2015-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2015 Volume 6: Coatings, Cement, Rare Earth & Ferro-alloys

Editors:Kongoli F, Yildirim H, Hainer S, Hofmann K, Proske T, Graubner C.A., Albert B
Publisher:Flogen Star OUTREACH
Publication Year:2015
Pages:200 pages
ISBN:978-1-987820-29-4
ISSN:2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series)
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    Advanced Oxygen Lances for Furnace Tapping Operations

    Peter Sylven1;
    1ENVICOM AB, uddevalla, Sweden;
    Type of Paper: Regular
    Id Paper: 21
    Topic: 12

    Abstract:

    Despite being crucial for the smelting process, furnace tapping using oxygen lances has not been considered an operation that brings added value. Therefore, these important tools have not seen a significant change in over 100 years. Until now. Well-known problems related to the use of standard oxygen lances include, but are not limited to:
    -Inaccurate tool: causing damages shortening the life of the tap hole refractories, which adds cost and loss of production.
    -Safety: extended exposure to the operator in an unsafe area of the furnace.
    -Cost: high oxygen consumption & high lance consumption.
    -Time consuming and frustrating to connect one lance to another; increased waste and cost.
    A lot of these drawbacks are related to the Bounce Combustion effect. This is the key factor affecting oxygen lance consumption and accuracy. These consequences appear when the lance, due to lack of power inside a passage, has to be pressed against its attack point. That pressure generates an undesired radial combustion, speeds up its consumption and generates an irregular perforation. Thus, the Bounce Combustion effect lowers the lance's capability to concentrate all its energy at the attack point, wasting energy on its own consumption and tearing up undesired zones of the passages. This paper will describe the bounce effect in more detail. It will also suggest a very good solution; The Trefimet thermal lances. This paper will show how these provide an outstanding performance for a more efficient, faster and cost-effective furnace tapping operation. These new lances are very accurate tools that enable the operator to perform a more controlled operation; resulting in longer tap hole life, fewer repairs and less down-time.

    Keywords:

    tap hole, tapping, oxygen lance, clay, refractory

    References:

    [1] C. Coetzee, P. Sylven: No tap-hole – No furnace, SAIMM Refractories Conf. (2010) 55-66
    [2] C. Coetzee, P. Duncanson, P. Sylven: Campaign extension for ferroalloy furnaces with improved taphole repair system, INFACON XII, Helsinki (2010) 857-865
    [3] L.R. Nelson, R.J. Hundermark: The tap-hole – key to furnace performance, SAIMM Furnace tapping Conference (2014)
    [4] P.L Duncanson, P. Sylven: New refractory lining direction at Jindal stainless – first Indian FeCr producer to install UCAR Chillkote® linings, GrafTech (2011)

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    Cite this article as:

    Sylven P. Advanced Oxygen Lances for Furnace Tapping Operations. In: Kongoli F, Yildirim H, Hainer S, Hofmann K, Proske T, Graubner C.A., Albert B, editors. Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit SIPS 2015 Volume 6: Coatings, Cement, Rare Earth & Ferro-alloys. Volume 6. Montreal(Canada): FLOGEN Star Outreach. 2015. p. 103-112.