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The blast furnace proper is the vessel in which the blast furnace ironmaking process occurs. The vessel is shaped to facilitate the counter-current process, to retain and direct the process gases and the molten products. It has to accommodate changing raw materials and operating conditions. Finally, it is expected to operate, with very few problems, for many years, even decades. It is expected to remain basically intact at the end of its campaign life so that it can be reused, for future campaigns. Paul Wurth has met the challenge to recognise the requirements and to exceed the expectations.
With the recent integration of Didier-M&P Energietechnik, now Paul Wurth Refractory & Engineering, into the Paul Wurth Group, Paul Wurth’s experience in furnace proper design, (process, refractory, cooling system, shell, etc.) is augmented by many years of furnace lining experience.
Paul Wurth designs the furnace proper considering the potential raw material and operating conditions for the furnace throughout its campaign. We typically design the furnace as a free-standing unit with a surrounding building structure, providing access to the furnace and support for the furnace off-gas system (and for part of the furnace during rebuild activities). Furnace lines, as well as refractory lining, cooling elements and furnace shell are considered together for superior performance and operating service life.
Serious consideration is given in the design stage to ensure rapid and accurate constructability of the furnace shell, cooling elements and lining.
The cooling water circuits are designed to provide optimal removal of the heat load from the cooling elements and linings. To ensure a high availability and a long campaign life, Paul Wurth uses forced recirculation closed loop cooling circuits.
Advantages of forced recirculation, closed loop cooling circuits:
Minimal water consumption.
Low electrical power consumption.
Economical chemical treatment.
No corrosion, scaling or biological fouling of pipes and cooling elements.
Sensitive leak detection systems can be employed.
Paul Wurth cooling elements:
Cast iron stave coolers
Copper stave coolers
Copper plate coolers
Tuyeres and tuyere coolers
Paul Wurth cast iron staves:
Paul Wurth cast iron staves references include
Cast iron tuyere staves
Throat staves
Hearth staves
Thin stack staves
Paul Wurth copper staves:
Paul Wurth supplies copper staves (min. 99.9% pure copper) to two specifications: hot rolled and drilled cooling channels / in mould generated cooling channels. In both cases, the process route commences with copper slab continuous casting.
Paul Wurth copper staves references include:
Conventional and cranked staves in the high heat zone.
The world first application of hearth and tuyere staves.
Staves with a length of 5m (a world record).
Taphole staves profiled to match cylindrical and conical shell configurations.
Horizontal copper hearth staves.
Furnace linings – appropriate to each zone of the furnace – important for long campaign life, smooth operation and manageable cooling loads. Our affiliate, Paul Wurth Refractory & Engineering has extensive experience – nearly 500 furnaces over 4 decades – in advancing blast furnace lining performance.
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