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Utilisation de l'air comprimé dans l'industrie métallurgique

L'industrie métallurgique comprend aussi bien la production que la transformation des métaux. En d'autres termes, cela signifie que la production d'acier et de métaux non ferreux, les fonderies ainsi que la transformation des métaux font partie de l'industrie métallurgique.

Ce secteur d'activité est classifié parmi les industries à forte intensité énergétique. L'air comprimé est un vecteur d'énergie flexible utilisé dans de nombreux processus de production dans les industries de transformation et de fabrication des métaux. Pour la réduction de l'intensité énergétique et l'accroissement de l'efficacité énergétique qui en découle, l'air comprimé est une grandeur d'influence souvent mésestimée.

Outre l'importance de l'air comprimé pour l'efficacité énergétique, la bonne qualité de l'air comprimé est un facteur décisif pour éviter les problèmes au sein de la production et les défauts au niveau du produit fini. Les entreprises du secteur de la production et de la transformation des métaux peuvent réduire leurs coûts, améliorer leur efficacité énergétique et éviter tout rebut et arrêt de production, en traitant l'air comprimé en fonction de leurs besoins réels.

Applications dans l'industrie métallurgique

Manufacturing
glashütte

Steelmaking

Steel is made in two steps in the blast furnace: in the first step, iron ore is reduced to pig iron, in the second step it is processed into raw steel in the converter. Compressed air is used during the first step. The blast furnace is charged from the top, which means layers of coke and iron ore alternate in the blast furnace. At the bottom, so-called hot blast air is blown in through tuyères. The term hot blast air described heated compressed air enriched with oxygen and hydrocarbon fuel. This is necessary for effective iron melting.

Compressed air is also used for air cooling. Cooling influences the properties of the steel, thus special demands are made on steel cooling and the medium used. One example is accelerated cooling, which takes place in moving air (falling air).

Pre-Treatment

Sandblasting

During the production process of metal and metal parts, the surface must be cleared completely of deposits and particles, since this could otherwise have a negative influence on the downstream working processes such as surface treatment. One method used for this is sandblasting, which is also known as abrasive jet machining. This technology is used to free the material from residual paint, soiling and rust, to shape the workpiece and work the surface structure.

Compressed air is used to accelerate the blasting agent passing through the nozzle, since the blasting agent must collide with the surface at high speed for the treatment.

Surfaces

Surface finishing

Powder-coating, also known as powder-painting, is a coating method suitable for metallic and non-metallic objects. Two methods are used: electrostatic powder spraying (EPS) and fluidized-bed coating.

Compressed air is used to blow off the workpiece, convey the powder and for fluidizing. In addition, compressed air can be used in the coating booth as dosing air and spraying air. The quality of the compressed air influences the final product, e.g. oil-contaminated compressed air can cause problems such as open spots (craters) in the coating layer or bubbles or craters in the fluid tank.

Another process which involves compressed air is direct current anodising using sulphuric acid, an electrolytic process that is often used for aluminium production. Electrolyte motion is required for electrolytic oxidisation: purified, oil-free compressed air is blown in for this.

In addition, thermal spraying processes are used for surface finishing. Flame spraying and light air spraying are two of those to be mentioned in the compressed air context. With this application, compressed air serves as an atomiser gas which sprays the spray material onto the surface.

Processing
laser

Cutting and welding

Laser processes are often used for cutting and welding metal. Compressed air is used for both laser welding and laser cutting. Oil-free, dry and clean compressed air is required for these applications to avoid problems occurring in the process and with the final product.

During laser welding, compressed air at a pressure of up to max. 8 bar is used to divert material particles and material vapours away from the welding optics and prevent damage. This process takes place with the aid of the so-called crossjet unit.

During laser cutting, compressed air is required for flushing the mirror channel and blowing out the melt, depending on the process used. Equally, it can be used as cutting gas for the cutting process. The clean compressed air cools the surface of the material and improves cutting quality. Equally, the compressed air ensures that evaporating material and other materials are removed.

Tools

Pneumatic tools

Many tools are operated and controlled by compressed air in the metalworking industry too. An adequate compressed air quality is necessary, since production downtime is often caused by excessive steam in the machines and plants as well as corrosion in the pipes.

One example of a pneumatic tool is a pneumatic hammer (refer also to steelmaking); this is used for core ejection and well as for breaking substances out of furnaces and pans. Pneumatic stampers and pneumatic sanding machines are also used.

3D print made of metal powder

3D print made of metal powder

The process of 3D metal printing offers several advantages compared with processes used thus far: additive manufacturing permits complicated parts to be produced, saving material, shortening production times and sources of error. During selective laser melting (SLM) components are built up layer by layer. This process usually takes place in an inert gas atmosphere. Nitrogen is often the inert gas used, and is partly generated from compressed air using a nitrogen generator. The compressed air must be of a certain quality so that there is no negative impact on components and processes due to contamination, leading to costs for outage, cleaning and replacement.

Références

Applications Industrielles

BENTELER Aluminium Systems optimise son installation d’air comprimé

La société BENTELER Aluminium Systems est spécialisée dans la conception et la production de pièces de sécurité en aluminium pour l'industrie automobile.

kondensatableiter

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, Duisburg (Germany)

Le réseau d'air comprimé du site de ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG s'étend sur plus de dix kilomètres. Le volume d'air comprimé sur le site est également élevé. Les turbocompresseurs nécessitent des purgeurs de condensats spéciaux en raison de la quantité de condensats produits.

luftbild

Air comprimé comme média de transport et d'exploitation

Chez GF Automotive, le transport du sable s'effectue par le biais d'un air de convoyage. L'humidité provoquerait des agglomérations dans les tuyauteries. Les vannes de commande également fonctionnent avec de l'air comprimé en tant qu'air de commande.

kältetrockner

Standards de qualité dans la fabrication d'accouplements

Flender a besoin d'un air comprimé absolument sec et exempt d'huile. Particulièrement dans la production d'accouplements complexes, l'air doit répondre à toutes les exigences de l'application, de l'air de processus à l'air de barrage.

lasercutting

Refroidissement par air comprimé de machines de découpe au laser

Horstmann à Verl mise sur l'air comprimé traité sans huile provenant d'un BEKOKAT pour le refroidissement de machines de découpe au laser. L'air comprimé utilisé ici est un air de processus qui entre directement en contact avec le laser.