DOI: 10.52150/2522-9117-2026-40-033
Ye. S. Lapshyn1, D. Sc. (Tech.), Senior Researcher, ORCID 0000-0002-5443-5566
O. I. Shevchenko1,*, D. Sc. (Tech.), Senior Researcher, ORCID 0000-0003-2630-0186
1 M. S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
* Corresponding author: igtm.aishevchenko@gmail.com
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE APPLICATION OF FINE SCREENING
OF METALLURGICAL WASTES AND DETERMINATION
OF THE TIMING FOR SCHEDULED PREVENTIVE CLEANING
OF THE SCREENING SURFACE
Abstract. Ferrous metallurgy is a core industrial sector that, alongside the fuel and energy complex, determines the competitiveness of our country’s economy. Metallurgical production in Ukraine generates vast quantities of industrial waste. Slag accounts for approximately 80% of this waste, while dust and gas-cleaning sludges make up about 20%. Slag screening is typically performed to separate the material into fractions of various sizes, enabling the recovery of valuable metal inclusions, the preparation of slag for further processing or disposal, and the production of material with specific particle sizes for construction or industrial applications. Due to its composition, heterogeneity, and moisture-retention properties, slag is a challenging material to screen; these factors can reduce process efficiency, increase equipment downtime for cleaning the screening surface, and significantly shorten the service life of the screen itself. Blinding of the screening surface apertures leads to productivity losses and reduced product quality, while also increasing downtime and labor requirements. The dynamics of aperture blinding are described by a continuous-time Markov process with two discrete states (“clear” / “blinded”). The blinding process during the classification of difficult-to-screen material is mathematically modeled as a pure-death process. The operating time between cleanings is calculated by multiplying the duration of a test run by the ratio of the logarithm of the permissible fraction of clear apertures to the logarithm of the fraction of clear apertures observed during that test. This calculation enables the determination of the optimal time interval between cleanings (or cleaning device activations). It prevents both premature shutdowns (unnecessary downtime) and inefficient operation with a blinded screening surface. For enterprises aiming to maximize the value of slag – whether through processing, material recovery, or aggregate production – it is essential to have equipment that offers a reliable and cost-effective solution for these tasks. With its ability to handle solid materials and deliver consistent results, the screen transforms slag classification from a challenging task into an opportunity to enhance production efficiency.
Keywords: metallurgical waste, slag, processing, fine screening, screening surface, apertures, blinding, scheduled cleaning time, mathematical modeling.
For citation: Lapshyn, Ye. S., & Shevchenko, O. I. (2026). Justification for the application of fine screening of metallurgical wastes and determination of the timing for scheduled preventive cleaning of the screening surface. Fundamental and applied problems of ferrous metallurgy, 40, 562-576. https://doi.org/10.52150/2522-9117-2026-40-033
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Рукопис надійшов до редакції / Received 01.04.2026
Рекомендовано до друку / Accepted 28.05.2026
Опубліковано / Published 30.05.2026
