17/12/2024 – Huaigang Special Steel granted final acceptance certificate
Primetals receives FAC for “EAF Quantum”
Chinese special steel producer Huaigang Special Steel, a part of the Jiangsu Shagang Group, has recently granted the final acceptance certificate (FAC) to Primetals Technologies for an 80-ton EAF Quantum electric arc furnace, implemented at a site in Huai'an, Jiangsu province.
A part of Primetals Technologies’ on-site team commemorating the first heat at Huaigang’s new EAF Quantum electric arc furnace plant. © Primetals
“EAF Quantum”: first heat. © Primetals
The first heat was produced in January 2024, just five months after Primetals Technologies and Huaigang Special Steel commenced on-site installation works.
This EAF Quantum offers remarkable production flexibility, achieving single heats with tap-to-tap times of 32 minutes. In July, Huaigang operated the furnace on 25% hot metal and 75% scrap at a power consumption of 240kWh/t and an oxygen consumption of 23m3/t to 25m3/t. The following month, Huaigang switched to 100% scrap. Additionally, they have used a mix of 30% hot metal and 70% scrap, achieving power consumption figures of less than 230kWh/t. Huaigang also has the option to utilize 30% to 40% hot metal during the charging process.
Primetals Technologies has supplied Huaigang with key mechanical and electrics process equipment, as well as a Level 1 automation system, an automated charging process, automation systems for oxygen injection and sand filling, and a Level 2 automation system.
In 2021, Jiangsu Shagang Group ordered its first EAF Quantum from Primetals Technologies. Positive experiences with this project contributed to their decision to order a second EAF Quantum in 2022. Huaigang Special Steel’s existing line produces 3.2 million tons of special steel annually. Focused on high-end special steels, such as spring steel and bearing steel, Huaigang is a leader in China’s special steel market.
The flexible application of raw materials and the EAF Quantum’s high melting efficiency ensure the production of high-quality special steel products, further reducing melting power consumption to less than 230kWh/t for single heats and significantly shortening melting times. Compared with conventional EAF plants, production costs are reduced by more than 20%.
One of the most significant differences between conventional EAF plants and the EAF Quantum is the scrap preheating process. The EAF Quantum features a trapezoidal shaft and a scrap retention system. This design optimizes scrap distribution and allows exhaust gas to preheat scrap. As a result, the EAF Quantum requires less time and energy to melt scrap, reducing power consumption and increasing productivity due to shorter processing times.
