Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant is one of the key projects of East China Group's five-year plan. In fact, construction has begun before the five-year plan is determined. In the plan of the time traveler, this will be a large modern steel enterprise integrating ironmaking, steelmaking, casting components, steel plates, steel staples, and steel. Now Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant has completed a 300m3 blast furnace, which can produce 50-60 tons of iron, as well as 50 tons of acid and alkaline open furnaces at a time.

All the equipment and machines of the steel plant are purchased from Germany, some of which are deducted from German prisoner redemption fees, and the construction is also completed under the guidance of German experts. In accordance with the agreement between the East China government and Germany, Germany will also assist the East China government in building a blast furnace of the same specification, and one 50-ton acid and alkaline converter each, and provide corresponding technical equipment.

In this era, ironmaking mainly uses blast furnaces, and this technology has not changed much until the time traveler's era. Steelmaking technology is divided into two types: open furnace steelmaking and converter steelmaking, and these two types of steelmaking technologies are divided into acidic and alkaline.

Technically speaking, the conversion furnace steelmaking speed is fast, but the quality of raw materials is high. However, the open furnace steelmaking speed is slow, but the requirements for raw materials are not high. In addition, scrap steel, pig iron and scrap steel can be used in large quantities for steelmaking. Therefore, after the 1920s in the old time and space, due to social development, a large number of scrap steel appeared in various countries, so open furnace steelmaking became the mainstream. Before the 1950s, 85% of the steel was produced by the open furnace steelmaking method. It was not until the pure oxygen top-blown converter steelmaking method that the open furnace steelmaking method was gradually eliminated.

Now the travelers adopt the model of using open furnace and converter technology in the same way, because from the current perspective, converter steelmaking has fast steel output speed and travelers do not have any scrap steel, so there is still a lot of room for development. However, open furnace steelmaking is the mainstream development in the next few decades, and China's iron ore quality is not too high, so it cannot be given up. It is used in both acid and alkali furnaces.

Although before the construction of the steel plant, some time travelers suggested that it would be better to use pure oxygen top-blown converter steelmaking technology in one step, and some people even suggested using the electric furnace steelmaking method simply. However, the process technology of this era cannot meet the requirements of pure oxygen top-blown converter steelmaking, let alone the electric furnace steelmaking method. Not to mention other processes, the electricity is almost an astronomical figure in this era.

In fact, Qingdao is not a good place to build steel plants, because there are no iron ore or coal mines near Qingdao. The only advantage is sea transportation. Therefore, the iron ore used by steel plants is now purchased from Daye Iron Mine, while coal is transported from Kaiping Coal Mine, Tianjin.

In the old time and space, Shandong's steel production was mainly concentrated in Jinan, Laiwu and Zibo areas. This is the main coal and iron ore concentration area in Shandong. The coal is widely included in Jinan Xilu Coal Mine, Zhangqiu Puji Coal Mine, Zibo Wangzhuang Coal Mine, Laiwu Laopo, Zhaili Coal Mine, etc. The iron ores include Jinan Zhangmatun Iron Mine, Zibo Jinling Iron Mine, Zhaokou Iron Mine, Laiwu Mazhuang Iron Mine, etc.

The Jiaoji Railway planned by Germany leads to this area, and it is because it is attracted by the coal and iron resources in this area. However, the time travelers have not yet effectively controlled this area, so they can only establish a steel plant in Qingdao first to solve any problems, and at the same time to accumulate technology. After the East China government has formed effective control over the Jinan, Laiwu and Zibo areas, and the Jiaoji Railway is also completed and opened to traffic, consider selecting a site for another larger steel plant in this area. This cannot be considered a repeated investment. After all, the East China government wants to develop and establish an industrial system, and it is far from enough to build a steel plant.

The No. 1 blast furnace and No. 1 and No. 2 blast furnaces of Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant were built more than 10 days ago and started the first iron smelting. Of course, this time the iron smelting is still a test run, so the feeding is only 50% of the normal amount. Just two days ago, German engineer Zieg confirmed that the molten iron can be released this morning and two blast furnaces can be started for trial.

Although it was only a test run, it was the first time that the East China government officially launched an iron and steel plant could be officially put into production. Its symbolic significance is very important. Therefore, the East China government also decided to hold a grand celebration ceremony, and all the main leaders were to attend. Zhan Tianyou also visited Qingdao at this time, so he also came to witness this historic moment.

Of course, Zhan Tianyou did not understand iron smelting and steelmaking technology, but he also knew that steel technology, like railways, is one of the important symbols of modern industrial society. Moreover, steel technology is closely related to railways. Because building a railway requires a lot of steel, the progress of steel technology determines the development of railway technology. After the railway is built, it greatly increases the cost of transportation, which in turn promotes the development of steel.

Although Zhan Tianyou built several railways in China, the rails used were purchased from foreign countries. Only after the Hanyang Iron Factory was completed and put into production can China produce a small amount of rails. Although Zhan Tianyou only used rails instead of using rails from where the rails came from, from a heart, he still hoped that the railway he built would use domestic rails as much as possible.

