The Gimbal Top distribution system for blast furnaces was introducedin October 2006. With this solution any burden profile can begenerated by directing the feed material to any point on the furnacestock line. This is made possible by innovative design features whichallow the chute angle and position to be continuously adjustedduring material discharging. The described Gimbal Top Distributor isfit for the high-temperature and high-pressure environment of ironmakingplants.

The application of mathematical process models for BOF convertersis state-of-the-art for nearly all plants around the world. Such anautomation system may end up in a black box that is not maintainableany more and cannot be adapted to new requirements. Someprinciple experiences and examples from EKO Stahl are presentedto avoid such developments.

Substituting used tyres for anthracite in the EAF in France and inBelgium is reported. First trials have been carried out in Lorraine in1997 in the frame of a partnership between Usinor (now ArcelorMittal), Michelin and Ademe. The substitution process has beeneventually implemented by LME in cooperation with Aliapur over theyears 2002-2003. Industeel Belgium got started on substitution in2004. To day, both steel plants have achieved stable operation, witha regular load of 8 to 12 kg used tyres per ton of steel, thus allowingsignificant and sustainable savings on anthracite.

EAF, with power ratings over 100 MVA, cause voltage fluctuationsand flicker in the supplying power system. Static VAr compensators(SVC) are typically used for reactive power compensation. Thispaper presents a solution for how to obtain an optimum flickerreduction at a comparatively low compensator power rating. Theresearched compensator solution represents an optimum from thetechnical as well as from the economic point of view.

The application of flameless oxidation to steel batch furnaces isreported. Transient heat transfers have been assessed through amixed CFD and zone model approach. This makes it possible toimprove the heat transfer in industrial furnaces and to reduce theenergy consumption.

Since 2000 the performance of Corus cold mill 21 has improvedsubstantially. The Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) increasedfrom 33% to 43% and productivity has increased from a level of 1.4million tonnes in 1999 to nearly 2.0 million tonnes presently. A suitablebalance in the triangle of technology, installation and people hasproven to be the key prerequisite in this performance increase. Thekey knowledge areas to operate, maintain and improve the mill arenow all available within the production organization.

Examples of high cycle thermal fatigue (HCTF) damage cases onPWR austenitic stainless steel components are reported. High cyclethermal fatigue risk is primarily due to mixing of cold and hot water,unexpected leaks of cold water through check valves or to turbulentpenetration of hot water running in a main pipe into a connected line.When such thermal fatigue issues are identified in PWR powerplants, manufacturing improvement such as inner surface polishingof austenitic stainless steel parts can be performed to increase thefatigue resistance of the components.