VAI has developed the MEROS® process (Maximized EmissionReduction Of Sintering) in which dust and harmful metallic and organiccomponents present in sinter offgas are removed in a series oftreatment steps to levels previously unattained with conventionalgas-treatment techniques. In a number of test campaigns, the technicaland economical advantages of this innovative sinter offgascleaningprocess were verified. voestalpine Stahl subsequentlyplaced an order with VAI for the installation of an industrial MEROSfacility to be started-up in August 2007.

A project was started in 2002 to improve the hot metal desulphurisationby ladle treatment, whose underlying mechanism was analyzedby a process model based on fundamentals. This allowed a10% reduction of reagent consumption. To reduce the treatmentcosts, calcium carbide was replaced by lime. Further results indicatethe need to improve the absorption of reaction products into theslag. Lime post injection resulted in lower final sulfur content andimproved slag removal.

Gas-stirred treatment makes the ladle vibrate. Monitoring of thevibration has been studied in details: it is an industrial non-intrusivetechnique to control the process efficiency. Optimum gas stirringconditions can be defined, in terms of global kinetics of inclusionremoval at low vibration level.

The tools of the hot strip mill are reviewed in details: furnace, roughingmill, descalings, finishing mill and coolings involved in themodification of the transverse thermal profile. Industrial databases,numerical simulations and experiences are used to identify the mainparameters and their influence. From this analysis actions are definedthat could be taken to improve or to preserve the thermal profile.

The FSBA (Flexible Shaft Backing Assemblies) has been developedfor a 20-high Sendzimir mill. This new shape control actuator wassupported by a shape analysis model based on the distribution ofgeometrical moment of inertia in the roll axial direction. The shapecontrol range was doubly extended by the introduction of FSBA. Itwas confirmed on an industrial mill that quarter buckles are suppressedunder a wide range of rolling conditions by shape control withFSBA and concave rolls.

An automatic detection system for edge cracks and holes has beensuccessfully installed at the exit of the tin plate mill of the API Basse-Indre plant. This new system is able to detect, analyze and recordimages of any defect that may be dangerous for the CAL. Since thesystem has been implemented, Basse-Indre has recorded no breakageneither in the furnace along year 2005, nor at entry, at exit or inthe furnace since early 2006.

China Steel Corporation has operated a new reversing cold rollingmill for non grain-oriented silicon steels since the beginning of 2003.The mill stand features hydraulic roll gap setting, intermediate rollaxial shifting with CVC technology, work roll and intermediate rollbending systems and multizone cooling equipments. The industrialresults are reported in terms of thickness tolerances and flatness.