Mini Blast Furnaces

The nature of the link between commodities' demand, availability and price might reasonably suggest 'yes', though it needs to be acknowledged that in a controlled economy the effects at a local level in the short term are going to be slight.

PWSlack

News at Ten

China.

The authorities in China have been closing the mini blast furnaces and Beehive coke ovens due to the inordinate amount of environmental damage that they due for their paltry output.

It is easier to regulate and control larger facilities as well.

The effect of the loss of beehive coke ovens is the more appropriate question, to my mind, regarding your concerns. My considered opinion is that the closure of these small ovens will enable coal sources to be consolidated and higher quality metallurgical coke of a more consistent process to be somewhat more readily available in Asia.

The miniblast furnaces and beehive coke ovens were not efficient in quality nor utilization of resources. So, I see their closure as an improvement. Whether that improved coke gets to you in India is dependent on market forces within China as well as in global trade.

My lifetime experience tells me that what I need has always been available- AT A PRICE!

The question is- what will that price be going forward?

The last documented China Coke export price we saw was $250 /tonne; We have indications of current contracts in the $360 /tonne range. Coal exports out of china are up 18% for last month we have data for.

And China has once again revised export license rules.

Here's a link that describes current China Coke issues- go to the end of the report:

http://www.pmpa.org/files/bulletin_file/Material_Impacts_December_2007.pdf

milo

Thank you very much for a very informative reply.

You are very correct that the closing of beehive coke ovens also will have an impact on the coke price.The landed coke price in India is reaching 450USD now and Indian iron maker is finding it very difficult to make the both ends meet.

There is another new group emerging in India who are basically from the secondary steel making areas .Due to the shortage of steel scraps and pig iron in the market,hey are interested to install mini Blast furnaces.Most of them look at China for importing BF and sinter plant equipment. Unfortunately, the sinter plants offered from China are mostly rotary type and the out put quality is not in par with D-L Sinter machines.With no speed control of grates,poor under grate vacuum,and with out any side plates, the rotary sinter machines from china do not produce good sinter.

Regards,

P.G.Panikkar

I suspect that the Chinese beehive coking operations do not produce good quality (60+ stability ASTM, low ash, low sulfur) coke either.

I worked my way through college in a dwight lloyd sinter plant.

My best wishes to any hearty souls who find maintenance and operating such processes their lifes calling. VERY CHALLENGING ISSUES!

milo

I too have worked in DL sinter machines .I started with 2x75M2 Koppers (Germany) sinter machines from green field stage in 1965. I commissioned the 360M2 sinter machine of TPE Supply at ASCO Nigeria last.

It is important to have an operating discipline as well as good maintenance in sinter plants. Russian designed sinter machines, straight line coolers etc are very heavy too. A compact plant lay out also is equally important.

Russians used drum coolers for cooling sinter returns and these drum coolers have resulted in accidents in India .So also the pneumatic transportation system of calcined lime in sinter plants hazardous.

Now that blending yards are incorporated in sinter plants &the hot sinter screens are eliminated , combined mixing and pelletizing drums,better automations, efficient dust removal and dust suppression systems etc are introduced in the later designs of sinter plants , the life of sinter makers have improved.But still operating of a sinter plant efficiently is a challenging task.

Regards,

PGPanikkar

pgpanikkar@engineeringconsultancy.info