Outokumpu succeeds with LFM Moisture Analyser

The LFM Moisture Analyser has broken new ground in terms of accuracy and reliability during trials at Outokumpu"s ferrochrome pelletising plant in Tornio , Finland .

The plant is part of the world's largest stainless steel manufacturing complex with an annual capacity of 1.7 million tonnes of hot rolled stainless steel and 1.2 million tonnes of cold rolled steel.

In November last year, Outokumpu began trials of the CSIRO-developed LFM Analyser. The aim was to enhance the cost-effectiveness of the company's award-winning operation through full integration of the system in the plant's production chain.

Outokumpu Technology development manager Petri Jokinen says: "Pelletising has a very critical moisture level to achieve optimum results. In the LFM Moisture Analyser we found a reliable instrument that delivers accurate moisture measurements for the control of our pelletising operations."

The company undertook extensive evaluation trials which involved remote calibration and verification of the analysers' outputs on 290 sample measurements. The analysers provided consistent accuracy (± 0.081 per cent one standard deviation).

Intalysis (the company spun out to commercialise the analyser) managing director Graeme McGown, says the analyser's capability complemented Outokumpu's existing technology, ensuring the success of the trials.

"We knew that the LFM had the ability to achieve new standards of accuracy," Graeme McGown says.

"At Tornio it all came together - grade control was very good and process control led to very steady loading on their conveyer belts."

Outokumpu Technology has signed an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Intalysis on the basis of the trial results, and the analyser's flexibility and ease of integration with other on-line instrumentation. The Finnish company will now integrate LFM Analysers into its new pelletising plant deliveries.

Reliability is a key concern for the company, which operates and installs plants throughout the world.

"When establishing new technology such as a pelletising plant in a new country it is critical that you have instrumentation that can substitute for the black art found in established plants," Petri Jokinen says.

"In the LFM Analyser we found a reliable instrument that can provide accurate moisture readouts for pelletising control."

As a result of the trials, Outokumpu Technology also now acts as a distributor of LFM Analysers for Intalysis in pelletising applications.

Information courtesy of CSIRO Process magazine