Abstract
The blast furnace campaign length is today usually restricted by the hearth life, which is strongly related to the drainage and behavior of the coke bed in the hearth, usually referred to as the dead man. Because the hearth is inaccessible and the conditions are complex, knowledge and understanding of the state of the dead man are still limited compared to other parts of the blast furnace process. Since a number of publications have studied different aspects of the dead man in the literature, the purpose of the current review is to compile the findings and knowledge in a comprehensive document. We mainly focus on contributions with respect to the dead man state, and those assessing its influence on the hearth performance in terms of liquid flow patterns, lining wear and drainage behavior. A set of common modeling approaches in this specific furnace area is also briefly presented. The aim of the review is also to deepen the understanding and stimulate further research on open questions related to the dead man in the blast furnace hearth.
Highlights
The blast furnace (BF) route still remains the dominant one in the production of liquid iron, which is the primary raw material for large-scale steelmaking
Along with the growth of furnace size, more liquid iron and slag are stored in the BF hearth, and problems of draining and wear are encountered more frequently in the practical operation
It is today commonly recognized that drainage and wear problems in the hearth region play the key role in determining the BF campaign life [1]
Summary
The blast furnace (BF) route still remains the dominant one in the production of liquid iron, which is the primary raw material for large-scale steelmaking. It is today commonly recognized that drainage and wear problems in the hearth region play the key role in determining the BF campaign life [1]. Both practical and theoretical investigations have revealed that most of the draining and wear problems in the hearths of large furnaces are related to the state and behavior of the porous coke beds that fill them, i.e., the dead man. Processes 2020, 8, 1335 its influence on BF hearth performance, with respect to liquid flow patterns, hearth lining wear and drainage behavior. Its influence on BF hearth performance, with respect to liquid flow patterns, hearth lining wear and drainage behavior. The basic modeling approaches used in the analysis are briefly treated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
