The major overhaul of Kamet-Steel's Blast Furnace No. 9 has reached its peak point. Specialists have completed cleaning the hearth of burden materials and started the main refractory concreting work on key sections of the unit.
Renewal of the hearth's refractory lining and upper hearth bottom tops the list of key works within the framework of the BF No. 9 major overhaul. Having completed the final removal of burden materials, repair workers poured the first layer, and after technologically determined settling time, have already begun work on pouring the main layer of refractory concrete, which is nearly 1 meter in thickness.
This was preceded by an important stage – the replacement of over 220 cooling staves in the hearth, upper hearth bottom, tuyere zone, boshes, and partially the furnace shaft.
Accompanying repairs to the blast furnace's hot blast stoves and ring air duct, which is responsible for quality hot blast delivery to the furnace, are also nearing completion. Lining work has already been completed and equipment replaced.
FACT
The refractory concreting technology allows us to reduce work duration whilst preserving execution quality, and will subsequently ensure reliable furnace operation and stable production performance.
Active repair work continues at the cast house of the blast furnace No. 9, where specialists are performing complete replacement of the steel structures of central and transportation troughs, comprehensively updating equipment, primarily the taphole opening and closing machines. Main work has already been completed in the northern part of the cast house, with repair operations now beginning on the southern side.
Yevhen PODHORNYI, deputy blast furnace shop manager for engineering at Kamet Steel, says:
Significant volumes of work are being carried out at each repair site of the blast furnace No. 9 – in the lower charging zone and sub-bunker room, replacing steel structures on the inclined bridge, on the bunker trestle and so forth. We approached the main lining operations on schedule, keeping to the timetable, as today the efficiency of the entire enterprise depends significantly on optimising the timeframe for BF-9's major overhaul. The refractory concreting technology we are now using allows us to reduce work duration whilst preserving execution quality, and will subsequently ensure reliable furnace operation and stable production performance."