In the morning, accompanied by Yang Yuxin, Zhan Tianyou came to the No. 1 blast furnace of Qingdao Steel Plant. Of course, the blast furnace ironmaking equipment is not only one blast furnace, but a complete set of system equipment, including blast furnaces, hot air furnaces, pulverized coal bins, blowing stations, ingredient rooms, loading conveyor trucks or loading conveyor belts, tracks, molten steel tank trucks or iron sinks, etc. This is not considered a supporting steelmaking production workshop or casting workshop. The entire system covers an area of ​​more than 1,000 square meters. On the left side of this system equipment, another system is under construction and construction.

At this time, thick black smoke was still spraying on the top of the towering blast furnace. In addition to the hot air furnace, the other equipment had stopped working. More than 10 workers wearing safety helmets gathered in front of the blast furnace, including 2 or 3 foreigners. In addition to the safety line, workers from steel plants and police officers who maintained order on the scene were all over. About 200 meters to the right of the blast furnace, a rostrum was set up, and several rows of chairs were placed in front of the stage, with about 200 seats. Zhan Tianyou and Yang Yuxin were arranged to sit in the first row. The students who came with them also came to the scene and sat in the back row, because this was a great opportunity for these students to showcase the industrialization construction of the East China government.

It was not long before leaders such as Xia Bohai, Qin Zheng sat on the stage, and the audience was full of people. Xu Haoyang, the director of Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant, first spoke at the rostrum and talked about the construction, development and standardization of the steel plant. In Germany, he assisted in completing two blast furnaces and two blast furnaces. After the two converters, two blast furnaces of the same grade and two blast furnaces will continue to be built as the first production area. All projects are expected to be completed in 1905, and the output will reach more than 100,000 tons of steel per year.

At this time, Hanyang Iron Factory only had three blast furnaces of 248m3, two blast furnaces and converters, with an annual output of about 60,000 tons of steel. Although the first blast furnace of the Hachiman Ironmaking Institute in Japan began operations on November 18, 1901, the furnace door of the molten iron furnace could not be opened when the molten iron was discharged, and the molten iron could not flow out, resulting in failure. It will not be until July 1904 that the renovated blast furnace will be successfully re-operated. Therefore, after the construction of the first production area of ​​Qingdao Iron Factory will surpass Hanyang Iron Factory and become the largest steel factory in Asia.

In addition, Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant will also carry out the construction of the second production area, and will build 4 more 500m3 blast furnaces, 2 100-ton bumper furnaces, and 2 100-ton converter furnaces. All projects will be completed in 1910. The expected goal is to double the production capacity to reach the level of 300,000 tons of steel per year.

Xu Haoyang's speech also won rounds of applause. At this moment, German engineer Zieger came from the blast furnace to the rostrum and told Xu Haoyang that the furnace could be turned on. So Xu Haoyang hurriedly came down from the rostrum, put on a safety helmet, and rushed to the No. 1 blast furnace with Zieger.

At this time, on the rostrum, everyone stood up and looked in the direction of No. 1 blast furnace, waiting for the furnace to be opened and the iron was released. However, due to the failure of the Japan Hachiman Iron Manufacturing Institute, and the Hachiman Iron Manufacturing Institute introduced a complete set of equipment and technology from Germany, everyone's hearts were also hanging. I wonder if Qingdao Iron Manufacturing Institute would redirect the same mistake.

The most nervous thing at this time was Xu Haoyang, the director of Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant. He was not a professional steelmaking background. His understanding of steelmaking technology was limited to the records in the [Collection of Time Travel Technology] provided by a time travel enthusiast, and some other technical articles about steelmaking and iron smelting. Of course, there is no one among the time travelers who understand steelmaking. Xu Haoyang was able to serve as the director of Qingdao Iron and Steel Plant because of the management model he proposed. In terms of technology, he could only rely on engineering and technical personnel sent by Germany. But if the furnace failed, he would undoubtedly leave a mark in his resume. Therefore, at this time, Xu Haoyang stood in front of the No. 1 blast furnace with the heat waves rolling, and his right hand holding the starting flag could not help but tremble.

Ziegel understood his psychology and said firmly: "Mr. Factory Director, please give an order. I can guarantee that there will be no problems."

Xu Haoyang looked at the old German man who was a little fat, and knew that he could only trust him at this time. So he gritted his teeth, raised the sheep with a high flag, waved it down hard, and shouted: "Open the furnace."

The workers responsible for opening the furnace had already been in place. After hearing Xu Haoyang's order, they immediately pulled the hinge arm together and shouted in unison: "The furnace door has been opened."

The furnace door opened in response to the sound. As a large amount of white steam emerged, a stream of bright red molten iron flowed out of the furnace door, poured into the sink, and flowed to the steelmaking workshop.
Chapter completed!