THE YEAR-BOOK OF THE COKE OVEN - Coke Oven Managers ...

condition of the other side. This resulted in more flow of gas through oneof the bridge pipes leading to higher temperature and meltdown.The following steps were taken to overcome the problem of bridge pipefailure:a) Immediate plugging of tertiary holes with a strict instruction --never to open them in futureb) Keeping the primary air windows open right from the time aftercharging, closing it fully only when the oven is ready andregulating it in between as per combustion requirementc) Keeping the levels of the combustibles in flue gas, particularlycarbon monoxide and hydrogen at trace levelsd) To take up bridge pipe replacement either simultaneously on bothcoke side and pusher side or at small gap of maximum 1 weeke) Use of dense castable LC-45 in the top layer in contact with the hotgasf) To do compulsory suction port cleaning with every bridge pipereplacementAbove steps have brought in drastic improvements in the condition and lifeof the bridge pipes and their lining. Over the last year more than 100 out ofa total of 192 bridge pipes have been replaced, which have not failed as yet.With full load operation at 36 pushing/day, some damages temporarilyresurfaced but was again under control. The key to the solution of theproblem was basically lowering the temperature of the flue gas to about1100-1150°C, which is as per design and the liner material can withstandthe same.The Author is grateful to the entire CokeOven team of BPSL, Orissa for theirrelentless efforts in bringing about theimprovements in the Operation andMaintenance of the subject Coke Ovenplant.