PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih started hot testing of the new coke oven battery No. 5. Its operation will enable the company to minimize the volumes of coke purchased, which is at least twice more expensive than the one produced in-house.
Kriviy Rih metallurgists started construction of COBs Nos. 5, 6 in 2013. First, the sixth battery was constructed – with its hot testing started in February 2017, and about a year later, pre-commissioning of the fifth battery started. The cost of the whole complex of new batteries is $160 million – this is one of the major investment projects within extensive modernization program of PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih.
In total, the plant needs approximately 2.5 million tons of coke per year. From now on, the company will be able to produce about 2.4 million tons annually, and of those 1 million tons will be from new batteries Nos. 5, 6. After the sixth battery was started, the company decreased the volumes of coke purchased by some 40-50%. In fact, after the fifth battery joins the operation, PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih will cover its need in coke.
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih is the only metallurgical company in Ukraine, which has built absolutely new coke producing facilities of higher performance through a special technical solution. Pre-stamping technology, as well as smoke-free charging serve to improve the output quality, and increase coke strength reactivity up to 55-60%.
Apart from that, the stamping technology will cheapen the coke at the new batteries. First of all, with cheaper gases and low-caking coal used in a blend, and reduced volumes of expensive and deficit material (mostly Australian and American). This is especially crucial taking into account lack of high-quality coke in Ukraine, and high prices and tough logistics to import coal concentrate from overseas.
New technologies and environmental focus at COBs Nos. 5, 6 reduce emissions 2-fold against the emissions at these batteries before modernization. As per the design, cumulative reduced emission rate for both batteries will make 1600 tons per year.
Advanced BREF-technologies for dust and gas emission are deployed at all coke production stages – starting from blend charging, then coking and up to the final product pushing– the raw material for downstream. For that, there is smoke-free charging of stamped cake with hydroinjection in place, modern dust free coke pushing plant built. In order to localize dust emissions during coke pushing, gas-tight improved doors are installed. Nitrogen system is applied to ensure proper sealing of covers and rising pipe nozzles.
New gas cleaning plants are installed at all coke transportation and pushing stages. The first among Ukrainian coke and by-product plants, the environment monitoring system is there. To do so, new dust meters and gas analyzers are installed at the flue stacks of COBs Nos. 5, 6, giving the company the data on emissions and dusting on-line.
Moreover, working conditions are now better. The dust and gas level in the working zone is reduced by 30%. There is more mechanization and automation for maintenance of coke ovens and main process equipment, which significantly lessened work severity. Ventilation and air conditioning system is installed to have proper airflow indoor.
Paramjit Kahlon, Chief Executive Officer, PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih: “Construction of coke oven batteries at our plant and the first coke produced at the fifth battery is another milestone for PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih. We are implementing a large-scale modernization program at our plant – the total investment sum will be approximately $1.5 billion until 2020. And very soon, we are to start new process facilities. In this way, we are creating stable future for new generations of Kriviy Rih metallurgists”. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)