TRT Generating System Delivered to Sumitomo Metals

Tokyo, March 16, 2010 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has delivered a top pressure recovery turbine (TRT) generating system with a capacity of 9,840 kW to Sumitomo Metals (Kokura), Ltd. The system will be used to replace Sumitomo Metals’ aging TRT generating system currently employed in its second blast furnace in order to boost capacity. The new system harnesses the full power of Kawasaki’s state-of-the-art technology to enhance efficiency.

The TRT generating system is driven by exhaust gas pressure generated from the steelworks’ blast furnace which is converted into electricity via a turbine. This energy-saving system also features noise reduction and dust removal functions that work while gas passes through the turbine. Since TRT generating systems are equipped with a range of environmentally friendly features, they have been adopted for all large blast furnaces in Japan.

The Kawasaki TRT generating system is unique. It employs the turbine’s variable stator blades to control the blast furnace’s top pressure. Instead of using the conventional governor valve to control top pressure, this system automatically adjusts the angle of the blades to control the gas flow rate from the blast furnace. Despite the blast furnace’s constantly changing gas flow rate and pressure, this method delivers efficient, low-noise power generation with minimal energy loss.

Kawasaki is a leading manufacturer of TRT generation systems and has supplied a total of 46 units worldwide. That total includes 26 in Japan and 20 overseas, one of which boasted the world’s largest output of 34,480 kW at the time of delivery.

Kawasaki continues to move forward with a focus on providing TRT generation systems and other energy efficient products that make a smaller environmental footprint.