OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2011. Converter Shop of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih” achieved record vessel-lining life of converter #5 - 4,070 steel casts implemented during converter campaign life (period from lining installation till complete relining) from December 4, 2010 till August 15, 2011. This result exceeded previous record at the plant when in 2005 vessel-lining life of converter #1 of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih” amounted to 4,037 steel casts.

Vessel-lining life is a highlight of converter operation at the plant. This figure includes a number of steel casts during converter life until complete relining of steelmaking vessel. Increase of vessel-lining life is one of the challenges for Steel Department of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih”. Increase of vessel-lining life leads to cost reduction for refractory and prime cost of converter steel and long life of converters. Average vessel-lining life of all converters of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih” amounted to 3, 041 steel casts (2, 930 steel casts scheduled in 2011).

Converter #5 of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih” produced 583.231,000 tons of steel during last converter campaign life. And cost reduction due to long life of lining amounted to 4.2 UAH per one ton of steel. On August 15, 2011 converter #5 was stopped for repair as scheduled. Regular restart of the converter after repair is scheduled in end August 2011.

Sergey Bashkov, Deputy Head of Technical Department of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih”: ”PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih” achieved long vessel-lining life of converter #5 due to refractory of high quality. Low porosity of refractory makes its performance longer at thermal generating units. Refractory was implemented at converter #5 in 2008 when vessel-lining life amounted to 3,462 steel casts. It was a good result. Our new record is a result of team work of high skilled professionals at Converter Shop and Technical Department of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih.” I hope such results will be usual at our plant in future.”

Alexandr Zozulya, Steel Department Director of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih”: ”This year we plan a number of measures aimed at total extend of vessel-lining life at Converter Shop of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih.” We plan to change double-layer lining (of 1,050 mm thick) for single-layer lining (850 mm) up to the end 2011 which enables significant cost reduction for converter operations at the plant. In addition for state estimation of vessel-linings we have already purchased 2 scanners which will help to estimate lining wear during converter operations and lining repair in time.”