Siemens Metals Technologies, Vienna, announces that a vacuum oxygen decarburization system with a capacity of 50 metric tons has commenced operation at Voestalpine Giesserei Linz GmbH. The Austrian company is thereby adding to its equipment for secondary metallurgical treatment of steel castings for sophisticated applications in the energy and mechanical engineering industries. The plant features electrically driven mechanical vacuum pumps instead of steam injectors and therefore does not require any steam generator.
For the new vacuum oxygen decarburization plant, Siemens handled the configuration and supplied all the core components. These included, for example, a special ladle hood made of copper-plated sheet. This minimizes the occurrence of baked slag on the upper edge of the ladle and on the vacuum lid. The scope of supply also included the vacuum lid, an oxygen-blowing lance system, a gas cooler and filter system, mechanical vacuum pumps, and the hydraulic system. The order also included a water management system matched to the overall plant, as well as the complete automation technology and instrumentation.
As one of the first VOD systems worldwide, the plant in Linz features a combination of electrically driven, mechanical vacuum pumps to generate a vacuum. This includes roots blowers and screw compressors. Unlike conventional steam injectors, these do not require any process steam, so there is no need for any external steam or the installation of a separate boiler to generate steam.
Voestalpine Giesserei Linz GmbH is completing its secondary metallurgical treatment options with the new vacuum oxygen decarburization plant. This enlarges the product portfolio and will play a major part in achieving cost-efficient production.
