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Despite the challenging topography and a decline in steel demand, Pangang Group Xichang Steel and Vanadium Co Ltd remains steadfast in protecting the environment and driving intelligent transformation — a pivotal step toward securing a sustainable and prosperous future for the company.
As the first company in Southwest China to finish ultralow emission retrofitting, Xichang Steel and Vanadium Co faced a challenge with no ready-made solutions to draw from. Identifying cost-effective technologies tailored to the local conditions has become a key question requiring careful consideration.
Given the high altitude, low atmospheric pressure and high humidity in Southwest China, the company ultimately adopted the limestone-gypsum desulfurization method and secure container release.
This approach effectively addresses climate-related issues such as flue gas plume formation, while maintaining a relatively cost-effective balance in desulfurization expenses, said Wei Wanyu, environmental protection director at Xichang Steel and Vanadium Co.
The company has adopted applications for 131 dust removal equipment units, 26 desulfurization and denitrification systems, and 12 wastewater treatment facilities.
"Through ultralow emission retrofitting, major pollutant emissions have been significantly reduced," Wei said.
Compared to 2019 levels, emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides have decreased by 31 percent, 69 percent and 57 percent, respectively, Wei added.
"In the early stages of implementation, the company made extensive preparations to better understand the processes of clean production retrofitting," said Ma Haibo, an executive involved in publicity at the company.
At the same time, the company focused on recruiting talent with expertise in environmental protection and new energy fields, integrating them with seasoned technical professionals to cultivate a new generation of versatile and innovative talent, he added.
The company has also established a QMS+iQDS+AIQ quality management support system, achieving a breakthrough in end-to-end process management — from identifying customer needs to overseeing production and manufacturing.
The system has enhanced the precision, refinement and intelligence of product quality management and improved production efficiency and product qualification rates.
It lays a solid foundation for fully automated, zero-intervention and intelligent manufacturing processes, the company said.
For intelligent manufacturing, the company has the largest integrated centralized control center for vanadium-titanium ore smelting in China.
The integrated collaboration centered around the blast furnace consolidates the operation and control of key processes in the iron-making sector, including raw materials, blast furnaces and power generation. Over 160,000 data collection points are set up on-site, with 54 applications developed to optimize operations.
The construction of the control center has systematized the regularities of vanadium-titanium ore smelting, promoting the shift from experience-based practices to digitalization in the smelting process.
The company's digital transformation has delivered remarkable results, with a 12 percent reduction in quality loss rates, a 7 percent increase in production efficiency, a 150 percent rise in per capita steel output and a 5.6 percent boost in on-time order delivery rates.
For instance, the application of intelligent equipment in the company's hot rolling and cold rolling processes has not only eliminated labor-intensive tasks, but also effectively addressed quality issues, said Hu Qingmang, chief information engineer of the company.
"Additionally, it has reduced the workforce required for positions by 40, significantly enhancing intrinsic safety levels," Hu said. - China Daily/ANN
