ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HEADLINESEnvironment and Sustainability
NLMK to Upgrade BOF Emissions Collection and Cleaning System
Mar. 26, 2009 NLMK (Novolipetsk Steel) has begun to reconstruct the gas exhaust ducts from its three Basic Oxygen Furnaces (BOFs) with a secondary emissions collection and cleaning system.
The new system will replace BOF exhaust equipment that was originally installed in 1983-1985 during the reconstruction of the shop and is now obsolete. Implementation of the RUR7 bn project forms part of Phase II of NLMK’s Technical Upgrade Program and is part of the company’s more-than RUR 2.6 bn total allocation to environmental protection measures in 2008.
The company estimates that the upgrade will result in a nearly 11% increase in steel production. The new system is also expected to help the company reduce its annual air emissions by more than 17,000 tonnes.
Reconstruction will be carried out in three stages for each BOF. The company said it will construct an aspiration system for the bulk materials supply duct at BOF No. 1, and an aspiration system for secondary emission collection at BOF No. 3.
Gas ducts from the BOF section to the bleeder have already been assembled, the second-stage gas cleaning scrubber assembly is currently being completed, and foundation casting for the smoke exhauster is in progress. Construction and assembly works are scheduled to be completed by the end of April, and in June the company will begin to operate BOF No. 1 with the new gas cleaning ducts in place.
Reconstruction of gas exhaust ducts at BOF No. 2 is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009, and works at BOF No. 3 will be underway.