Blast Furnace Gas Flow Measurement
The blast furnace is a core structure in the steel manufacturing process, towering several stories high and playing a vital role in converting raw materials into molten iron. This process begins when iron ore, coke, and limestone are introduced from the top of the furnace. Intense heat, generated by combustion at the base, rises through the shaft, enabling key chemical reactions.
Coke, derived from coal, serves as both a fuel and a reducing agent, while limestone acts as a flux to bind and remove impurities from the iron ore. As these materials move downward, they encounter a stream of hot, pressurized air—known as the "blast"—injected through tuyeres near the furnace base. This air blast promotes the reduction of iron ore into liquid iron.
Within this intricate system, flow meters play a crucial role by monitoring and controlling the movement of air and other process elements. Their presence ensures stable operating conditions, optimal energy use, and safe, efficient steel production.