Key Considerations for Implementing Lime Injection

Lime injection has become a staple in the steel industry. Now, the focus has turned to how to optimize its implementation, rather than questioning its necessity. If you’re looking to implement an effective lime injection system, it’s important to understand each step in the process, from offload to injection.

At the Start – Offloading & Storage

• Lime and dolime react exothermically with moisture, so protection from the elements is key.
• Storage silos should be equipped with pressure/vacuum relief manways, bin vent filtration, and flow promotion capabilities to ensure seamless offloading and safe storing.

Shaping the Route – Pneumatic Conveying

• By pneumatically conveying lime from silo to injection unit and eventually to the furnace, lime injection systems operate in a closed-loop environment.
• Whether for new plants or expansions, Carmeuse Systems can design pneumatic conveying systems to conform to site-specific requirements.

The Measured Approach – Feeding & Flow to the Furnace

• Accuracy matters. Accurate lime dosing can lead to better control of slag chemistry, energy savings, and improved metallic yield. To achieve this, it’s critical for the injection unit to be able to provide a measured, reliable and uninterrupted supply of lime.
• In partnership with Coperion, our lime injection solutions feature gravimetric flow control and mechanically controlled feeding to effectively convey lime to the furnace.

Reaching the Target – Lime Injection

• At the end of the journey, lime and dolime are injected directly into the bath via sidewall lances. This increases lime utilization, limits losses to the baghouse, and results in a cleaner, safer working environment with less dust in the air and on the shop floor. Overall, the coherent injection stream is crucial for lime efficiency and foamy slag formation.
• In partnership with Tallman Technologies, our system features supersonic injectors delivering high-calcium and dolomitic lime into the bath at nearly twice the speed of sound, allowing it to pierce the slag and quickly enter the bath.

From storage and pneumatic conveying to your specific lime injection needs, our teams can tailor solutions to your site. We have expertise at every step along the way and are ready to assist. To learn more about how our lime injection technologies read our brochure.