Introduction
The furnace feeding and loading system is a vital component of the blast furnace process. It is responsible for supplying a uniform and steady stream of raw materials to the furnace for smelting. In addition to the raw materials, the furnace feeding and loading system must also perform the essential tasks of dispersing, measuring and transporting the materials to the bowl or pot depending on the type of stove. The efficiency of the furnace depends largely on the performance of the furnace feeding and loading system.
Operation
The furnace feeding and loading system mainly comprises of three components: a hopper, a feeder and a conveyor. The hopper is essentially the storage bin where the raw materials and gases are kept. The feeder is a mechanism which uses mechanical or pneumatic force to move the raw materials from the hopper to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt facilitates the transport of the material to the blister hole. The feed rate of the conveyor belt depends on the type and size of the stove.
The Operation of the system is mainly as below: The raw material (iron oxide for example) is loaded into the hopper and pushed to the feeder by the vibration force generated by the feeder. The feeder will supply the raw material to the conveyor belt at the desired rate. The conveyor belt will then transport the material from the feeder to the blister hole and will return back to the hopper for reloading. The rate of the conveyor belt is monitored by the furnace control system, which adjusts the rate based on the output requirements of the furnace.
Safety
Like all other appliances, safety considerations are of utmost importance when choosing and installing a furnace feeding and loading system. It is important to make sure that the system is designed in such a way that it minimizes the potential risk of injury to the operators. To ensure maximum safety during the operation, it is recommended that the equipment should be installed in a dust-free environment and that the installation area should be maintained clean and tidy.
Conclusion
The furnace feeding and loading system plays an important role in ensuring the efficiency of the blast furnace process. It is essential for translating the fluidity of the raw materials into the homogenous slag that is produced during the smelting operation. It is therefore recommended that this system should be chosen carefully, installed correctly and properly maintained to ensure its safe and effective operation.
