RSP registers the highest record in steel ladle life

Raurkela: Steel Authority of India Limited's (SAIL) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has registered a new record in Steel Ladle Life in Steel Melting Shop-II department. The new record in ladle life is not only highest in SAIL but also the best ever life achieved in India with Magnesia Carbon Bricks, the company said in a press release.

What is the new achievement?

Earlier in the May 2019, plant recorded the highest steel ladle life of 191 heats. This time scrapping down its own record, the plant scripted a new record by clocking the highest ever of 192 heats in a single campaign surpassing. The steel ladle management set was supplied by 'Sino-Global Sourcing & Supply Limited'. The Ladle was taken down for relining on October 11, 2019. "The significant achievement was made possible because of the dedicated and coordinated efforts of Refractory Engineering (Services) and Steel Melting Shop-II (Operation), the RSP added.

Under the guidance of Chief General Manager (Refractory) Onkar Nath, the refractory collective carried out the slag zone repairs and monitored the ladle with utmost care to achieve the record lining life of the steel ladle.

The endeavour ensured the intangible benefits of enhanced Ladle availability and improved productivity. The effort is one amongst many such initiatives being undertaken by the enterprising RSP collective to reduce the cost of production and further improve techno-economics of the plant.

The steel ladle was due for slag zone repair on September 16, 2019, at 152 life. After inspection of the steel ladle by the refractory department, it was observed that the metal zone condition of the ladle was in good shape. The metal zone leftover thickness was found to be in excess of 130 millimetres. Considering the potential of the Ladle, the team refractory engineering decided to continue the ladle in service with the slag-zone repair. The ladle had a guaranteed life of 120 heats.