Coke plant machines automation in Serémange and Dunkerque

Abstract

Arcelor decided to implement the automation of the machines of coke ovens in order to facilitate the working conditions and to reduce the exposure of the operators to the emissions of smokes, to improve the reliability of the installations and to improve the productivity of the ovens. The work has been achieved over a period of five years and included the upgrading of the machines to grant them reliability that allows their automation, the automation of the machines (coke car, coke guides, charging car and pushing car) and the supervision in a control room of four machines and the data transmission. This project required the development of tools for positioning the machines and for the identification of the ovens. At the same time, particular attention was paid to improving safety of the accesses. As from January 2005, the automation of the machines has been achieved for both coke plants. Further improvements are already considered, concerning in particular the coke wharf and the monitoring of the coke line by infrared camera.