Metinvest Group's Kamet Steel carried out the largest overhaul of blast furnace No. 9 during the years of the full-scale war with an investment of USD 17.9 million. After the blasting period, the blast furnace has already produced its first hot metal.
All planned work was completed in full and on schedule. Among the most important are the complete restoration of the refractory lining of the shaft and hearth, as well as the partial replacement of the furnace cooling system. In particular, more than 800 tons of refractory concrete were poured in key areas of the blast furnace, as well as more than 260 hearth-cooling staves of the furnace, upper hearth bottom, tuyere zone, bosh and partially the furnace shaft were replaced.
INVESTMENTS
The major overhaul of blast furnace No. 9 is the largest during the years of the full-scale war with an investment of USD 17.9 million.
In addition, a new charging device with all utilities lines was installed on the BF No. 9. That was the result of well-coordinated teamwork of all participants in the overhaul and reliable partners – Zaporizhzhia Casting and Mechanical Works, where most of the main components and parts of the charging complex were manufactured: double bell-and-hopper, large bell, charge rotating distributor etc. The plant's specialists carried out an enlarged assembly of the charging device, and the installation directly on the furnace was carried out by specialists of the metallurgical equipment repair shop. In total, for the overhaul of BF No.9, ZCMW specialists manufactured more than 210 tons of various metal structures.
Oleksandr MYRONENKO, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group: "The major overhaul of blast furnace No. 9 is one of the most important points of this year's investment program of Kamet Steel. Its primary tasks are aimed at maintaining the reliability of the main equipment and technological processes for the stable production of marketable products. After all, a stably operating enterprise provides jobs, revenues to the state budget, exports and foreign exchange earnings, and the opportunity to help communities. Despite the challenges of the full-scale war, Metinvest is doing everything possible to ensure production and support the economy of Ukraine."
The cast house was noticeably renovated, where the steel structures of the central and transport trough and equipment, primarily the machines for opening and closing the tap-hole, were replaced. Related overhauls of blast heaters and dust collectors, refractories and steel structures of the hot blast path and bustle pipe, bin trestle and bins, weighbridge for wagons, equipment for charging the blast furnace and engine room, steel structures of the skip bridge were performed according to the schedule.
FIGURE
The amount of work was completed in 50 days. Almost 240 participants worked every day
As part of the major overhaul, considerable attention was paid to the personnel's amenities and improvement of personnel safety. In particular, a new steel catwalk was equipped for safe ascent from the zero elevation to the furnace. Two rooms for the blast furnace keepers were also renovated. Renovations were also made in the control room of BF No.9 - the tiles were partially replaced, the walls were painted, the lighting was improved, furniture and office equipment were renovated.
Denis PINCHUK, Head of Blast Furnace Shop at Kamet-Steel: "With team efforts, we coped with the task assigned to us – in 50 days, we fully completed the scope of work on the largest overhaul of the second category during the war years, on which almost 380 participants worked every day. Everyone deserves sincere gratitude – contractors, specialists of Metallurgical Equipment Maintenance and Repair Shop and Equipment Repair Shop, Blast Furnace Shop. As well as drivers of special equipment: truck-mounted platforms, special cranes – from 15-ton to 110-ton – trucks that skilfully and smoothly served the needs of the overhaul. Thanks to our joint work, BF No.9 successfully entered the blasting period, after which we received the first 200 tons of hot metal - we exceeded the daily production schedule. As a result of the overhaul, the furnace was brought to the design parameters, in particular in terms of performance, which will further ensure reliable and stable performance of production tasks.”
