Market economics have created the need for increased productivity, extended campaign life and optimized process stability in blast furnace ironmaking. Danieli Corus has extensive experience in the design and operation high productivity, long life blast furnaces and campaign extension through relines or local repairs. Safe and reliable operations are secured by state–of–the–art blast furnace cooling and lining designs and modern blast furnace management. During over 100 blast furnace projects, Danieli Corus has implemented many "Hoogovens" type plate cooler lining systems achieving long campaigns and minimizing capital investments. Copper and cast iron stave cooler technologies are also available.
During a mid–campaign hearth repair of Tata Steel IJmuiden Blast Furnace No. 6, it was found that the bosh, belly and stack lining were in excellent condition after a sixteen year campaign. The furnace has since completed another 15 years in operation without repairs, and with no reline activities planned until 2021, the zones above the hearth will achieve a 35+ year campaign life.
The benefits of the "Hoogovens" design are:
- Only design capable of achieving long campaigns under all process conditions
- Especially suitable for high coal injection levels
- Imposes no limits on the process
