thyssenkrupp Steel has commissioned a modernized walking beam furnace in Duisburg Bruckhausen for high-quality electrical steel strip production

• Less energy consumption and greater energy efficiency
• Reduced cleaning intervals thanks to new automatic descaling concept
• Investment in the low double-digit million range

thyssenkrupp Steel has upgraded the walking beam furnace at the hot strip mill (WBW) 1 in Duisburg Bruckhausen to the highest technical standard. The decisive advantage of the overhauled unit is its further improved quality, especially for electrical steel production, the basic material for the energy transition. The modernized furnace also sets standards in energy consumption and energy efficiency. The new unit was overhauled by Tenova, the specialist for heat treatment processes. The total investment in this project is in the low double-digit million range.

Customer benefits thanks to gentle slab heating in the modernized walking beam furnace

With the modernized walking beam furnace, surface defects are already avoided when reheating the slabs: The more homogeneous temperature distribution over the entire length of the slab leads to a reduction in temperature loss in the middle of the slab and, at the same time, to a reduction in so-called rails, the contact points between the slabs and the support tube system. This increases the quality of the product.

Increased efficiency and energy benefits

The safety systems were upgraded to meet the currently required and valid standards and specifications for industrial furnaces by installing double quick-closing valves in the gas pipes, among other things. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will also be significantly reduced in future by replacing the side burners. State-of-the-art UltraLowNOx burners were installed, and burner monitoring was introduced using modern control units including a UV probe in the area with pilot burners.

To improve energy efficiency, the refractory lining was redesigned, and the support pipe system adapted. Another aspect of the modernization was to reduce natural gas consumption by optimizing the pilot burner systems. In addition, a new automatic descaling concept was introduced, which significantly reduces the cleaning intervals.

Key data on the walking beam furnace

Width:                    12.5 m

Length:                  55 m

Max. speed:          25 m/h