FURNACE ATTENDANT

MIKHAIL SERGEEVICH KHREN'

(UDC 331.876.2:669.130) M. G l a d k i i Translated from Metallurg, No. 7, p. 14, July, 1964

Successful solution of the great and responsible tasks assigned to metallurgists in the Program of the CPSU depends in large measure on the skillful utilization of active industrial capacites. In the blast-furnace mill of the Dzerzhinsk Metallurgical Plant the collective of blast-furnace No. 1 2 - t h e first communist labor unit of the plant-sets an example of highly productive labor. Especially high indices have been achieved by the brigade in which Mikhail Sergeevich Khren' serves as first furnace attendant. In 1963 the collective of this furnace fulfilled the plan with respect to iron production by 101.6~ a coefficient of utilization of effective furnace volume of 0.663 whereas the plan called for 0.667.

achieving

T h e brigade in which M. S. Khren' works during the course of the year produced about three thousand tons of iron over plan and saved over two thousand tons of coke. The brigade achieved such outstanding indices by making use of the most effective labor methods. It is to be noted that this blast-furnace uses natural gas and oxygen. When the new technology was introduced the output of iron rose considerably, and the volume of work at the furnace increased; therefore, for even and highly productive furnace operation it was extremely important to strictly observe the schedule for iron and slag tappings. It is just to this matter that M. S. Khren' devotes special attention. Simultaneously with perfecting of the technology of iron production, the furnace attendants improved the organization of carrying out tasks related to preparing for and conducting iron and slag tappings. M. S. Khren' not only systematically supervises the work of his subordinates, but he also teaches them how to do each job correctly and with the least possible expenditure. In his brigade he has achieved complete interchangeability. Each member of the brigade can do any job at the furnace; each knows his own job and specific duties well. Therefore, iron tapping proceeds in a well-organized manner without accidents or loss of metal. The first furnace attendant pays special attention to the casing, the iron through the skimmer apparatus, and the slag tap holes, since this ensures accident-free operation of the furnace and smooth flow of iron and slag during tappings. In order to avoid excessive deterioration of the front wall of the hearth and the tap hole channel, M. S. Khren' closes the iron tap hole without allowing it to remain open for very long. After closing the iron tap hole the first furnace attendant reinforces it by forcing a semidry covering mass into the channel The old covering he removes to a depth of 500-600 mm. This job is done with penumatic hammers which are considerably faster than drilling. Together with introduction of other measures, the use of a swivel trough for single-lip iron teeming contributed to easing the labor involved in furnace jobs. M. S. Khren' was one of the first in the mill to master the single-lip teeming of iron; the use of his experience by other furnace attendants of the mill permitted the loss of iron in the form of scrap to be reduced by 1.2%. When using the swivel trough it is very important to pack it correctly with clay, since this determines the amount of splashing of the iron during tapping. In order to reduce iron losses to a minimum, M. S. Khren' gives the front part of the trough an oval shape. The side of the trough which cuts across the iron stream he makes such that its upper edge has a conical shape. The first lip of the iron gutter the furnace attendant makes such that the stream of molten iron drops a minimum distance to the swivel trough.

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One of the important reserves for increasing the output of iron is curtailment of the length of standstills of the blast-furnaces during change of the cooling apparatus. Thanks to good work organization of his crew, M. S. Khren' spends less time than others in replacing air and slag tuyeres. Thorough preparation of the instruments and attachments and precise and coordinated work of all members of the brigade are very important for the rapid replacement of the cooling apparatus. All equipment of the hearth-the cannon, the boring machine, the Kostin hammer, the mechanical slag stoppers-are kept in model order.

First furnace attendant Mo S. Khren' (left) and second furnace attendant I. A. Mulyavka observing the iron as it is discharged.

Study of the working experience of the first attendant M. S. Khren' in other brigades contributes to raising the qualifications of all furnace attendants of the mill.

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