Digital data heralds quantum leap for Tata Steel blast furnaces

Cutting-edge digital technology, which captures 1,000 data points every 10 seconds, is giving Tata Steel technicians an uninterrupted 3D view of the material being laid into the top of its two Port Talbot blast furnaces saving costs, energy and CO2.

The ‘Topscan’ technology has the potential to save the company millions of pounds every year by reducing the amount of coke required in the furnaces, and will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50,000 tonnes annually. The technology will also play a major role in improving the furnaces’ stability and efficiency.

Tata Steel UK has the ambition to reduce all CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and be a CO2 neutral steelmaker by 2045 – in support of the UK’s ambition to be net-zero by 2050.

Recently the company announced it is to formally adopt Science Based Targets with respect to its programme of emission reductions and carbon neutral steelmaking aspirations. It has been working on a number of projects to reduce CO2 emissions which can now be passed on to customers in the form of certificates allowing them to make Scope 3 emissions savings.

Called Optemis Carbon Lite, the certificate-based insetting scheme - verified by external third-party assurance organisation DNV - is a flexible offering allowing customers to choose the CO2 intensity reduction they need. 

Blast Furnace technical manager, Aaron Parsons, said: “This latest £1million investment on Blast Furnace 5 complements a similar investment last year on Blast Furnace 4 and is a major step forward for us.

“The Topscan system consists of a set of radars which take a full surface scan of the iron ore and metallurgical coke being laid into each furnace, every 10 seconds. Computer modelling then gives us a really clear, finite view of the raw materials at the start of their journey through the furnace.

“That’s really important because the specific way in which we lay materials in the furnace is our main method of controlling gas flow up from the hot air blast through the raw materials. 

“Over time, we can make tweaks to the distribution allowing us to make the most efficient use of the hot gases and yield really big savings, both in terms of coke usage and CO2.”

The unit is similar to the technology commissioned on Blast Furnace 4 last year, which is already delivering invaluable insights and big cost savings and CO2 reductions.

Mr Parsons continued: “Topscan is taking approximately 1,000 data points every 10 seconds, so it’s a real quantum leap forward in terms of the data and measurement. Changes to the burden that previously would have taken weeks to analyse and implement can now be done in a matter of hours.”

The installation of Topscan into Blast Furnace 5 is due to be completed by the end of November.

Tata Steel

www.tatasteeleurope.com