KME Germany GmbH & Co. KG (Oscnabrück, Germany):

Dratner Ch., e-mail: christof.dratner@KME.com
Böert F.

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH (Salzgitter, Germany):

Pethke J., Dr.
Rockstroh R.
Holz S.

Plate cooler, typically produced by sandcasting, is well known as a cooling element of choice in numerous blast furnaces worldwide. As an alternative KME Germany GmbH & Co. KG and Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH re-designed a plate cooler which is made by extruded profiles and welded to become an exceptionally robust element. The first set of these plate coolers was installed at Salzgitter blast furnace A in mid-2014. Investigation
of plate coolers in practical conditions allows to determine possibility of reaching or overcoming the important operating parameters of blast furnaces. In general, the new plate coolers are characterized by rather higher heat transfer in comparison with plate coolers cast in sand moulds. It is shown that the measured maximal values of heat transfer of KME plate cooler with double water cooling system exceed similar parameters of conventional cooler by 20 %. The maximal measured pressure drop for KME cooler is lower by 30 % than the same characteristic for a plate cooler cast in sand moulds; it is explained by optimal design of water channels allowing to prevent forming of recirculating flows. Additionally the developed coolers have better wear resistance, simplified construction of cooling channels and possibility to be replace during blast furnace campaign.

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