Blast furnaces are the biggest energy consumers in integrated steel making. Among their ancillary facilities, the stoves require the highest energy supply. A detailed analysis of the stoves operation at Aceralia CS has allowed an increase in blast temperature of 30 deg C (up to 1230 deg C) and of blast time up to 35 min without decreasing the blast volume. The stoves are heated up with blast furnace gas as the only fuel. Although the above changes imply a temperature increase of the fumes at the exit of the checkers, the global thermal performance of the plant has been improved thus decreasing the energy specific consumption, These results were basically achieved through an adequate heating regulation and a dynamic control of the fume distribution through the heat exchangers.
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