21-10-2014, 03:03 PM
Hot Blast Valve acts as a shut - off valve in the Hot Blast Line.The failure of the valve results in shutdown of blast furnace and hence, untimely halt in production. The project was aimed at identification of the causes that lead to failure of hot blast valve and subsequently suggest remedial solutions. The paddle gets eroded and fails due to the harsh conditions inside the hot blast line(high temperatures around 1100 C & pressure around 2.2 bars). A study was conducted on the failed hot blast valves at the machine shop and the valve operating conditions were monitored. An inference was drawn from the study and the problems(cooling, physical and thermal shocks etc.) identified. After all the problems were categorically identified, a solution was framed for each mode of failure.