Title

WHY, WHEN AND HOW TO BUILD YOUR 4TH STOVE:A STRUCTURED APPROACH AND DECISION MAKING MODEL: FROM JUSTIFICATION TO STATE–OF–THE–ART DESIGN AND PROJECT EXECUTION

WHY, WHEN AND HOW TO BUILD YOUR 4TH STOVE:A STRUCTURED APPROACH AND DECISION MAKING MODEL: FROM JUSTIFICATION TO STATE–OF–THE–ART DESIGN AND PROJECT EXECUTION

Authorship

Straaten, Victor Van; Woltheus, Alain; Engel, Edo; Sarbrant, Magnus; Willemsen, Richard

Straaten, Victor Van

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Woltheus, Alain

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Engel, Edo

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Sarbrant, Magnus

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Willemsen, Richard

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-39790

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Abstract

A significant part of today’s blast furnace hot blast systems have been in operation for decades. Due to their age, the condition of the equipment must be monitored closely. More frequent inspections, preventive corrective actions and campaign extension measures are necessary to assure the safety, reliability and availability of the plant. Structural improvements can be triggered by various reasons, such as increasing plant capacity, deteriorating performance, reliability issues and stricter norms (safety, emissions). A major hot blast system upgrade should be incorporated in the plant’s long term strategy planning, considering plant capacity, campaign lifetime targets, blast furnace reline plans, etc. Depending on the circumstances, constructing a new stove can help to increase capacity or minimize production losses while the existing stoves and related equipment are upgraded to the featured specs and complying to the latest industry norms by introducing the latest stove design developments. The design of the stove primarily depends on the plant lay–out and owner’s preference, since performance and reliability differences between the various modern stove designs are marginal. Related CAPEX differences are primarily the result of project approach and execution instead of stove design concept.

A significant part of today’s blast furnace hot blast systems have been in operation for decades. Due to their age, the condition of the equipment must be monitored closely. More frequent inspections, preventive corrective actions and campaign extension measures are necessary to assure the safety, reliability and availability of the plant. Structural improvements can be triggered by various reasons, such as increasing plant capacity, deteriorating performance, reliability issues and stricter norms (safety, emissions). A major hot blast system upgrade should be incorporated in the plant’s long term strategy planning, considering plant capacity, campaign lifetime targets, blast furnace reline plans, etc. Depending on the circumstances, constructing a new stove can help to increase capacity or minimize production losses while the existing stoves and related equipment are upgraded to the featured specs and complying to the latest industry norms by introducing the latest stove design developments. The design of the stove primarily depends on the plant lay–out and owner’s preference, since performance and reliability differences between the various modern stove designs are marginal. Related CAPEX differences are primarily the result of project approach and execution instead of stove design concept.

Keywords

Hot Blast System, campaign management, Campaign Extension

Hot Blast System, campaign management, Campaign Extension