I 1.ri,,e :t, c.11l :: .

-tJ er '::i ecu r t:,:

11 d L 1_- 011 ce ns
Wc\r"J Got AN svER.S
[I own load cBook

one) I
6/12/2017 Blast Furnace and its Design I ispatguru.com

The design of BF should also support its rapid and accurate constructability.

BF profile

BF profile has a complex configuration which is comprised of cylinders joined to truncated cones and consists
of several zones namely hearth, bosh, belly, and stack. Stack is further divided into lower stack and upper stack.
In the hearth there is a dead layer of liquid metal known as dead man zone. In each zone there are shell, cooling
elements and refractories. The furnace working profile is established after a certain volume of lining gets worn
out. Different physicochemical processes take place within these zones in the furnace. The size ratios of
different zones vary with the furnace useful volume but usually they are within an acceptable range.

The ratio of total furnace height to belly diameter for mid and large size blast furnaces decreases from around 3
to 2.00 as the furnace useful volume increases from 1000 cum to 5500 cum. The ratio of furnace belly diameter
to furnace hearth diameter varies in the range of 1.09 to 1.13 ( ideally it should be 1.05 to 1.10). The ratio of
diameter of furnace top to the diameter of the belly varies usually in the range of 0.62 to 0. 71.
Belly Dia / F/c Height= 2 to 3, Belly Dia / Hearth Dia=1.05 to 1.1, Throat Dia/ Belly Dia= 0.6 to 0.7,
Similarly the height of different zones for mid and large size furnaces depends on its useful volume but usually
varies within a range. The height of the dead layer varies in the range of 600 mm to 1700 mm. The height of the
hearth increases with the furnace useful volume and is in the range of 3200 mm to 5700 mm. Height of the bosh
is usually in the range of 3000 mm to 4000 mm. The height of the belly in a BF is minimum when compared
with other heights and is usually in the range of 2000 mm to 3000 mm. Height of the stack in the BF is
maximum and varies usually in the range of 15 m to 20.7 m. Height of the upper cylindrical portion of the stack
varies from 2.5 m to 3 m. Total height of the furnace varies from 26 m to 36 m. Effective height of the furnace
exclude the height of the upper cylindrical portion of the stack and is usually in the range of 23 m to 33 .5 m.
Hearth Height= 3.5 to 6 mtr, Bosh= 3 to 4 mtr, Shaft=15 to 20 mtr, Throat=2.5 to 3 mtr, total height=25 to 35 mtr.
Angles of slope made by stack with the belly and made by the bosh with the belly are important parameters and
usually varies in the ranges of 82.5 to 85.5 degrees and 79.2 to 80.5 degrees respectively.

The effective height of the furnace is dependent on the quality (strength) of coke which is available. The BF
height of 33.5 mis almost its practical limit considering normal strength of the coke available. Hence any
increase in the effective volume is to be achieved through the increase in the cross sectional dimension of the
furnace keeping the furnace height practically the same. This means reduction in the ratio of total height to the
belly diameter. This also means decreased angle of slope made by the stack and the belly. The angle of slope
made by the stack and the belly can be reduced to the extent that it does not obstruct the linear expansion of the
burden material with the increase in the temperature.

Also the cross sectional area of the hearth is dependent on the intensity of carbon combustion. This is the carbon
contained in the coke (both BF coke and nut coke) and auxiliary fuel and is determined by the carbon content of
the total per day fuel input to the furnace divided by the furnace volume.

With the increase in the furnace diameter, there need to be corresponding increase in the hot blast pressure for
ensuring centre working of the furnace. This necessitates higher pressure at the furnace top in order to maintain
a reasonable pressure differential in the furnace for smooth movement of the burden.

Number of tuyeres in the BF is normally twice the diameter of the hearth in the lower end of the mid size
furnace and as the furnace volume increases it exceeds and is more than two times the hearth diameter.

The design profile of a few Russian blast furnaces are given in Fig 1.

http://ispatguru.com/blast-furnace-and-its-design/ 3/9

"

oo
I
8 8
g
-
g '.:

-
, ,4
"'
N

l
811)(>
7300
!
I I
I I
300"'3

i ;'
;; 1100111>

r
j

J; . ,,
.,.,,. ,1 .I
1en,r, .(
p3.1>33'

1'9'"10'3t"\

ft
10000 j 11000
1
ft :,

8,
g,
6$00
'
aOO

N -...
7000

8900
"'
" ........
8
,&
i

if .....,...,
t

3000("3 0
$000m3
11 ...J,., ";; 0 32QOm3
g
i; ft I I

.....
9353

0
0 0
'' .
ft
79111

I 12000
= 14700

..
"' ;