The BOF shop of Kamet Steel of Metinvest Group is completing the major overhaul of LSWA182C-Z cooling tower No.1, designed to cool and transport water to centrifugal compressor SM-6000, which compresses nitrogen for production needs.
The cooling tower is one of the most important process units of the BOF shop, without stable operation of which the operation of the compressor and, consequently, the pulverized coal injection unit, which provides high-pressure nitrogen, is impossible.
The centrifugal compressor has four stages of nitrogen compression, each of which, due to gas-dynamic processes, heats up the gas, so it must also be cooled in stages. This is where the cooling tower plays an important role. The heated compressed gas is cooled by ethylene glycol in the compressor, and the coolant itself, circulating in a closed space, is cooled by process water from the cooling tower. After the water has absorbed the heat from the gases, it returns to the cooling tower, where it is cooled by a directed airflow. Then, it is fed for re-circulation.
During the overhaul, Compressors International specialists carry out a complete diagnosis of the cooling tower, as well as set up the control system and check all its components. They replace fan drive belts, cooling tower basin heater, and heat exchanger circulation pumps. They also replace spray nozzles designed to spray water over a heat exchanger, and a water level sensor that protects the heater and pumps against overheating.
“The stability of the process chain for the production of pulverized coal depends on the efficiency of the compressed nitrogen cooling process. Therefore, it is important to keep the workshop equipment in good condition at all times. In May, we completed a major overhaul of process equipment - SM-6000 compressor, and are completing the revamping of the cooling tower operating with this compressor « in tandem." The major overhaul is aimed primarily at improving the efficiency of equipment and extending the overhaul period,” said Kostiantyn Frolov, the head of the BOF shop.
