New laboratory tests have been developed to characterise thecoke behaviour at high temperature under conditions similar tothose encountered in the blast furnace, especially in terms ofgasification degree. The validity of these new tests has been demonstrated by comparisonwith the modifications undergone by coke in the blast furnace.The latter have been determined by comparing cokes sampledby a tuyere probe with cokes sampled before charging. The results showed only little correlation with the classical coke characterisation indices (I10, I40, CSR), which indicates that they really bring new information on coke properties.

The design of a parameter-dependent controller to rejectperiodic mould level fluctuations at a thin slab caster ispresented. These fluctuations can be related to bulging ofthe solidified steel shell between the supporting rolls. Theydeteriorate the steel quality and prohibit high speed casting.A state of the art controller has been designed to suppressthese casting speed dependent fluctuations and is basedon a H∞-optimal controller design technique. The controllerhas been implemented at caster of the Corus Direct SheetPlant in IJmuiden. Measurement results show a significantreduction of these periodic mould level fluctuations.

The demand for precious metals by manufacturers of electricaland electronic equipment has increased significantly over thepast few years. Although precious metal concentrations inappliances are very low, these metals have a high economicand environmental relevance compared to other substancespresent in much higher quantity (e.g. iron, copper, plastics). Thisresearch project aims at describing and quantifying the flowsof small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)in Germany and in the USA for the year 2007, based on acombination of expansive experimental investigations carriedout at TU Berlin and a review of the relevant literature. Theresults revealed that, in 2007, only around a third of the goldcontained in desktop personal computers was recovered inGermany, and over 60% was lost for the cycling economy.Despite the lack of data, insufficient collection and losses ofprecious metals due to inadequate treatment were identifiedas the main weaknesses of the system. The results reveal newfindings on precious metal cycles and support the developmentof strategies for reducing the losses of precious metals relatedto electronic waste management. The method is not only usefulfor assessing the recovery of valuable substances, but also forquantifying systematically the amount of hazardous substancesthat is disposed of in an environmental-sound way versus directreleases to the environment.

Construction sector is the major user of Steel, and recyclingis very important for the sector itself and also for the Steelindustry, as a secondary raw material.
Recycling demonstrations of three building components (steelsandwich panels with polyurethane foam-steel compositestructures made of beams, profiled sheeting and reinforcementbars-steel profiles combined with plasterboard partitions)have shown that these steel components are easy to separateand produce a high quality scrap that ensure the profitabilityof this end-of-life treatment.

The technical requirements applied for the scheme installedat ArcelorMittal Tubarão for automatic separation of theutility electrical systems are presented. The criteria adoptedfor the settings of the electrical protections that compose thephilosophy of the grid separation scheme are treated as well.Historical results and real cases are used to evaluate thesystem performance.

Modeling activities and scenario building are at the heartof the economic analysis delivered by the ULCOS program.Two main objectives were followed in the framework of SP9.First the modeling team had to provide a set of coherentenergy economic scenarios using POLES model. Second,the economic conditions for the emergence of the ULCOStechnologies were analyzed. ULCOS contributes to theelaboration of contrasted scenarios that the steel industrycould face in the long term. To aim at these objectivesspecific tools have been used: POLES model for the globalenergy system modeling and ISIM model for the steel sectorbased prospective (Hidalgo, 2003). The most promising steelproduction technologies identified in ULCOS Phase 1 havebeen introduced into ISIM as generic technologies. ISIM wasthen integrated as a module into POLES modeling system.The main model outputs are the energy prices and mixes andthe steel sector balances with a focus on the technology mix.Actually the climate policy scenarios developed in projectallow making recommendations to the steel industry in termsof sustainable development but also in terms of businessstrategy.

ULCOS is a large European research project that aims toidentify and develop technology that could enable a drasticreduction in CO2 emissions from ore-based steel production.The IRonMAking flowsheeting model (IRMA) has madea vital contribution to one of the ULCOS subprojects, asIRMA models were used to evaluate the economics andCO2 reduction potential of a large number of alternativeironmaking routes.
IRMA is a software tool that allows for the use ofthermodynamic data relevant to iron- and steelmaking in aflowsheeting environment. It was developed by Corus to serveas a dedicated, flexible and accessible tool to evaluate andcompare a wide range of ironmaking routes.
IRMA can be used to calculate consumption figures, productquality and the occurrence and significance of emissions.IRMA can do this for a wide range of operating conditionsand raw material compositions.
IRMA is currently being used for benchmarking, design andpilot plant development of the ISARNA process, which wasdeveloped in the context of the ULCOS project. ISARNA isone of the four process routes that have been selected forfurther development within ULCOS.

The role of slag in ladle metallurgy and tundish is discussedstarting from thermodynamic considerations of equilibrium/non-equilibrium states between slag and steel. Some interesting steel grades with different deoxidation philosophy are chosen as examples. Physical aspects concerning therole of stirring, slag properties e.g. viscosity and interfacialtension are examined as well. The title question is discussedand evaluated based on theoretical considerations andcomparison with modelling experiences and industrial data.

The Stefana Bar Mill (Nave, Brescia, Italy) was commissionedin April 2008. The production rate, on a 3-shift basis is750,000 t/y. The product mix includes straight rebars from8 mm to 40 mm diameters and compact coils from 8 mmto 16 mm diameters. The salient features of this plant arestrictly related to improvement of profitability on low-addedvalue products, concentrating on efficiency and throughputoptimization.

