Anshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., P.R. China, recently placed an order with SMS Mevac GmbH, Germany, to supply three more RH recirculation degassers.

The three RH plants will incorporate fast vessel exchange with hydraulic ladle lifting. The units will also be equipped with metallurgical TOP lances (RH-TOP) and alloy addition systems. Vacuum will be achieved by a state-of-the-art steam ejector vacuum pump designed to operate at low steam and condenser cooling water consumption levels.

The ladle will be transported between hand-over and treatment positions by means of a ladle turret, which will help to increase unit availability while reducing dependency on the overhead crane. The equipment necessary for snorkel maintenance is also best positioned on the ladle turret.

SMS Mevac’s scope of supply includes complete basic engineering, delivery of key components, supervision of erection and commissioning as well as a metallurgical model for Level 2. Detail engineering, fabrication and delivery of standard components as well as the electrical equipment will be performed to a large extent by the Anshan.

The three new units will be used to produce steel grades including ultra-low carbon, HSLA, LCAK and medium carbon as well as SI-alloyed grades.

SMS Mevac had previously supplied an initial RH recirculation degasser for Anshan in 1998 for the former Steelworks No. 3. Commissioning of the three new RH plants is scheduled for 2006.

SMS Mevac GmbH forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group. The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.