Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for burning blast furnace off-gas from a bleeder valve. It comprises a bleeder valve (20) having a fixed hollow valve body (22) defining an outlet (26) and a valve seat and a movable obturator (24) that cooperates with the valve seat for closing the bleeder valve and releasing blast furnace off-gas through the outlet. The arrangement includes an apparatus for combustion of blast furnace off-gas released by the bleeder valve (20). This apparatus is characterized by an ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) that is arranged on or adjacent the valve body or the moveable obturator of the bleeder valve (20) itself. The ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) has its spatial ignition range located downstream the outlet in a region where blast furnace off-gas released through the outlet mixes with ambient air when the obturator is in an open position so as to allow open-air combustion of blast furnace off-gas released into ambient air at the location of the bleeder valve.

Abstract: A cooling plate (10) for a metallurgical furnace comprises a body (12) with a front face (14) and an opposite rear face (16), as well as coolants channel (18) therein; a plurality of lamellar ribs (24) on its front face, two consecutive ribs (24) being spaced by a groove (22); and inserts (26) fixed in the grooves (22) and projecting from the front face (14). The inserts (26) have an upper side projecting from the bottom edge of the rib directly above, which is configured so as to form a collecting surface (28) on which, in use, furnace burden material accumulates up to the top edge (32) of the rib (24) directly above.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charge material distribution device includes a main housing, a distribution chute, a suspension rotor and an adjustment rotor, which are rotatable about a vertical axis. The chute is suspended to the suspension rotor to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and is adjustable in orientation for radial distribution of charge material. A differential gear interconnects the suspension rotor and adjustment rotor and is configured to transmit to the adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to the suspension rotor by a main rotation drive unless an adjustment drive imparts differential rotation to the adjustment rotor. The device includes two gear casings arranged on the main housing and a shaft arrangement. The first gear encloses a gear mechanism connecting the main rotation drive to one output shaft. The second gear casing encloses the differential gear connecting the adjustment drive to another output shaft.

Abstract: A device for regulating the temperature of a gas in a hot gas main for feeding hot gas to a blast furnace includes a mixing pot with two mixing chambers in fluid communication with each other by means of a Venturi restriction. The first mixing chamber includes three inlet ports for feeding hot gas into the first mixing chamber, feeding cold gas into the first mixing chamber and feeding cold gas into the second mixing chamber, respectively. The first mixing chamber further includes an outlet port for feeding a first stream of mixed gas from the first mixing chamber to a first gas distribution system. The second mixing chamber includes a second outlet port for feeding a second stream of mixed gas from the second mixing chamber to a second gas distribution system. The first and second streams of mixed gas have different temperatures.

Abstract: An injection system for solid particles comprises a conveying hopper (11) located at an upstream location (1), a fluidizing device (21) for fluidizing the solid particles at the outlet of the conveying hopper (11) and forming a solid-gas flow, a pneumatic conveying line (15) for conveying the solid-gas flow from the fluidizing device (21) to a downstream location (2) and a static distribution device (17) with a plurality of injection lines (19), connected thereto. An upstream flow control system controls the mass flow rate in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1) by controlling the opening of an upstream flow control valve (35) responsive to the solid material mass flow measured in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding a burden to a blast furnace (32), wherein the method comprises providing a charging device (38) having at least one material hopper (40), the material hopper (40) comprising a hopper chamber (42), a material inlet aperture for feeding a burden into the hopper chamber (40), and a material discharge aperture for feeding a burden from the hopper chamber (40) to the blast furnace (32); the material inlet aperture having an associated inlet seal valve 44) for opening and closing the material inlet aperture and the material discharge aperture having an associated material discharge valve (46) for opening and closing the material discharge aperture.

Abstract: In a blast furnace plant, at least three regenerative heaters are cyclically operated on blast and on gas: while a regenerative heater is operated on gas, hot flue gas is produced and caused to flow through the regenerative heater so as to heat the heat storage elements; and while a regenerative heater is operated on blast, process gas, i.e. a CO-rich fraction of the top gas, is blown through the regenerative heater so that the process gas takes up heat from the heat storage elements. During, such that during a changeover of a regenerative heater from on-blast to on-gas operation, the regenerative heater is purged from process gas using flue gas collected after having flown through at least one of the regenerative heaters.

Abstract: A blast furnace installation includes a blast furnace and a chute transmission gearbox; the blast furnace having a top cone with a top cone ring arranged thereon for receiving a connection flange of the chute transmission gearbox. The connection flange is directly fixed onto the top cone ring by fixing means for establishing a firm connection between the top cone ring and the connection flange. According to an aspect of the present invention, the connection flange is fixed to the top cone ring in three separated fixation regions (30, 30?, 30?), each fixation region including one or more fixing means. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the blast furnace installation also includes a flexible sealing element arranged around the perimeter of the connection between the top cone ring and the chute transmission gearbox.

