In the second half of 2024, Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH was able to commission the modernized and upgraded dedusting fans of the electric steel plant in Unterwellenborn. Pörner Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH in Grimma, contributed to this success with its project for the planning and engineering of the cooling water supply for the frequency converters. The goal of the overall project to modernize the dedusting fans and frequency converters was to reduce power consumption by 40-60%.
Efficient cooling and long-term savings
The goal of the Pörner project, which started in August 2023, was to implement an efficient and cost-saving cooling water supply for the frequency converters. These systems are essential for controlling the production equipment in the steel plant and require reliable cooling. A comprehensive process engineering analysis was conducted to evaluate various cooling methods, including whether river water or cooling tower water would be more suitable for cooling.
Thanks to Pörner Grimma's engineering expertise, a tailor-made solution was developed to optimally meet the technical requirements of the steel plant. As part of the overall project, this solution enables Stahlwerk Thüringen to achieve six-figure savings. The goals of increasing efficiency while reducing operating costs were successfully achieved.
Pörner Grimma's services included comprehensive process analysis and detail engineering of the cooling water supply. Together with Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH and all partners involved, the seamless integration of the planned modifications into the existing infrastructure was ensured.
Future-oriented partnership with Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH
After completing the project, Bernd Griesbach, project manager at Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH, expressed his gratitude to all external partners: "We have been able to implement the project as planned over the past few weeks. The new plant is operational and running reliably. The quality achieved in all key areas - such as plant engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automation, civil engineering, cooling water systems and engineering - is remarkably high and sets standards for future projects. In particular, the precise timing of all implementation steps and the careful, smooth commissioning process underline the competence of the companies involved.
I would like to emphasize the excellent work of the Pörner team. The results are outstanding and the cooperation was extremely pleasant. This is a solid foundation for a trustworthy partnership and future joint projects. Thank you very much for your great commitment to this project!”
Gerhard Bacher, Managing Director of Pörner Ingenieurgesellschaft in Grimma, adds: "We are pleased to support Stahlwerk Thüringen on its way to sustainable and environmentally friendly steel production. Projects like this underline our role as an enabler for companies that want to modernize their plants while making them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly - a crucial step for the future of the economy."
