ABB has been chosen to supply its patented ArcSave® electromagnetic stirrers as part of a substantial refit at leading Chinese iron and steel producer Guangdong Nanfang Donghai’s steelmaking plant in Guangdong Province, southern China.
The order comprises two ArcSave systems for use with two new electric arc furnaces (EAF). ArcSave will be delivered as part of the contract between Tenova, a leading company specialized in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, and Guangdong Nanfang Donghai, within Tenova’s Consteerrer® concept, an innovative solution consisting of Consteel® EAF and ABB ArcSave electromagnetic stirrer. Commissioning is planned for October 2021.
Illustration of ABB ArcSave® electromagnetic stirring process 
ArcSave® patented electromagnetic stirring technology for electric arc furnace (EAF)
Making no physical contact with the bottom of the EAF, ArcSave improves the melting of large scrap items, reducing stratification via forced convection and leaving no dead zones in the melt. This improves furnace operation by helping to maintain an even temperature and homogenizing chemical composition, while accelerating scrap and ferroalloy melting compared with natural convection alone.
A more even melt temperature gives a higher eccentric bottom tap-hole (EBT) free opening frequency, reducing tapping delays and enabling a safer, more reliable EAF operation. ArcSave also helps reduce environmental impact by lowering electricity usage and process additions such as alloys and lime, and consumables such as electrodes.
“Mounting cost pressures on steelmakers, together with increasing competition and environmental concerns require our customers to maintain a relentless focus on performance and innovative cost cutting,” said Anders Lehman, Vice President ABB Metallurgy Products. “As the only supplier of ArcSave EAF-EMS technology worldwide, we are confident that it will contribute significantly to cost and energy savings, in addition to improved yield and safety at the Donghai plant.”
Typically, ABB’s ArcSave can improve yield by around one percent, with productivity improvements of between five and seven percent. The solution also reduces consumption of electrical energy by three to five percent.
ABB is a trusted partner and leading supplier to the metals industry, offering a complete range of products, services and end-to-end solutions that improve productivity, quality, safety and cost-efficiency in iron, steel, aluminium and other metals production processes. With over a century of experience, ABB’s offerings are expertly tailored and highly process-specific, serving the entire industry from material yard and primary manufacturing to casting, rolling and processing lines. Across the whole metals value chain ABB demonstrates a commitment to optimizing operations with high performance products and digital solutions. www.new.abb.com/metals
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
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