Development of effective dedusting of converters by innovative concepts and constructive optimisation (Bofdedust)

This study is a collaborative work between VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (BFI) and ArcelorMittal Bremen GmbH (AMB). It was the aim of the project to compare different types of suction hoods (with and without swirl), to elaborate which are most effective for the given case of fume emission. Additionally effective techniques for fume suppression should be developed. During the project plant data were stored in an operational database and missing data was measured. The data were analysed and input variables for the present physical system were determined. These were used as boundary conditions for the following physical and numerical modelling work. As a result it was shown that the fume capture performance can be improved by modification of the present hoods and fume suppression. The fume capture efficiency increases according to the simulation results from 42 % with the actual hood to 100 % with an optimised hood for the planned flow rate of 750 000 m3/h (STP). After flooding the converter vessel with inert gas before and during scrap charging, the pouring time during hot metal charging could be reduced by 30 %. The new equipment for fume suppression by CO2 injection was tested successfully under real-life conditions. An outcome of the research was an innovative concept to achieve an improved environmental performance in a cost effective way. Optimised emission control can improve the working conditions in many European steel plants and prevent pollution of the environment.