Question

Bleeder valve is provided to the blast furnace at the

• A. stack region
• B. bosh region
• C. off-takes position
• D. top position of uptakes

Hint:

Think of safety pressure relief valves on any system (like a pressure cooker). They are always placed at the very top to release the gas that accumulates there. The same logic applies to the massive blast furnace system.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A bleeder valve on a blast furnace is a critical safety device. Its purpose is to rapidly vent the high-pressure gas from the furnace top to the atmosphere in case of an emergency, such as a sudden and dangerous pressure surge (an event called a "slip"). This prevents catastrophic damage to the furnace top equipment.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
To function effectively as a safety release, the bleeder valve must be located at the highest point of the furnace's pressurized gas system.

• Hot gases produced in the furnace rise and are collected at the top.

• Large refractory-lined pipes, called

uptakes, channel the gas from the furnace throat upwards and away.

• The uptakes then lead to a 'downcomer' which transports the gas to the gas cleaning plant.

• The bleeder valves are located at the very

top position of the uptakes. This is the apex of the gas containment system, making it the ideal location to release pressure quickly and safely.
The other locations are incorrect:

• The stack and bosh regions are the main body of the furnace; placing a vent there is impractical and dangerous.

• The "off-takes position" is a general term for where gas leaves the furnace proper, but "top position of uptakes" is the more precise and correct location for the safety bleeders.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The bleeder valve is located at the top position of the gas uptakes to provide emergency pressure relief for the entire furnace system.