Blast furnace produces first tons of pig iron after reconstruction

Blast furnace no. 4 (BF4) at Třinecké železárny has resumed pig iron production following its reconstruction. The medium-scale repair and overhaul were completed last Monday afternoon, and the furnace was successfully re-ignited a 42 - day shutdown. The total cos tis expected to remain under CZK 700 milion.

„We believe we are witnessing a historic milestone – the furnace has been successfully repareid and is ready to operate for decades to come, in line with the Green Deal and the strictes environmental standarts. We are doing everything we can to preserve a comprehensive steelmaking process. At the same time, we hope the new government will open up space for new opportuneties and dialogue, particularly regarding elektricity prices and the future of the electric arc furnace, including investment,“ said Roman Heide, CEO of TŽ.

The project was completed in record time - 42 dayes, which is about one third shorter than usual standart. The blast furnace was shut down after 20 years of continuous operation. The reconstruction focused on the most worn part: the refractory lining in the lower section of the furnace. „A hybrid repair method was used in Třinec for the first time. It combined original and new carbon blocks, and the internal diameter was adjusted using část refractory concrete,“ explained Daniel Heczko, Investment Director.

Several other key technological units were also repaired or replaced. A completely new central systém for air and gas preheating was installed, delivering hot blast air at temperatures of up to 1,230 °C from the stoves to the furnace. The gas pipeline was replaced with help of one of the largest cranes in the Czech republic. Upgrades also included systems for cooling, water management, wiring, skip and belt chargingof raw materials, control systems, data networks, gas analyzers, and many other components. More than 50 km of new cables were installed during the reconstruction.

„The complexity of the repair is evident from fact that 30 supplier companies participated. During the project, up to 500 workers were on – site in shifts around the clock. The work was carried out at elevations ranging from -8 to +84 meters, which reguired extremely detailed planning due to the limited space around the furnace,“ added Production Director Tomáš Gajdzica.

Pig iron production at the two blast furnaces at Třinecké železárny – the last operational blast furnaces in the Czech republic – is managed by aproximately 120 production employees, supported by anither 60 personnel in mechanical maintenance, technical services, and electricial maintenance. Blast furnace no. 4, which underwent this recent overhaul, has been in operation since 1923. Which volume of 1,373 m3, it produces around 3,200 tons of pig iron per day. Over its more than 100 – year history, it has produced more than 55 million tons of pig iron.