Design of Blast Furnace Crucibles by Means of the Nodal Wear Model

Abstract

The Nodal Wear Model (NWM) is used to explain and quantify the causes for the occurrence of different corrosion profiles observed in the hearth of blast furnaces during their campaign, and, as a consequence it is possible to use the NWM to define the most appropriate refractory materials for designing and constructing blast furnace crucibles. The NMW is based in three critical parameters which are the temperature at the interface between pig iron and the refractory lining (T_i), the temperature difference between such a point and at an adjacent node (ΔT_i), and the difference in temperature between the bulk liquid and that at the refractory–iron interface (T^∞−T_i). If the design and construction criteria rest upon reaching maximum durability of refractory linings, then, according to the NWM, all changes that minimize the values of T_i and ΔT_i, and maximize T^∞−T_i should be attempted.