L&T-Paul Wurth Consortium created history by executing a mammoth task of the total re-construction of Blast Furnace 'F' in a record time for Tata Steel at Jamshedpur. This type of rebuilding and upgradation of Blast Furnace carried out in Tata Steel has been done in India for the first time.
A consortium formed by ECC, the Construction Division of L&T and Paul Wurth SA of Luxembourg achieved this feat recently when the steel fraternity witnessed the "Blowing In" of the Reconstructed modern blast furnace 'F' at Jamshedpur.

Mr. A. Ramakrishna, Deputy Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro Limited said, "Meticulous planning, a lot of preconstruction with innovative methods and techniques, timely action with speed and precision as well as strong emphasis on safety contributed to the task being completed within 105 days only as against the contracted downtime. Without proper foresight and strong mettle this mammoth task would not have been possible. L&T and Paul Wurth take pride in creating this marvel and thank TATA STEEL for reposing their confidence in the consortium."

The EPC contract bagged by the consortium called for upgradation of the furnace from its existing capacity of 0.65 million tons per year to 1.0 million tons per year with a stringent shut downtime schedule of 150 days. The scope of the contract involved design, engineering, procurement of equipment, fabrication and erection of furnace shell, technological and other structures, civil works including heavy piling, piping including associated pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation and automation systems.

Mr. Ramakrishna further added, "One should see the criticality of the task and the scene of action to believe this marvel. A massive construction effort in a working plant in a congested layout with heavy hot metal and slag traffic; noxious fumes and dusty environment; deafening noise and to top it all the searing summer heat made the task all the more daunting. A simple mistake or even an act of negligence could have spelt disaster. We were confident of accomplishing this prestigious project and it is a demonstration of our technological and market leadership."

Highlights and features of the reconstructed BF `F':

	Increased furnace working volume from 1392 cu.m. to 1587 cu.m. with 24 tuyeres.
	A free standing furnace within a tower structure
	A compact bell less top charging system of Paul Wurth design
	Conveyorisation and automated stockhouse.
	Automated stoves with hydraulic actuation of valves.
	High top pressure operation with 0.7 barg.
	A new gas cleaning plant with annular gap scrubber
	Closed loop primary soft water cooling circuit
	Automation through TDC 3000 DCS system.