| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advances in Pyrometallurgy: Furnace Containment
|
| Presentation Title |
Improving Maintenance Safety and Campaign Life of Tuyere Lines in Bath Smelting and Converting Using Punchless Tuyeres |
| Author(s) |
Maria de Campos, Joel Patrick Kapusta |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Joel Patrick Kapusta |
| Abstract Scope |
Since the Peirce-Smith converter advent in 1909, converting campaign lengths are limited by the tuyere line lifespan, a burden that remains today despite great advances in refractory design. The need for mechanical punching further exacerbates tuyere line wear rate while forcing frequent operator interventions behind blowing converters to operate or maintain punching machines, or replace damaged punching bars. Continuous bath smelting technologies developed in the 70s faced the same hindrance to campaign life span. However, Codelco’s engineers’ ingenuity led them to modify their new Teniente Converter shell and divide the tuyere line in sections, or tuyere panels that could be removed and replaced without cooling the furnace. In this paper, we provide historical perspectives on the development of the hot panel repair technology and discuss how implementing punchless tuyeres can further extend the life span of tuyere line panels in bath smelting and converting vessels. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Other, Other, Other |