Title

MODERN MINI AND COMPACT BLAST FURNACES: OPERATIONS–BASED DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Authorship

Engel, Edo; Straaten, Victor van; Vaynshteyn, Roman

Engel, Edo

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Straaten, Victor van

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Vaynshteyn, Roman

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DOI

10.5151/4444-4444-26401

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Abstract

Whereas only a handful of decades ago, typical blast furnace working volumes were below 1000 m³, such furnaces are currently designated compact or even mini blast furnaces. For certain business cases, however, small furnace sizes remain an attractive option. Decades ago, this size blast furnace would have produced a maximum of 0.3 Mtpa with its 600 m³ working volume over a campaign of up to four years. The current state of technology and operational know–how will allow a similarly sized furnace to produce over 0.7 Mtpa while achieving the multiple decade campaigns that have become familiar to steel producers in full sized operations. This level of productivity, but especially the reliability and supply security associated with mature technology, allows for integration into minimills or taking a first step towards a full scale BF–BOF integrated mill. Steel producers considering such scenarios, which are typically attractive for emerging economies, are confronted with fundamental decisions, one of which is for the technological basis for the compact or mini blast furnace to be included in the plant. This article addresses some of these decisions from an operations–based perspective. A small number of case studies is included.

Keywords

Blast furnace, Process, Performance, Campaign life

Campaign life