise water consumption.

Once modernised, the furnace will have a new, thicker outer shell, a modern refractory hearth lining with a ceramic cup and a new closed-type cooling system using copper cooling staves in addition to cast iron staves.

The flat casthouse will function with new equipment, such as hydraulic casthouse machines, top charging equipment and new burden measuring probes. 

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih has now finalised its major orders for the revamp.

Casthouse equipment will be supplied by DHM and the BF shell is to come from Danieli Corus.

The BF no-bell top equipment will be supplied by CISDI, the BF hearth carbon block will be from Takoi COBEX and the casthouse and stockhouse aspiration systems are to be supplied by Sinosteel.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih has also initiated discussion with various local and international subcontractors for the construction work. 

Modernisation will improve the blast furnace’s productivity, taking it to 10,000 tonnes of hot metal per day using existing raw materials and up to 12,500 tonnes using sinter and pellets.

AMKR plans to produce pellets after the construction of a modern pellet plant, with an output of up to 5 million tonnes per year. The pellets will be used as raw materials for blast furnaces, partially to replace the use of agglomerate.

The pellet plant and the future reconstruction of blast furnace No. 9 are key projects in the company’s investment programme. They will significantly reduce coke consumption during sinter and blast furnace processing, which will reduce emissions.