Quality Control in the USIMINAS Coke Plant

摘要

This paper shows how the philosophy of quality control adopted at USIMINAS is implemented in the Coke Plant. For familiarity with it, the USIMINAS coking operation is briefly described at the outset. Then, because of the functions that the coke will perform in the blast furnaces, specification of it is shown. Next, all the quality control steps in the coking operation are analyzed, from the selection of the types of coal by means of linear programming, through preparation of the coal, control of the coke oven batteries, coking, etc., to preparation of coke size distribution, with reference to new trends in this control phase. Finally, the operational results in the USIMINAS blast furnaces are given. They reflect the effectiveness of this control process, the objectives sought being attained. Also, as an illustration, the results for 1974, when the quality of the coke was notably lower because of the coal-supply prices, are reviewed. (ERA citation 06:017929)