blast furnace checker Interview Questions and Answers
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What is a blast furnace checker?
- Answer: A blast furnace checker is a refractory structure within a blast furnace hot blast stove. Its primary function is to absorb heat from the exhaust gases and subsequently release that heat to preheat the combustion air that will be used in the blast furnace.
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What is the purpose of preheating the air in a blast furnace?
- Answer: Preheating the air significantly increases the efficiency of the blast furnace. Hotter air allows for faster reactions within the furnace, leading to increased production rates and reduced coke consumption (fuel). It also improves the reduction of iron oxides.
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Describe the materials typically used in checker construction.
- Answer: Checker bricks are usually made from high-quality refractories, often including fireclay, silica, or a combination of different materials chosen for their high thermal shock resistance, strength at high temperatures, and chemical inertness to the furnace gases.
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Explain the hot blast stove cycle.
- Answer: A hot blast stove operates in a cyclical manner. There are typically three or four stoves per blast furnace. While one stove is heating (burning fuel gas to heat the checkers), another is supplying hot air to the blast furnace, and one or more are cooling down.
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What are the typical dimensions of a checker brick?
- Answer: Dimensions vary depending on the stove design, but typical checker brick sizes might range from 200mm to 300mm in length, width, and height, though smaller and larger bricks are also possible.
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How does the arrangement of checkers impact heat transfer?
- Answer: The checker arrangement is designed to maximize surface area and gas flow to enhance heat transfer between the hot gases and the checker bricks. Efficient arrangement minimizes pressure drop and ensures uniform heating.
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What are some common problems encountered with blast furnace checkers?
- Answer: Problems include checker brick degradation (due to thermal shock, chemical attack, abrasion), clogging (by dust accumulation), and structural damage (due to uneven heating or settling).
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How is the pressure drop across the checkerwork managed?
- Answer: Careful design of checkerwork layout and brick size minimizes pressure drop. Regular cleaning helps prevent clogging, which would increase pressure drop and reduce efficiency.
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What is the role of insulation in a hot blast stove?
- Answer: Insulation minimizes heat loss from the stove, thereby improving the overall thermal efficiency. It also protects the outer shell of the stove from excessive temperatures.
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