SMS group has successfully commissioned a new bellless top closure at Salzgitter Flachstahl AG using the Parallel Hopper Bell Less Top® system from Paul Wurth.
The old bellless top closure from 1977 was replaced by a new Parallel Hopper Bell Less Top® from Paul Wurth as part of this modernization carried out by SMS group, which offers numerous technical and operational improvements.
“We are delighted with the successful completion of our latest project, which builds on the solid foundation of our partnership relationship with Salzgitter that we built in 2015 as part of the relining of blast furnace B. I am extremely proud that we were able to implement so many improvements as part of this project. The collaboration with the Salzgitter team was consistently positive and characterized by mutual trust and great professionalism. We are confident that the results of our joint efforts represent a further step towards innovation and efficiency in steel production and look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership,” says Franziskus Lutwin, Project Manager at SMS group.
Improvement in modernization
The new design, which is much easier to maintain thanks to improved accessibility and new removal aids, leads to a significant reduction in maintenance times.
To improve operational efficiency, the modernization of the charging system at blast furnace A included the overhaul and integration of key components such as the spherical maintenance gate, the damper drive, the material bunker and the distributor rocker. The upgrade also included a new primary balancing system with reconfigured piping, dampers and a silencer, as well as a state-of-the-art hydraulic and lubrication station, which was delivered as a turnkey container.
By installing a new silencer, noise emissions were significantly reduced, which helps to improve the environmental impact of the operation. The rationalization of the balancing system through simplified piping improves operational processes. The new design increases sustainability and significantly reduces environmental impact by significantly reducing dust and blast furnace gas emissions.
In addition, the newly constructed hydraulic room offers more space, better access and an optimized equipment layout on an area of 50 square meters, which makes it easier to carry out maintenance work and operational tasks.
"We are completely satisfied with the new solutions for the bell-less top closure. All our requirements and expectations were met and implemented. The cooperation with the SMS group team was excellent and characterized by a collegial atmosphere. After the furnace was blown on, the installed equipment is now working perfectly. Finally, I would like to thank the SMS group team and Paul Wurth for the good work they have done and our excellent, long-standing partnership," explains René Rockstroh, Operations Director of the blast furnace plant at Salzgitter.
