Fibretech Supply Fiberstone Refractories for Copper Shaft Furnace

Aug. 25, 2010 - Fbretech, a leading UK-based provider of high temperature and refractory solutions recently supplied a system of FIBERSTONE blocks to Aurubis, Europe's largest copper scrap refinery, processing 60k/MT. the Fiberstone refractory blocks were used for the rebuild of Aurubis' 10m copper shaft furnace. The refractory blocks were supplied as part of a 1.2million maintenance programme.
Installation of the Fiberstone blocks was completed in late July. The installers, Karrena Germany commented that the installation went extremely well and the fit of the moulded FIBERSTONE blocks, was exceptionally good.
The Fibrestone blocks are expected to yield a life span of 18 months, which is a 50% increase on the materials that were previously being used. This will result in reduced maintenance and down time, as well as improved productivity. There will be an opportunity for a mid-run inspection in December to assess the performance of the Fiberstone linings.
The 17 FIBERSTONE blocks are placed as the upper of 3 rings in the "3rd"section above the furnace. The system is:

• Furnace 1450 C
  
• 1st Shaft section - 1 ring of water-cooled Copper plates 1250 C
  
• 2nd Shaft section - 1 ring of precast MagCr blocks 1250 C
  
• 2nd Shaft section - 2 rings Precast fibre-reinforced* Alumina 1250-1100 C
  
• 3rd Shaft section - 2 rings of Steel Castings 1000-800 C
  
• 3rd Shaft section - 1 ring FIBERSTONE 700 C

At each stage the diameter of the rings increases to allow the scrap to progress down the shaft unimpeded.
Karrena Germany was sub-contracted to do the full installation over the 3 week shutdown.
Aurubis is located in Olen, Belgium and is a central site in the Group for the West European markets. Some 500 employees produce anodes, cathodes, wire rod and specialty wire rod.