Authors: F. Stober, M. Jastrzebski, N. Voermann, R. Veenstra, K. Belanger, T. Koehler, B. Wasmund
Conference of Metallurgists 2009, August 26, 2009
Abstract
The successful preheat, liquid bath formation and ramp-up to full production of metallurgical furnaces poses challenges that can be outside the normal day-to-day experience of most operators. The start-up methodology used can have substantial and far-reaching impacts on the ability of the furnace to achieve the planned campaign life and its rated throughput in a timely manner. The pre-requisites for a successful furnace start-up and ramp-up require a full understanding of the underlying technical constraints, as well as careful planning and close cooperation between the owner-operator, designer, constructor and third party advisors.
This paper outlines the technical and empirically demonstrated principles behind minimising furnace start-up and ramp-up duration without compromising furnace integrity and campaign life. This includes the inter-related expansion behaviour of the refractory and structural support (shell and/or spring-loaded bindings), principles of electrode baking and the effects of the rate of heat-up, and initial bath building on the furnace integrity and ultimate campaign life.
Typical furnace start-up plans are presented with the rationale for the activities and major decision milestones encountered during start-up and ramp-up, citing specific examples from recent start-ups. The advantages of careful pre-planning and the importance of making timely, informed decisions through knowledge of the start-up process and furnace design and construction are also highlighted.
