This book describes the principles of the blast furnace process and especially the control of the process. As a starting point, the blast furnace is seen as a simple iron ore smelter, while gradually the physical, chemical and metallurgical background of the blast furnace process is clarified. The book focuses on the control of the blast furnace process with respect to thermal control, gas flow control and casthouse operation. In this book, all essential process details are described and a special focus is on optimization of coal injection. The optimization of the blast furnace process is not only based on ‘best practice transfer’, but also requires conceptual understanding as to why a measure works well in some cases and does not work in other situations. In other words: operational improvement is not only based on know–how, but on know–why as well.
This publication was and can be used as an introductory text for students of metallurgy as well as for blast furnace operators and management. The latter will benefit to solve operational problems and process optimization issues. The authors have very extensive experience as operators as well as consultants to many steel plants worldwide. With Modern blast furnace ironmaking - An Introduction the reader has a compact compendium of the blast furnace process available: by operators and for operators and for those who are preparing to become operators.
Thomas L. Joseph award - Maarten Geerdes On May 7 dr. Maarten Geerdes (67) received the Thomas L. Joseph Award for his contributions to the field of ironmaking. The prestigious prize is annually awarded bij the AIST, the organization of the American Steel Industry. The chairman, dr Joe Poveromo indicated, that dr Geerdes received the award for his continuous strive for improvement of the blast furnace process by site visits, training, papers and as author of the book “Modern Blast Furnace Ironmaking”, which is used in numerous plants and has been translated in more than ten languages, like Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Chinese.
Dr. Geerdes has expressed his gratitude that this award is not an individual price, but that he considers all the people who shared their experiences with him as price winners as well. He mentioned the work he has done at
• Hoogovens Ijmuiden (1986-2002)
• AHMSA Mexico (1992-1993)
• Ternium, Argentina (1994-present)
• CISRI, China (2015-present)
• Danieli-Corus (1992-present)
Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, Incorporating the 37th National Conference on Manufacturing Research, 6th – 8th September 2023, Aberystwyth University, UK
