BOS/BOF Off-Gas Closed Circuit Cooling Water System

Client: BHP Steel (now BlueScope), Port Kembla Works

The Steelmaking Department of BlueScope Steel required their BOS Waste Gas Closed Circuit Cooling Water System to be converted from an open cooling water system to a closed system.

The Project:

BlueScope wished to achieve significant service life increase of all hood & duct components. Reductions made in the frequency of shutdowns and in the amount of hardware procured would result in significant cost savings. Wilbartec developed the concept and detailed design for the conversion of the existing system. WGE (a local fabricator) undertook all off-site fabrication and on-site installation/commissioing of the new system, and continue to supply spare components. All work was carried out during normal (planned) maintenance shutdowns. No additional downtime was required.

Client Prerequisites:

• incorporate majority existing plant infrastructure (cooling towers, pumps, pipework)

• minimise downtime for installation of new equipment (pipework, pumps, heat exchangers)

• minimise downtime for shutdown & commissioning

Outcomes:

A payback period of less than 12 months for the entire project cost was achieved. In addition, longer life expectancy for the various watercooled, off-gas duct components resulted in replacement orders for parts being either delayed or cancelled.