Bosch Rexroth was contracted by Wooding Industrial Corporation in the USA to supply the hydraulic components for a rotating material distributor for enhanced iron smelting capabilities within a blast furnace.
The hydraulically operated rotating distributor is extremely precise when layering input materials in blast furnaces.
“What made this project unique was the stringent specification on accuracy for an application with huge dynamic load changes,” explains Charles Erdo, industrial machinery engineer at Bosch Rexroth. “The control system has to react fast enough to maintain a very tight cylinder stroke tolerance between four differential area hydraulic cylinders.”
Bosch Rexroth’s solution, based on hydraulic engineering, commissioning and technology, comprised high-response directional proportional valves, electronic pressure transducers and control software for closed loop control.
Metallurgists have consistently sought to revise the centuries-old design of the iron blast furnace, with contemporary strategies aiming to optimise the composition of charge layers for increased production and efficiency.
Sinter and coke layers are created by an internal hydraulic distributor, using a chute located in the throat of the blast furnace to deposit raw materials in precise locations. The more accurately the chute can be controlled, the more precise the layers and the more efficient the blast furnace becomes.
Wooding Industrial Corporation’s existing furnace distributor utilised a traditional hydraulic circuit with open loop control, offering only a limited degree of chute control for the distribution of large quantities of iron ore pellets and coke.
The new hydraulic distributor underwent extensive accuracy and repeatability verification using the proprietary simulation tool MOSIHS (Modular Simulation of Hydraulic System), which allowed simulation of a virtual model including the overall hydraulic system. The simulations verified the hydraulic circuit design and that the selected Bosch Rexroth components were optimal. In addition, the simulation showed that by using a specialised spool flow characteristic control valve, control performance could be improved.
It’s full steam ahead for SKF’s sustainable leak detection solution SKF South Africa
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
One of SKF’s key customers based in Cape Town, which depends on steam systems for its production processes, was facing costly challenges related to high energy consumption and excessive maintenance hours. SKF recommended the TKSU 10 ultrasonic leak detector as a more streamlined, user-friendly alternative.
Read more...Industrial acoustic imaging tool Comtest
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Comtest offers the Fluke ii Industrial Acoustic Imager series, a hand-held, easy-to-use tool that visualises sounds coming from small leaks in compressed air, gas and vacuum systems.
Read more...The six pillars of hydraulic system health Hydrasales
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Hydrasales, a leader in hydraulic and lube oil industry solutions, offers an extensive range of condition monitoring products designed to safeguard your systems. Here are six essential checks for hydraulic system health to keep your systems in optimal shape.
Read more...Compressed air preparation Artic Driers International
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
The choice of compressed air dryers is driven by the air quality demands of your plant.
Read more...Compressed air treatment do’s and don’ts Artic Driers International
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
As a long-established importer and manufacturer of air dryers, Artic Dryers often sees the results of poor installation and issues with aftercoolers that create serious problems in air drying systems.
Read more...Next-gen air compressors for plastics manufacturer
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Integrated Air Solutions has reinforced its partnership with global compressor manufacturer, ABC Compressors by facilitating the installation and commissioning of two next-generation direct-drive ABC machines for a prominent plastic manufacturer in South Africa.
Read more...Electrohydraulic shredding of galvanic waste
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Galvanised parts are among the last big challenges for recycling. ImpulsTec is implementing shockwave or electrohydraulic shredding technology, for the separation of complex material compounds in industrial processes.
printer friendly version