Document Rev. Met. Paris, N°3 (March 2008), pp. 115-120
DOI: 10.1051/metal:2008023
An overview of ladle free open performance at ArcelorMittal Brasil Monlevade
F.-A.-M. Morais, J.-G. Costa Neto, E.-A. Amaral, L.-V. Penna, M.-A. Bosco, J.-G. Ramalho and A.-E. Almeida(Published online: 9 April 2008)
Abstract
ArcelorMittal Monlevade is an integrated plant with sinter plant,
blast furnace, BOF, ladle furnace, continuous caster, and rolling mill,
with a capacity of 1.2 million tpy. During the last years, Monlevade
has been raising the ladle free open index through refractory quality
improvement and standardization of operational parameters. The main
actions were changing of the geometry of ladle well block and nozzle,
use of two-layer sand, and control of sand residence time before BOF
tapping. Based on these facts, the ladle free open index has increased
from 98.5 to 99.8% from 2002 to 2006.