Russula upgrades two-strand slab casting machine at CSN
Following the successful productivity improvement project of the bar and rod mill in Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) has contracted Russula to perform a control system upgrade on its two-strand slab casting machine. CSN is the largest integrated steel producer in Brazil with a crude steel capacity of 5.6 million tons. Russula won the contract in August, 2019.
The goal of the upgrade is to replace legacy automation equipment, primarily the ABB PLCs and ABB APC boards which are installed in ABB drives and communicate with the AC450, with first line control. This will improve the safety and reliability of the casting process, as well as improve spare parts availability.
The existing main ABB AC450 PLC processors will be replaced with new Siemens S7 400 and New ABB DCS880 drives will replace the existing drives. The existing HMI ABB 800xA equipment and application will be reused, keeping all existing servers and operator stations. The new control system is scheduled to be commissioned in June 2020.
In 2016, CSN contracted Russula to reengineer the bar and rod mill at its same production facility. Russula engineers provided an on-site process evaluation and plan forward to remove the electrical and mechanical bottlenecks. Subsequently, when the brake slide and straightening grids were replaced with a new mechanical design and the existing electrical and control system was upgraded, the productivity of the bar and rod mill increased significantly. Russula is very pleased to be selected by CSN again for this important project.
Since 1991, Russula has performed many electrical upgrades for the melt shop area of integrated steel mills. Blast Furnaces, EAFs, ladle furnaces and continuous casters are all part of the Russula portfolio of electrical and automation solutions, offered by its local Brazilian structure, located in São Paulo.
About CSN
Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional is the largest fully integrated steel producer in Brazil with its own iron ore source. It has a rolled steel capacity of 5.1 MT. The company produces hot and cold rolled slabs, galvanized steel and tin mill products, accounting for 98% of the tin mill products sold in Brazil.
