Siemens to Implement Lomas System at SDI Roanoke
05/12/2011 - Steel Dynamics has placed an order with Siemens Industry, Inc. to provide an EAF off-gas monitoring system at the Roanoke Bar Division’s mini mill in Roanoke, Va.
Steel Dynamics has placed an order with Siemens Industry, Inc. to provide an electric-arc-furnace (EAF) off-gas monitoring system at the Roanoke Bar Division’s mini mill in Roanoke, Va. The order marks Siemens VAI’s expansion of its patented continuous off-gas sampling and analyzing system (Lomas) into electric-arc-furnace process optimization through continuous off-gas monitoring. The technology is already widely used in basic oxygen furnaces (BOF).
The Lomas system will provide instant feedback from the EAF process by continuously monitoring off-gas analysis and off-gas flow, and by utilizing the measured values with a Simetal Holistic process model. Results will provide guidance for users to make necessary adjustments to the process, and process inefficiencies can be corrected by a closed-loop control for natural gas and oxygen injection through burners and lances. The technology will ultimately result in reductions for overall energy, electrode, and jet-oxygen and burner-gas consumption, as well as augmented metallic yield and productivity.
The Lomas system also offers increased operational safety attributes due to its ability to quickly detect dangerous gas compositions during the melting and refining process. Greenhouse Gas emission control is an added environmental benefit.
“The decision to install the Lomas System was based on Siemens’ extensive experience and success with off-gas monitoring in BOF shops,” said Paul Schuler, Manager, Melt & Cast at SDI Roanoke. “This experience and their desire to bring off-gas analysis to EAF shops gave us confidence that Siemens’ state-of-the-art system would allow us to monitor and control in real time our process efficiencies, which we expect to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve safety in the melting process.”
Steel Dynamics’ Roanoke Bar Division operates a mini-mill in Roanoke, Va., that melts scrap steel in electric furnaces and continuously casts the molten steel into billets. Steel Dynamics, Inc. is the nation’s fifth-largest producer of carbon steel products. It shipped 5.3 million tons of steel in 2010.
Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII) is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens’ global Industry Sector business.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 204,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved total sales of approximately €34.9 billion in fiscal year 2010.
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. With around 29,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.0 billion in fiscal year 2010.
