Automated measurement of material trajectories at the top of a blast furnace under operation

Cockerill Sambre carried out the design and engineering of the automated trajectory probe. After several technical discussions with potential constructors, they achieved a detailed technical solution for the system, including a preventive risk analysis. Another important task of Cockerill Sambre was the support to CRM and IRSID. A change for a new chute at Seraing blast furnace No 6 (BF 6) in October 2002 has been the opportunity for starting an evaluation of the impact of the chute wear on the trajectories. IRSID carried out three painted bar trajectory measurement campaigns in October 2002, December 2002 and March 2003. Between October and December 2002, little evolution of the trajectories occurred. The last campaign performed in March 2003 indicates similar inner limits but a significantly smaller width of the stream for both coke and ore. A clear impact of the chute wear is thus observed after six months. CRM transmitted to Cockerill Sambre its know-how concerning the trajectory probe and began the study of the working logic of the probe by processing records of charging sequences of the Seraing BF 6, provided by Cockerill Sambre. On 18 June 2003, Cockerill Sambre informed the coordinator that BF 6 at Seraing wouId be shut down in 2005. ln this context, the industrial objectives of the project are considered no longer relevant by Cockerill Sambre. No substitute industrial site has been found. Hence, a letter was sent by the coordinator at the Commission, requesting a premature ending of the project on 30 June 2003.