NLMK boosts sustainability of blast furnace operations
NLMK Lipetsk has completed an upgrade of Blast Furnace No. 4 with a capacity of 2.1 m t of pig iron per year.
The project includes an environmental upgrade of the furnace infrastructure. All the dust generated during hot metal production will be captured by a highly efficient dedusting system. The system ensures a purification efficiency of 99.9%, which is in line with the best available technologies. The new equipment will also enable more efficient blast furnace gas treatment for it to be utilized as a secondary energy source. Filtered dust will be utilized in the production of iron-containing briquettes, or fed back into the blast furnace process.
As part of the project, the furnace was equipped with a new lining, special refractory blocks that will enhance the resistance of the furnace’s internal surface to thermal loads. Technical solutions and advanced materials will ensure stable operation of the furnace for the next 20 years.
After the furnace overhaul, emissions are expected to reduce by 200 t per year. After the associated upgrade of air heaters is completed in 2022, the reduction in gross emissions will total 7,700 t per year.
Investments in the blast furnace overhaul and upgrade project exceeded RUB 23 bn. During the project, there would be up to 3,000 people working on site; more than 16,000 t of metal structures were used.
The equipment is expected to reach its design capacity by the end of February.
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