Comparison of the measured hot metal mass flow rate with calculated amounts of hot metal
 

A detailed understanding of the processes at the blast furnace hearth is essential to ensure an extend and trouble-free blast furnace hearth life. A continuous capturing of the hot metal mass flow rate during the tapping leads to fundamental insights to optimize individual tapping strategies.

Monitoring the hot metal and slag mass flow rates in combination with the blast furnace hearth condition monitoring, an optimized process control can be achieved.

A new measuring technique for continuously monitoring the amounts of hot metal and slag tapped from the blast furnace was developed and applied.

This method is based on the detection of the filling level in the runner system by means of radar. The measured tapping rates are recorded and evaluated simultaneously with the signals of the EMF measurement at the blast furnace shell and the calculated amounts of hot metal and slag in the blast furnace hearth.

A process model for spatially resolved monitoring of the tapping and the runner system’s wear was developed. This led to an enhanced tapping strategy and helped to prolong hearth life.