ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian subsidiary of global steel giant ArcelorMittal, has announced that it is about to invest more than $70 million in the construction of a pulverized coal injection (PCI) system at its blast furnace No. 9, which is the biggest blast furnace in Europe. Installation of the pulverized coal injection system at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih will allow the exclusion of usage of natural gas from hot metal production, and will also reduce coke usage.
The project includes construction of systems for reception, storage and transporting of coal. The commissioning of two mills with a total capacity of 83 metric tons of coal dust per hour is planned for the grinding of raw materials to the required extent. Also, within the framework of the project, filters will be used to separate air and dust. From separate bunkers, dust-fuel will be distributed by lances of the blast furnace through nozzles injecting directly into the furnace.
The start of the active phase of construction of the PCI system at the blast furnace No. 9 is scheduled for November this year. Integration testing and completion of construction of installation of the system is expected in August 2015, following which the trial operation of the equipment will begin.
