ArcelorMittal in Spain is testing a new solution for restarting BF
ArcelorMittal is making a new attempt to restart blast furnace B at its plant in Gijon, Spain. The company has not been producing pig iron as usual since it was shut down for maintenance last summer.
After a failed launch in late September, the company embarked on a new BF ignition operation using a sophisticated method.
"On Tuesday, we resumed the use of oxypropane technology in the blast furnace," an ArcelorMittal representative told Callanish. "We are using two firing rods in two ports at the same time to extract the hardened cast iron from the plant, and we will have to wait a couple of days to see the result."
This process leads to significant wear of the equipment, as it requires drilling in the furnace crucible.
According to employee representatives, production at Plant B can stabilize between the end of January and the first week of February if the launch is successful and the first cast iron smelting takes place at the end of December.
At a recent meeting with trade unions, the company's management denied that it planned to carry out cooling and subsequent emptying of the hopper, citing high costs and the duration of the process, which will take at least three months.
Author: Todor Kirkov Bulgaria
Kallanish.com