While emissions from the Blast Furnace have reduced over the past few years, emissions that do occur can be highly visible both on site and in the community. Development of a secondary fume capture system for the top of the Blast Furnace to capture emissions is a high priority for Nyrstar Port Pirie.
Work to enclose the Blast Furnace commenced in July 2006 and was completed in August 07 at a cost of $9.5 million. The work occurred in two phases. The first was completed through July and August 06. The second phase, the installation of the baghouse was finished in August 07. The baghouse acts like a huge vacuum cleaner, capturing fume before it enters the environment.
FAST FACTS ON THE BLAST FURNACE ENCLOSURE, FUME EXTRACTION BAGHOUSE AND REMOTE TELPHER CONTROL
Why do we need a blast furnace enclosure?
- To reduce emissions from the site, this is vital to achieving the tenby10 project goals
- To ensure we achieve a reduction in children's blood lead levels, this is considered to be essential for a sustainable community and industry
- The original fume extraction system was unable to cope with increased gas flows and subsequent emissions caused by blowholes (gas-bypassing)
- To alleviate solid accretions build up within the primary fume handling system transfer ducts.
HISTORY
Primary Fume Capture
1998 - Zero emissions team set up
1999 - Blast Furnace Hood Optimisation project ($0.47m)
2000 - Manifold Hood (MK1) installed
2001 - Manifold Hood (MK2) installed
Secondary Fume Capture
2002 - Total Blast Furnace Enclosure concept
2006 - Total Blast Furnace Enclosure stage 1 complete
2007 - Total Blast Furnace Enclosure commissioned
Download: Storyboard BlastFurnaceEncl.pdf
PROJECT PROGRESS
Did You Know?
- The building method used in 1930 for the telpher structure was called ‘hot-riveted’ construction which is how the Sydney Harbour Bridge was built a short time after in 1932. Steel members used in the construction were made in the United Kingdom as steel sections were not fully available in Australia at that time.
- ‘Hot-riveting’ is a trade skill of yesteryear which is now lost due to the use of modern high tensile bolts, welding, other fastening methods & high tech materials.
- The telpher structure was originally erected using winches & poles pulled by horses but was able to be removed by Port Adelaide Construction using a single 120t hydraulic crane.
