Blast furnace
Blast Furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally pig iron, but also others such as lead or copper. The furnace operates by using heat from a controlled combustion process and the chemical reduction of iron-bearing materials to produce iron.
History[edit | edit source]
The use of blast furnaces dates back to the 5th century BC in China. The technology was later introduced to the Western world through the Middle East. The first blast furnace in Great Britain was built in 1491 near Bristol, during the reign of Henry VII.
Design and Function[edit | edit source]
A blast furnace is typically cylindrical in shape and made of steel. It is lined with refractory bricks that can withstand temperatures up to 2000 degrees Celsius. The furnace is filled with iron ore, coke, and limestone, and a hot blast of air is blown into the bottom of the furnace.
The hot air causes the coke to burn, producing carbon monoxide which reacts with the iron ore, reducing it to molten iron. The limestone acts as a flux, removing impurities from the iron.
Modern Blast Furnaces[edit | edit source]
Modern blast furnaces have improved on the traditional design by incorporating technology to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These improvements include the use of top gas recycling, pulverized coal injection, and carbon capture and storage.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This article is a metallurgy-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
