stainless|copper|technologyOutokumpuoffersunparalleledsolutionsfortheproductionofferrousmetals.Weprovideyouwithenergy-efficientandcost-effectivemethodswithreduceddetrimentalimpactontheenvironment.WecombinetraditionalsinteringandpelletizingwithSteelBeltSinteringandpreheatinginOutokumpuPreheatingKilnforsmelting.Ourlong-timeexperienceinminingandtheoperatingexperienceofstainlesssteelenableustoofferyouthewidestrangeofservicesavailablefornewgreen-fieldorbrown-fieldplants,andforthemodificationofexistingfacilities.FerroalloytechnologiesThemostprofitableferrochromeproductionconceptFromunitprocessdevelopmenttointegratedsavingsOutokumpuhasvastexperienceandknow-howinthedesign,implementationandoperationofferrochromeplants.Theaward-winningOutokumpuprocessissuccessfullyusedatthecompany´sownFerrochromePlantinTornio,Finland.ThecapitalizationofOutokumpu´sownunitprocessesandconceptsinmining,beneficiation,SteelBeltSintering(SBS™)andpreheatedFerrochromesmelting,allinonelocation,hasresultedinthefollowingbenefits:zLowesttotalproductioncostzHighestFeCrrecoveryzCleanestprocessTheFerrochromePlantinTorniohasgonethroughseveraltechnicalmodificationssinceitsstart-upin1968.Whennewandinnovativeprocesseshavebeenintroduced,theplant´sefficiencyhasimproved.Theproductivityhasincreasedand,atthesametime,theproductioncostshavedecreased.Forinstance,thelifetimeoftherefractorylininginthesubmerged-arcfurnaces(SAF)isnowover15years,andtheannualavailabilityoftheSAFshasreachedasmuchas99%.ThemostremarkableinnovationshavebeenthestationaryOutokumpuPreheatingKiln(OPK™),launchedin1985,andSBS™,implementedin1989.2TheOutokumpufactorTheOutokumpufactoristhecompetitiveadvantagewegiveourcustomersbyhelpingthemenhancetheperformanceoftheirprocesses,productsandservices.Itisafactorourcustomersrelyontohelpthemovercomeeventhemostdemandingchallenges;ahiddenassetthathelpsthemwin.Ourproventrackrecordinferroalloyproduction:zStart-upofalready8successfulprojectssince1998zSBS™furnaceforchromitefinesconstructedinTornioandstartedupattheendof1989zStationaryOPK™designedinthemiddleofthe1980´szFeCrproductionattheTornioplantsince1968ThebestavailabletechnologyforferroalloysEventhoughtheSBS™technologywasoriginallydesignedformedium-sizedironorepelletplants,Outokumpuhasfurtherdevelopedtheconcepttosuitforchromitepelletsandotherferroalloys.ManganeseandniobiumhavealsobeensuccessfullysinteredusingtheSBS™technology.TheaimoftheEuropeanCouncilDirectiveonIntegratedPollutionPreventionandControl(1996)istopreventandcontrolthepollutionarisingfromindustrialactivities.TheCommissionhasorganizedanexchangeofinformationbetweentheMemberStatesandtheindustries,focusingonbestavailabletechniques,associatedmonitoring,andfurtherdevelopment.ThisinformationhasledtothecreationofaEuropeanBestAvailableTechniquesreferencedocumentforeachindustrialsector.OneoftheactivitiesincludedintheDirectiveconcernedtheproductionofnon-ferrousmetals.Withintheabove-mentionedframework,theFinnishEnvironmentInstituteandOutokumpuTechnologymadeastudyonBestAvailableTechniquesfortheprimaryproductionofnon-ferrousmetals.TheOutokumpuFerrochromeProcesshasbeenawardedthestatusforBestAvailableTechniques(BAT).Whytopelletizeandsinterthechromiteoresandconcentrates?Insintering,thechromitepelletsareheatedtoatemperaturewherethesilicatesmelttobindthechromitegrains.Thesinteringreactionstakeplaceinoxidizingconditions,andtheironinchromiteoxidizesinsignificantamountsfromFe2+toFe3+.Thisreactionreleasesenergy,whichbenefitsthewholesinteringprocess.ThetransformedgrainstructurefacilitatesthereductionphaseintheSAFsmelting.Thesinteredpelletstructureisverydurableandwithstandsmechanicaltreatmentlikeloading,unloadingandlongtransport,aswellasthermaltreatmentrequiredinproportioning,preheatingintheOPK™andfinallysmeltingintheSAF.Pelletizingplantinoperation.ThemainrawmaterialsintheSteelBeltSinteringprocessofchromiteareorefinesand/orconcentratesplusfinecoke.Thesefeedmaterialsaregroundinaballmill,dewateredincapillaryeffectceramicfilters,pelletizedinadrumandfinallysinteredintheSBS™furnace.TheendproductsofSBS™arespherical,equallysized,hardandporouschromitepelletswithconstantphysicalandchemicalproperties.TheyareidealchargingmaterialforFerrochromesmeltinginthesubmerged-arcfurnace.Energy-efficienttechnologiesInadditiontochromiteandfinecoke,alsosmallamountsofcokedustandbentoniteareusedintheSBS™process.Cokeisusedasthemainenergysourceinsintering,andbentoniteisusedasthebindingagentinpelletizing.Veryfinebentonitepowderismixedhomogeneouslywithchromite.WhentheSAFisofthecompletelyclosedtype,COgascanbeusedasburnerfuelinsteadofoilorLPGgas,resultinginmaximumbenefits.Plantdustfromdustextractionisrecycledintotheproportioningsystemofpelletizing.Finecokeisdosedwithchromitebeforegrinding,andtheCfixcontentisfine-tuned,asrequired,byaddingcokedustinproportioning.Thebentoniteamountislessthan1%andthetotaladdedcarbonamount1–2%.AllthereactiongasesintheSBS™furnacearecirculatedformaximumheatenergyrecovery.SteelBeltSintering–SBS™4Pelletizingandsinteringplantequipmentflowsheet.COKEFINESCONCENTRATEDAYBINSWETGRINGINGBALLMILLOFF-GASFAN