TISCO achieves argon consumption reduction of 25% in ultra-pure Ferritic stainless steel smelting and gains tens of millions of yuan in efficiency.

A few days ago, information came out from the Technology Center of TISCO: after years of research and practice, TISCO carbon dioxide instead of argon steelmaking has achieved multiple results, such as reducing argon consumption, increasing gas recovery, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and so on, with an efficiency of more than 15 million yuan.

Argon is an important process medium for smelting stainless steel and carbon steel, which is mainly used for low blowing stirring and low tuyere cooling in AOD and BOF converters. At present, the mainstream smelting process in the world is "ladle argon blowing refining". The main function of argon is to make molten steel boiling refining by controlling the pressure and time of argon blowing, to achieve the purpose of unifying the chemical composition and temperature of molten steel, speeding up chemical reaction, removing harmful gases and inclusions, purifying molten steel and so on.

As a stainless steel full-process production enterprise, the argon consumption of TISCO is much higher than that of the ordinary carbon steel production plant. Effectively reducing the argon consumption in the steelmaking process is an important measure to reduce the steelmaking production cost. In order to achieve the goal of "double carbon", the researchers of the Technology Center actively implemented the Baowu green low-carbon metallurgy development strategy, focusing on improving energy efficiency and promoting green and low-carbon sustainable development. As early as 2018, China took the lead in studying the partial replacement of argon by carbon dioxide in the steelmaking process, and systematically studied the decarbonization rate, molten pool temperature and lining erosion of carbon dioxide gas in the steelmaking process. In order to achieve the internal recycling of carbon dioxide gas produced by enterprises, and then reduce smelting costs and promote low carbon emissions.

On the basis of a large number of scientific research experiments, TISCO independently developed carbon dioxide instead of argon top and bottom combined blowing smelting stainless steel, carbon steel control technology to achieve ultra-pure Ferritic stainless steel smelting argon consumption reduced by 25%, carbon steel smelting to achieve complete replacement of argon. Since June 2020, carbon dioxide has replaced argon to form large-scale applications. By February this year, a total of 21000 tons of carbon dioxide gas had been used, replacing about 19000 tons of purchased argon gas. It has achieved remarkable results in reducing argon consumption, increasing gas recovery and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and made new contributions to the realization of carbon dioxide energy and resource recycling in iron and steel enterprises, and helping to achieve the goal of "double carbon".

TISCO will resolutely implement the decision-making and deployment of the state and Baowu, combined with the reality of enterprise development, consciously assume the mission and responsibility of stainless steel green environmental protection pioneer and industry innovator, rely on its own advantages in the field of stainless steel, pursue the stars and the sea, set sail great journey, and contribute Taigang's scientific and technological innovation force to Baowu to build a world-class great enterprise.

Author: Shen Wenli and Liu Weidong

The original title: "the technology of carbon dioxide instead of argon in steelmaking of Taiyuan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. has achieved more than 10 million benefits in one move."