Wheeling-pittsburgh Steel, Mingo Junction Plant: Revitalized With a New Continuous Steelmaking Process

摘要

The installation of a Consteel electric arc furnace at the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Mingo Junction plant has revitalized an aging integrated strip steel producer. It represents a unique application in the Western Hemisphere with the ability to utilize the continuous addition of preheated scrap to a furnace with or without the concurrent, continuous addition of blast furnace hot metal. Consequently, it provides the flexibility to operate economically under various market conditions with respect to the cost of raw materials, such as ore and scrap, as well as the ability to adjust to varying steel demands. Advantages reported include a 15 percent savings in power attributed to scrap preheating and a high productivity level in excess of 300 tons/hour. At Wheeling-Pittsburgh, it has permitted the closure of one blast furnace operation, which has resulted in substantial savings in coke and maintenance costs.