Essar Steel, India, recently restarted operation of its third 150-tonne DC electric arc furnace at the company’s Hazira Works. The restart follows Danieli Centro Met’s completion of a major upgrade of the EAF to increase plant productivity.

Within the overall contract, which was awarded to Danieli in 2003, two other similar units underwent the same modification and restarted successfully in December 2004 and May 2005, respectively.

The EAF upgrades included installation of the latest generation multi-purpose O2/C injection units as well as shell enlargement to allow an increased heat size (to 155 tonnes). Pneumatic-type lime injection and automatic temperature control and sampling were also added to the EAF. Finally, Danieli Centro Met also upgraded the fume-extraction system and installed an advanced Level 2 automation system that extends to the ladle furnace operation.

Following completion of the first three upgraded EAFs, Essar Steel awarded Danieli with an additional order for modification of a fourth 150-tonne EAF.