OREANDA-NEWS. June 16, 2011. Baosteel has set a new record of green manufacturing: In may, the billet hot charging and hot direct charging ratio of 1580 hot rolling unit of Baosteel Co., Ltd. has reached 54.8%. It has met the National Grade I Standard for Clean Production and its integrated manufacturing management level has a new breakthrough.

Hot charging and hot direct charging technology is one of the advanced production management technologies in the steel industry, which embodies the idea of green and energy saving. It refers to that the billets after cutting are directly conveyed to the heating furnace while the billets are remained at high temperature without falling to the ground. By this, the heat loss and energy consumption can be reduced effectively and the energy saving is achieved. Studies show that if billets are charged into the heating furnace at the temperature between 650? and 1000?, the best energy saving effect can be achieved. Based on the study results, national steel industry standards for clean production stipulate that the Clean Production Grade I Standard is hot charging temperature ?600? and hot direct charging ratio ?50%. In steel industry, it is very hard to carry out hot charging and hot direct charging. All that have been achieved will be spoiled unless each process involved meets the requirements of doing the required action at the required time without delay. Therefore, the level of hot charging and hot direct charging is an important expression for integrated manufacturing capabilities.

Baosteel is committed to the research and practice on the hot charging and hot direct charging technology for a long time. And the technology is carried forward as one of the important parts of environmental management strategy. By the concern and support from Baosteel's senior leaders, the team overcome many difficulties such as tough production organization, complex logistics convergence and unmatched processes, which is composed of Manufacturing Department, Hot Rolling Plant, Steelworks, Transportation Department and Equipment Department of Baosteel Co., Ltd. and Baosight. The team selected 1580 hot rolling unit as the pilot production line, coordinated and solved problems in the process of promoting and created the conditions for forming the technology of hot charging and hot direct charging.

Through great efforts, the technology of billet hot charging and hot direct charging of 1580 hot rolling unit makes breakthroughs continuously. Early last year, daily all-weather hot charging and hot direct charging achieved in the 1580 hot rolling unit. With the increase in the daily accumulated amount, the production line almost had the capacity to meet the Grade I Standard for Clean Production last August. In order to further reduce fuel consumption and save energy, the team members focused on the difficult and key issues. Through track, feedback and improvement of the issues continuously, the closed loop promoting mode is set up. Finally, in May it is up to the National Grade I Standard for Clean Production.

It is learned that, rolling while the billets are hot can shorten the production cycle greatly. The time of charging the billets into the furnaces are shortened from 2 hours to 8 minutes. Compared to the fuel consumption per month last year, that of this year is reduced by 3.86kg tce/t on average. Annual created benefit is estimated more than 20 million yuan.