A COMBINED DATA PROCESSING APPROACH TO IMPROVE BLAST FURNACE RACEWAY BLOCKAGE DETECTION

摘要

In the present study we investigate various approaches for blockage detection in the raceway regions of individual tuyeres of a blast furnace. Blockages of the raceway areas occur on a regular basis triggered by various reasons and boundary conditions of blast furnace operation. Usually such a blockage event comes along with reduced hot wind flow rate on that specific tuyere section and in most cases the blockage can also be visually detected through the spyglasses. By combining pressure signals representing the hot wind flow rates and image data from tuyere cameras we are testing different signal and image processing algorithms to find an optimal approach for reliable blockage detection. A combined method would offer new possibilities in the process control system for a more precise shutdown of individual PCI (pulverized coal injection) lances in the case of a blockage. A reliable shutdown in cases where needed can reduce the wear of the tuyeres and fasten the removal of the blockages.