HF4 Coal Injection Plant, Charleroi, Belgium

HF4 Coal Injection Plant, Charleroi, Belgium

The Pulverised Coal Injection Plant was added to the Cockerill-Sambre steel works in Charleroi in the early 1990s. The site became Carsid and was closed in 2008.

Visited April 2018  Belgium Charleroi, Belgium Disused, Abandoned

The Injection Charbon, or Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) Plant at the HF4 Blast Furnace was a later addition to the Cockerill-Sambre site, built around 1991.

The traditional way of releasing molten iron from iron ore in a blast furnace is to burn coke in the blast furnace along with iron ore, while blasting hot air in to aid combustion. The blast furnace technique of iron production is constantly evolving and new technologies are often implemented. One such technology, Pulverised Coal Injection started to be implemented in the 1970s. Pulverised coal is mixed into the primary air supply and blown into the blast furnace. The air and coal mixture propagates through the iron ore during combustion. The technique had massive benefits to blast furnaces, as it is much more efficient and even allows cheaper coal to be used.

The coal injection plant behind workshops and stores at the steel plant in Charleroi
The coal injection plant behind workshops and stores at the steel plant in Charleroi

By 2001 the site was becoming run down with a threat of closure. The steel works became Carsid that year, and the coke works was closed. The Coal Injection Plant, along with the blast furnace continued until 2008 when the whole site finally closed due to a decline in steel production following the near-collapse of the automotive industry.

HF4 Blast Furnace, Charleroi, BelgiumTake a look around HF4 Blast Furnace

The power plant provided electricity for the HF4 Blast Furnace.
Have a look at my report from HF4 for more photos and information.

HF4 Blast Furnace, Charleroi, Belgium


 

HF4 Coal Injection Plant - One of the two injection units
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – One of the two injection units
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Injection unit and lift
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Injection unit and lift
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Injection units behind their respective air feed pipes
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Injection units behind their respective air feed pipes
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Coal feeders on the top level
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Coal feeders on the top level
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - One of the two pulverisers
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – One of the two pulverisers
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - The other pulveriser
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – The other pulveriser
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - One of the pulverisers and its feed fan
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – One of the pulverisers and its feed fan
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - The feed fans blew air into the pulverisers to lift pulverised coal into the injector units
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – The feed fans blew air into the pulverisers to lift pulverised coal into the injector units
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - End view of fan
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – End view of fan
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - The pulverisers crushed coal into a fine dust
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – The pulverisers crushed coal into a fine dust
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - General view of ground level
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – General view of ground level
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Lower level of coal injector unit
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Lower level of coal injector unit
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Injection control room
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Injection control room
HF4 Coal Injection Plant - Panel detail
HF4 Coal Injection Plant – Panel detail
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

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