MELTING
OUR SOLUTIONS
Steel smelting in general is the primary activity of the steel industry. This phase is crucial for the steel plant managers. The quality of the steel obtained, its cost price and above all its environmental impact are at stake, which is increasingly under the critical gaze of public institutions.
To make the triptych quality – cost – environment of steel virtuous, CLESID Lorber has made the choice since its creation, to focus its activity and its expertise on the melting of steel. It is through this central and very diverse activity that we support our customers in the search for innovative solutions for :
- Improve productivity
- Improve operator safety
- Reduce the wear or breakage of consumables (graphite electrodes, cooled panels, refractories, etc.)
- Limit the indirect contribution of carbon (burners, etc.)
- Reduce power consumption
These solutions are carried through many products studied and supplied by CLESID Lorber :
- The electric arc furnace
- Scrap metal preheating
- The “Torus” concept
CLESID LORBER
The electric arc furnace
Emblematic melting equipment of the steelworks, the electric arc furnace allows the processing of scrap metal from the recycling sector. Fed continuously or by baskets, whose main and primordial function in its control is the formation of an electric arc creating a hot point allowing the melting of the steel.
Steel plant managers constantly seeking to improve their productivity, profitability and reduce their environmental impact call on CLESID Lorber to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
- The tilting platform
- The shell and its roof
- The superstructure
- The electrode holder
Tilting platform
The tilting platform or “cradle” is the main frame supporting the furnace shell and sometimes the electrode holder and allowing the so-called “casting / deslagging” movement of the furnace. It is a large mechanically welded part that can weigh several tens of tons, which requires precise manufacturing and considerable rigor and know-how when handling it.
Its design must consider :
- Significant mechanical stresses
- The risks associated with liquid metal breakthroughs
- Transport and handling constraints
EQUIPMENT :
Tilting platform for 1t pilot furnace
STUDY CONTEXT :
Design of a platform with pivoting around the spout
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Mechanically welded platform carrying the shell assembly and electrode holder mechanism and roof suspension arm
The shell and the roof
The shell and the roof constitute the laboratory of the furnace. Place of melting and chemical reactions subject to very important thermodynamic and chemical constraints. The correct definition of its characteristics (height, diameter, thickness of refractory and insulation, etc.) guarantees future performance.
Can be of very varied shapes and designs :
- Shell and roof with or without cooled panels
- Concrete or brick filling
- Shell with pouring spout, off-centre or apsed pouring holes
CLESID Lorber is the ideal partner to assist you in defining this equipment :
- Technical choice
- Geometric sizing
- Definition and realization drawings, supply
- Thermal studies…
EQUIPMENT :
Roof equipped for 1t pilot furnace.
STUDY CONTEXT :
Realization of a complete pilot installation
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Monolithic concrete roof fully equipped (fumes collection, materials feeding, etc.) and optimal sealing.
EQUIPMENT :
Roof equipped for 1t pilot furnace.
STUDY CONTEXT :
Realization of a complete pilot installation
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Monolithic concrete roof fully equipped (fumes collection, materials feeding, etc.) and optimal sealing.
Superstructure
The main element of the upper part of the arc furnace, the superstructure acts as the supporting structure for the roof suspension arm assembly and for the electrode holder mechanism.
It is generally a mechanically welded assembly of large dimensions subjected to very high mechanical stresses.
EQUIPMENT :
Superstructure for 1t pilot furnace
STUDY CONTEXT :
Realization of a complete pilot installation
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Superstructure on slewing ring
EQUIPMENT :
Superstructure for 40t furnace
STUDY CONTEXT :
Original superstructure replacement
SOLUTION REALIZED :
New superstructure with water cooled suspension arms.
The electrode holder
Certainly, the most complex equipment that makes up the arc furnace. It can be made up of 3 arms for a three-phase alternating current (AC) furnace or 2 arms for a direct current (DC) furnace.
In most cases, the arm has at least one vertical up and down movement. This movement can be ensured by different types of actuators :
- Hydraulic cylinder
- Steel cable and electric gear motor
- Ball screw and servomotor…
The electrode holder arm has two roles :
- The current supply to the electrode (tube bus, conductive arm,)
- Electrode support (clamp)
EQUIPMENT :
Complete set electrode holder for 1t DC pilot furnace
STUDY CONTEXT :
Realization of a complete pilot installation
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Electrode holder arm assembly for Ø100 electrode (vertical and tilting movements), current supply by tube-bus and injection of inert gas by the electrode
CLESID LORBER
ECOFEEDER an ingenious solution for preheating scrap
According to many experts, preheating is the best way to recover the energy lost in the fumes that are commonly called “off-gas“. Many solutions currently exist on the market with their advantages and disadvantages. Among the disadvantages we can note the inefficiency on the treatment of fumes (post-combustion), and the lack of mechanical reliability.
It is in this context that CLESID Lorber associated with ECO-E offer an innovative concept of preheating scrap metal offering numerous possibilities :
- The preheating of scrap metal by recovering the “off-gas” from the furnace
- Purification of gaseous effluents by incineration of combustible products (fats, oils, paints, etc.) and integrated post-combustion participating in the heating of scrap metal
- The possible use of the energy remaining in the “off-gas” after preheating by appropriate applications (DRI reheating, steam turbine, etc.)
One of the major advantages of this concept is its ease of implementation because it is coupled with an existing arc furnace on which no major modification is necessary or production stoppage. With a low initial investment and few technical risks, the return on investment (ROI) is fast!
EQUIPMENT :
Steelmaking plant (France)Tilting platform on cradles for 40t furnace
STUDY CONTEXT :
Replacement of the existing and aging platform
SOLUTION REALIZED :
Fabricated design platform with a modern and lighter design