VDEh Institute of Industrial Research (Düsseldorf, Germany):

Adam J., Dr., e-mail: joerg.adam@bfi.de
Kordel T., Dr.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Duisburg, Germany):

Johnen A.
Kannapel M.
Uellenberg W.

voestalpine Stahl GmbH (Linz, Austria):

Thaler Ch., Dr.
Rittenschober Ch.

ISD Dunaferr Dunai Vasmü Co. Ltd. (Dunaújváros, Hungary):

Moger R.
Titz I.

Destruction of blast furnace tuyères seems to be an unpredicrable event occurring up to 120 times per year. It is required from 2 to 8 hours of downtime to replace these cooling components. In order to decrease such delays, the RFCS program (Programme of the European Union Research Fluidized Combustor Systems) provided development of ExTul project. It was aimed on reveal of connections between operating conditions of blast furnaces and frequency of destruction of blast furnace tuyères. Based on the results of the ExTul project implementation, the practical recommendations for tuyère construction and operation have been prepared. The ExTuL project was carried out very carefully. New systems for BF tuyère monitoring during operation were developed and tested during industrial long term campaigns. The new BF measuring tuyères as well as the new optical BF tuyère monitoring systems gave important information concerning the thermal conditions at the tuyère tip and erosive wear at the inner tuyère surface. Furthermore, systematic analysis of blast furnace tuyère damages clearly pointed out that peaks with high heat level in front of the tuyères, insufficient permeability in the stack and the hearth with unfavourable flow conditions of liquid HM and slag effect increasing tuyère damage frequency.

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