Chemical wear analysis of a tap-hole on a SiMn production furnace

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Steenkamp, J.D. (Joalet Dalene)
Pistorius, Petrus Christiaan
Tangstad, M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Abstract

In April 2013 a 48 MVA submerged arc furnace producing silicomanganese was excavated in South Africa. Since the high shell temperatures recorded in the tap-hole area resulted in the furnace being switched out for relining, the tap-hole area was excavated systematically. A refractory wear profile of the tap-hole area with affected hearth and sidewall refractory was obtained in elevation. The carbon ramming paste in front of, above, and below the tap-hole was worn, as was the SiC with which the tap-hole was built. A clay mushroom formed but was detached from the refractories. Thermodynamic and mass-transfer calculations were conducted to quantify the potential for wear by chemical reaction between refractory and slag and refractory and metal in the tap-hole area. It was found that chemical reaction between refractory and slag or metal could offer only a partial explanation for the wear observed; erosion is expected to contribute significantly to wear.

Description

Keywords

Excavation, Dig-out, Post-mortem, Submerged arc furnace, Silicomanganese, Refractory, Tap-hole, Thermodynamics, FACTSage, Mass transfer

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Steenkamp, JD, Pistorius, PC & Tangstad, M 2015, 'Chemical wear analysis of a tap-hole on a SiMn production furnace', Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 115, pp. 199-208.