Blast-furnace charging system

The blast furnace in the blast-furnace shop at the West Slovakian Metallurgical Combine is charged by means of a complex system that usually includes the following: an ore yard with a hopper gantry; a system to collect, weigh, and transport the charge materials to the top of the furnace; the charging apparatus of the furnace; a system that controls the charging operation. The use of continuous-acting mechanisms facilitates charging of the ore-bearing materials in the charge while minimizing the content of the −5-mm fraction of these components and the number of coke particles smaller than 25 mm. The productivity of the furnace could be increased further, which would allow the addition of an efficient aspiration system and make it easier to fully automate the furnace. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 7, pp. 45–46, July, 2006.