Owing to the concentration of hot-metal production on a few large-capacity blast furnaces only, it is imperative to fully use all technical opportunities for extending the blast furnace campaigns. The design and the layout of blast furnaces together with the blast furnace operation are the most important criteria for the campaign life. The admittedly high level of the state of the art, at the
... [Show full abstract] same time be regarded as a challenge for the future to expand the available know-how to ensure minimization of the abrasive, thermal and chemical wear and as such to massively extend the service life of all units of an integrated furnace plant.