Blast furnace models are fundamental tools that interpretmany of the phenomena occurring inside the reactor. Theycan be either diagnosis or predictive, but they requireavailable measurements to validate their outputs. One of theroles of the different R&D Labs of the ArcelorMittal Group is todevelop, validate, apply and continuously improve the modelsfor blast furnace operations and analysis. The users' feedbackis one important key to success.

The Arab Steel Summit, that convened in Abu Dhabi in April,gave us another opportunity to review the situation of the ArabIron and Steel Industry, with regard to the present World economiccontext.
We will address:The World situation of steel production, focusing on the ArabCountries; 
The related situation of steel consumption;
The steel trade, including imports, exports and prices;
The consequences for technology and economy.


Existing rolling mills entering the markets for high quality steel may be limited by their descaling systems installed in terms of pressure and flow rate. In addition to the potential for optimizations of existing systems, the potential for optimization of the nozzle design itself has now been fully utilized in order to maximize the impact at a given water flow and pressure. New design methods and production technologies have been applied.

Based on practice, the main factors affecting the process ofEAF with De-P HM charging have been theoretically analyzed,such as using oxygen, the material charging and making slag.Based on the process features of EAF with De-P HM charging,EAF productivity increase was achieved with application of theintegrated control theory on EAF process in Baosteel StainlessSteel Branch.

The MRS-100 system combines at the same time the simplicityof a linear sliding gate and the advantages of a round plate.This sliding gate is based on 3 innovating approaches: a slidinggate built around a refractory plate, a mechanism that avoids thecracking of plates and finally, an optimisation of the round platethrough a programmable sequential rotation at the ladle stand.This MRS-100 system leads to a safe use, an improvement of thetasks at the working station and a reduction of the user costs.

Based on the balance equations of mass, partial mass,momentum and thermal energy, the pyrolysis processof non-coking coals using a counter-rotating twin screwreactor (TSR) is modelled by means of commercial CFDcode PhoenicsTM. In favour of good convergence of themathematical solution, a structured, cylindrical-polar gridis chosen. Variable filling and intermeshing degrees aretaken into account by blocking numerical cells in gasdomain and intermeshing domain instead of performingtwo-phase calculations in a body-fitted co-ordinate system.Viscous behaviour of the granular coals is expressed bymeans of a generalised Newtonian fluid and chemicaldecomposition is implemented with aid of distributedactivation energies.

Uncontrolled pushing force can lead to severe degradationof coke oven walls. To measure the pushing force a torquesensor can easily be installed on the driving shaft of thepushing machine.
The pushing curve shows a typical first peak whichcorresponds to the end of the coke cake compression phaseand the beginning of the coke cake movement. Generallyafter this peak the pushing force sharply decreases as cokemoves, coke weight decreases and oven taper prevents fromwall friction.
The first peak is related to the coke cake properties.
Pushing curves may show a progressive increase of pushingforce or further peaks depending on the pushing machineand the general condition of the oven.
Safe limit of pushing force first peak is around 1.5 times thecoke weight.

The development of new technologies is often connected withthe use of non-renewable resources. In recent years a qualitativeshift in the demand of bulk metals (e.g. Fe, Al, Cu) to more scarcemetals (e.g. Te, Ga, Re) is recognisable. Novel technologiesand products rely more and more on very specific metals whichare indispensable for their function. Although such metals aregenerally used in low concentrations in products, the demandhas raised significantly due to mass production. Some of them areof high importance due to their strategic relevance to emerginginnovative technologies.
Lithium so far has gained relatively little attention, although itfulfills the main criteria of a strategically relevant metal. In recentyears, however, recognition of lithium increased as a result of thegrowing market for lithium-based rechargeable batteries in mobileinformation/communication consumer products and in electricvehicles. Both areas of demand led to a skyrocketed use of lithiumin recent years.
Other technologies in the future like fusion power generation willraise lithium consumption at an accelerated rate. It is thereforenecessary to determine the availability of lithium in the mediumand long term in order to prevent technology failures and to ensurea more sustainable development. The authors will provide a wellfoundedknowledge base, outline the availability of worldwidereserves and resources, and describe the structure of present andfuture demands for lithium.

ArcelorMittal Atlantique has developed the DWI UltraLow Aluminium grades to improve the rejection ratesduring the deep drawing of beverage cans. At the time ofindustrialization of this grade, an increase of slivers defectswas recorded. The analysis of these slivers permitted totrace down their origin to the continuous casting powder.The compared analysis of slags during casting, respectivelyon standard DWI and ULA DWI, pointed out infiltrationphenomena and inclusion pick-up. A high viscosity powderwas formulated. An acceptable sliver rate was achievedwith a strong decrease in downstream repaired coils.

The feasibility of increasing proportion of lump ores in blastfurnace was investigated. The lab results showed that self-softeningand melting properties of the lump ores were dramaticallyimproved by interaction between sinters and lump ores foundin the experiments. Furthermore, the collocation pattern of lumpores and ratio between lump ores was optimized according tointeraction. When the proportion of lump ores was up to 23% or27% at the excellent collocation pattern and appropriate ratio,the burdens still conformed to the requirements of ironmaking.