Evraz ZSMK has completed the capital repair of blast furnace No. 3, with total investments reaching approximately 300 ₽ million. The project was finished in 16 days, a significant reduction compared to the previous three-month timeframe required for manual refractory brick installation.
The process utilized a spider-like robot to perform shotcreting. The device autonomously mixes concrete, water, and liquid glass based on real-time temperature and site conditions before spraying the mixture to create a durable coating.
The repair was conducted at temperatures between 300 and 400 degrees Celsius, allowing the furnace to retain molten iron and avoid a full cooling cycle. This method eliminated the need for human presence in hazardous zones.
According to Alexander Trubnikov, Director of Repairs for the Siberia division, maintaining the thermal regime and lining quality will support high volumes of pulverized coal injection and overall production efficiency.
