COMPANY:
Nyrstar

Innovative Tapered Inflatable Duct Cushion for TSL Furnace

Nyrstar Port Pirie needed to protect work areas inside their TSL furnace from drafts and contamination during maintenance. Giant Inflatables Industrial provided a custom-engineered tapered inflatable duct cushion to create an effective environmental seal, improving safety and work quality.
Tapered Inflatable Duct Cushion for TSL Furnace

Back Ground

Nyrstar Logo a company that asks Giant Inflatables for Tapered Inflatable Duct Cushion for TSL Furnace
COMPANY:
Nyrstar
LOCATION:
Upper Spencer Gulf of South Australia
Nyrstar’s Port Pirie facility is a significant smelting operation located in the Upper Spencer Gulf of South Australia. The site’s Top Submerged Lance (TSL) furnace requires periodic maintenance, which involves work inside the furnace structure. To ensure these maintenance activities are performed safely and effectively, specific zones within the furnace must be isolated.

Challenge

During furnace maintenance, two main environmental factors posed a challenge for the work crews:

  • Contamination: There was a need to protect the active working area from dust and debris. Similarly, other areas of the furnace needed protection from the maintenance activities.
  • Drafts: The furnace’s connection to chimneys created strong drafts, which could affect the quality of work and the safety of the environment.

Design and Fabrication

Giant Inflatables Industrial designed and fabricated a custom tapered inflatable duct cushion to meet Nyrstar’s requirements.

 

The inflatable unit was engineered to fit precisely within the upper section of the TSL furnace. Its tapered shape allowed it to create a complete seal against the angled inner walls of the furnace. When inflated, the cushion forms a robust yet temporary barrier.

Results

The tapered inflatable duct cushion successfully isolated the designated work area. It provided an effective seal that prevented contamination between different sections of the furnace. The barrier also eliminated the drafts caused by the chimneys, leading to a more controlled and safer working environment for the maintenance team. This simple and rapidly deployable solution allowed Nyrstar to proceed with its maintenance schedule efficiently. The tapered inflatable duct cushion was an ideal solution for creating a temporary barrier.
Inflatable Duct Cushion

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