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What are tuyeres used for in a blast furnace?
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iron processing
Iron ore is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and one of its primary uses is in the production of steel. When combined with carbon, iron changes character completely and becomes the alloy steel.
In a blast furnace, tuyeres are water-cooled nozzles, typically made of copper, that serve as the entry points for the air blast required for the smelting process.1
These nozzles are mounted at the top of the furnace's hearth, near its junction with the bosh. The air blown through the tuyeres is preheated to temperatures between 900° and 1,350° C (1,650° and 2,450° F) in hot-blast stoves to facilitate efficient combustion. In some operations, this air may also be enriched with oxygen. Additionally, some modern blast furnaces utilize the tuyeres for the injection of fuel.123