GENERAL DISCUSSION FOLLOWING SESSION 2

摘要

Frank Niemeijer: I have a question for Jim Bobek. You were referring, for your taphole length, which was originally about a 10-foot length, and nowadays, having an 8-foot length and the aim is to go back to the 10-foot. What is the benefit you are expecting from going from 8-foot to 10-foot taphole length? Jim Bobek: That's been our historical aim; we're comfortable with 10 feet, but we don't see a lot of difference in cast time (around 2 hours), whether we're at 8 or 10 feet. However, with our current hearth situation, we feel greater distance into the furnace keeps that iron flow further away from the sidewalls so that's why we aim for the longer taphole length.