In a market characterised by increasing demand, constantly growing quality demands and a multitude of environmental protection regulations, metal and steel producers must work not only efficiently but also deliver impeccable quality.
In order to be successful in this field, the use of the most modern measurement technology such as the emission measuring instrument testo 350 is indispensable. Because this is the only way to optimise production processes and ensure uncompromising quality.
Raw iron is produced by reduction (oxygen withdrawal) of iron ore in a blast furnace, or by direct reduction.
Coke, natural gas or coal are used as reduction materials. In the blast furnace process, the prepared ore (pellets, sinter) and the additives are charged into the blast furnace from the top, together with coke. A hot blast flows in from below as a further energy carrier. The mixture of hot blast and reduction gases climbs up in the opposite direction to the sinking raw materials, and is drawn off at the top as stack gas. The liquid raw iron collects on the floor of the furnace together with the slag, and is regularly drawn off, and usually transported to a steel works for further processing. The composition of the stack gas during the entire process is a crucial factor influencing the quality of the combustion in the air heaters.
With the emission measuring instrument testo 350, the components carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) can be determined quickly and easily. The measurement is taken at the stack gas exit after the dust bag, in the blast furnace flue as a command variable for furnace operation, and in the downpipe before the dust bag for the plant balance. The testo 350 can additionally be positioned in order to prevent the danger of fire in the CO dust bag, by use of a measurement.
Within the coke production process, the testo 350 can be used to measure SO2, NOx (the sum of NO and NO2), CO and O2. The emission measuring instrument has six slots, and can hold five gas sensors in addition to O2. Since the CO value in the blast furnace provides information on the combustion efficiency of the furnace, it is one of the most commonly measured parameters. CO concentrations of 50,000 ppm can be reached here, which can be measured using the testo 350 and the optimally integrable dilution.