blast furnace blower Interview Questions and Answers

Blast Furnace Blower Interview Questions and Answers
  1. What is a blast furnace blower?

    • Answer: A blast furnace blower is a high-pressure centrifugal fan used to supply a large volume of hot air into a blast furnace for iron ore smelting. It's a critical component, ensuring the efficient combustion of coke and the reduction of iron oxides.
  2. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for a blast furnace blower?

    • Answer: KPIs include air volume delivered, air pressure, power consumption, efficiency (relation between power input and air delivered), and operating temperature. Reliability and uptime are also crucial KPIs.
  3. Explain the different types of blast furnace blowers.

    • Answer: Primarily, centrifugal blowers are used. These can be further categorized based on design features like the number of stages (single or multi-stage), impeller design (backward-curved, radial, or forward-curved), and casing design. Specific designs are chosen based on required pressure and volume.
  4. What are the typical operating pressures and volumes of a blast furnace blower?

    • Answer: Operating pressures can range from 2 to 4 bar (gauge), and volumes can be several tens of thousands of cubic meters per hour, depending on the size of the blast furnace.
  5. Describe the materials used in the construction of a blast furnace blower.

    • Answer: Materials must withstand high temperatures, corrosion, and erosion. Common materials include high-alloy steels, cast iron, and specialized coatings for abrasion resistance. The specific materials depend on the operating conditions and design.
  6. How is the temperature of the air controlled in a blast furnace blower?

    • Answer: The air is often preheated before entering the furnace using Cowper stoves or other heat exchangers. The blower itself doesn't directly control the air temperature, but it handles the high-pressure delivery of the preheated air.
  7. What are the common problems encountered with blast furnace blowers?

    • Answer: Common problems include bearing failures, impeller wear and tear, seal leaks, vibrations, and motor issues. These can lead to reduced efficiency, unplanned downtime, and safety hazards.
  8. How is the performance of a blast furnace blower monitored and maintained?

    • Answer: Monitoring involves continuous measurement of key parameters (pressure, volume, temperature, power, vibrations). Regular inspections, lubrication, and maintenance schedules are crucial. Predictive maintenance techniques, such as vibration analysis, are increasingly used.
  9. Explain the role of the blower control system.

    • Answer: The control system maintains optimal operating parameters by adjusting the blower speed and air volume based on the demands of the blast furnace. It also monitors critical parameters and triggers alarms in case of anomalies.

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