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Siemens to Equip Midrex DRI Facilities with Simelt Simpax Technology
Apr. 1, 2006 April 2006 — The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is equipping two new direct reduction installations of Saudi Iron & Steel Co. (Hadeed), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar Steel Co. (Qasco) with the Simelt Simpax optimization package on behalf of Midrex Technologies Inc.
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Because the reduction process takes several hours and parameters such as metallization or carbon content cannot be measured directly, inhomogeneous pellets or iron ore can severely affect the quality, productivity and energy efficiency of a direction reduction installation.
This applies to the reduction process as well as subsequent processes.
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In Mesaaid, Qasco operates an integrated steelworks and rolling mill. Hadeed has production plants that manufacture long and flat products. The two companies are currently building new direct reduction installations in which direct reduced iron can be extracted from pellets or iron ore with the help of natural gas. Simelt Simpax technology will allow the facilities to monitor and optimize the quality of the direct reduced iron (DRI) online during the reduction process. This will help to ensure uniform product quality and reduced power consumption.
To help safeguard against the problem of inhomogeneous pellets or iron ore, Hadeed and Qasco’s new reduction installations are to be equipped with Simelt Simpax, a hybrid process model from Siemens that incorporates analytical and data-driven sub-models as well as a neural network. With the help of measurable parameters and historical data for typical process operations in a given installation, Simelt Simpax provides prognoses concerning expected DRI quality. Deviations from the required properties can thus be detected and rectified at an early stage, helping to ensure a consistently high quality of DRI. Simelt Simpax also ensures more efficient operation of the direct reduction plant, helping to reduce power consumption, lower maintenance costs and increase availability.
Siemens will integrate the process model in the automation system in both installations and help to optimize ongoing production.
Hadeed belongs to the Saudi company Sabic Holding, Riyadh.
The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) integrates systems and solutions for industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation, operation and the entire life cycle. I&S uses the electrical and technical products of other Siemens Groups in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies in the sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-cast mining, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2005 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 31,700 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 5.390 billion.