Authors:
A. Sadri, P. Gebski, P. Rojas Verazay, R. Ibanez S., and W. Diaz Chinga
MAPLA 2008, Santiago, Chile, September 2008
Abstract
In October 2002, an evaluation was conducted on the refractory lining of the Slag Cleaning Furnace and Teniente reactor at Fundicion Hernan Videla Lira ENAMI in Copiapo, Chile. The main objective of this survey was to assess the refractory lining thickness and quality for both vessels, and to provide the client with information that can aide in determining beneficial dates for the relining and start up of the new furnace campaign.
Specialists from the Hatch NDT group, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and Hatch Operation Support in Antofagasta, Chile, were involved with field measurements and data analysis for this project. The Hatch patented Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Acousto Ultrasonic-Echo (AUE) technique was used for the inspection of the vessels in this project.
In addition to the AU-E inspection of the refractory lining of the ENAMI Slag Cleaning furnace, all four (4) tapholes and several points on the Teniente reactor were also inspected. The results were later compared with actual visual observations, and confirmed by ENAMI when the furnace was relined in 2005.
This article includes details of the AU-E technique, in addition to the field testing procedures and results from the 2002 and 2007 surveys.