Abstract: A method for operating a regenerative heater including a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a burner arranged therein, the second chamber having heat storage means; the method including: a heating cycle where fuel and oxidizing gas are fed to the burner of the first chamber and allowed to burn and where hot flue gasses are led through the second chamber to heat the heat storage means; and a blowing cycle where a process gas is fed through the second chamber to pick up heat from the heat storage means where the heating cycle includes the following steps: feeding a first stream of fuel to the burner of the regenerative heater; feeding a second stream of fuel to a pre-combustion chamber; feeding oxygen to the pre-combustion chamber; allowing the second stream of fuel and the oxygen to interact so as to form oxidizing gas; feeding the oxidizing gas to the burner of the regenerative heater, where, at the end of the heating cycle, the supply of oxygen to the pre-combustion chamber is disco

Abstract: There is provided a bustle pipe arrangement of a shaft furnace that comprises a circumferential bustle pipe arranged along the outer casing of the shaft furnace, the bustle pipe being arranged at a certain distance from the outer casing. The arrangement further comprises a plurality of first arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being different from the second level. First and second blow channels are respectively arranged through the first and second arms for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe to the interior of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: A ramming mass for the block lining of at least some of the refractory elements of a refractory lining of a metallurgical vessel such as a blast furnace, said ramming mass being composed of a mixture of a granular phase and a binder phase, wherein the granular phase and/or binder comprises at least one component having a microporous structure or capable of forming a microporous structure by firing during the blast furnace campaign. The ramming mass is in particular intended for forming the joint between two concentric annular assemblies forming a side wall of the vessel or between a lower part of an inner annular assembly and the periphery of one or more refractory layers forming the floor of the vessel.

Abstract: A lower sealing valve unit for a charging system of a shaft furnace includes a housing having a pair of inlets and at least one outlet; a valve seat associated with each inlet; and a flap associated with each valve seat and adapted for, in a closed position, engaging the valve seat to sealingly close the inlet, each flap being supported by a pivotable shaft allowing displacement between the closed position and an open position off the associated valve seat, where a common structure, mounted to one side of the housing, includes a pair of drive mechanisms, each connected to one of the pivotable shafts for independent actuation thereof, the shafts passing coaxially though the housing side and being supported by the common structure.

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a main casing and at least one nozzle for introducing a clean gas into the casing. According to an important aspect of the invention, a controller is configured to adapt the supply (the flow rate) or pressure of clean gas in the main casing based on charging status information.

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace, in particular for a blast furnace and a cooperating distribution chute are proposed, where the distribution chute has an elongated chute body providing a sliding channel for bulk material and two chute-mounting members attached laterally to either side of the chute body for mounting the distribution chute to the charging device, the charging device including a mechanism for rotating the distribution chute, the mechanism having a rotatable support rotor with two suspension flanges cooperating with the chute-mounting members of the distribution chute for mounting the distribution chute, where each chute-mounting member of the chute includes a hook-shaped portion that forms a suspension hook for mounting the distribution chute to the suspension flanges, each suspension flange in turn has a support configured for engagement with the hook-shaped portion of the chute along a hook engagement direction, and furthermore, each chute-mounting member includes an abutment portion tha

Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution chute (100) for a charging device of the rotary pivotal type, e.g. for a shaft furnace. The chute has an upstream mounting head (114) and a chute body (112) having an elongated downstream chute portion (116) with a longitudinal axis (L). It further includes at least two lateral suspensions (130) at the mounting head for mounting the chute to at least two corresponding support flanges of the charging device, the support flanges (140) being pivotable about the pivoting axis (B) in a raising sense (R) for raising the outlet (120) to a radially outer-most charging position and in an opposite lowering sense for lowering the outlet to a radially innermost charging position with respect to the rotational axis. The suspensions (130) define a first and a second tilt points, which define, in turn, a tilt axis (T), about which the weight of the chute exerts torque onto support flanges of the charging device when the chute is mounted.

Abstract: A hatch and valve arrangement for a charging installation for a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace, said arrangement comprising a housing (1), inside which is located at least one hatch (21) and/or a valve (31), caused to pivot by an actuator (25, 35) located outside the housing and connected to the hatch or valve by a linking shaft guided in a bearing that is fixed with respect to the housing. The bearing (24, 34) and the actuator (25, 35) are mounted on a detachable door (26, 36) that seals an opening (13, 15) made in the wall of the housing (1) and whose dimensions are determined such that the hatch or the valve can be withdrawn transversely to the axis of the housing through said opening.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding pulverised coal into a blast furnace, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a tuyere stock (14) for blowing hot blast air from a bustle pipe (12) into a furnace hearth of a blast furnace through a tuyere (15) in an opening in the furnace wall (16); providing a pulverised coal injection lance (18) for feeding pulverised coal into the tuyere (15), the pulverised coal injection lance (18) comprising an inner pipe (20) for conveying pulverised coal and an outer pipe (22), coaxially arranged around the inner pipe (20), for conveying combustive gas, the inner pipe (20) forming a separation wall for separating the pulverised coal from the combustive gas, the pulverised coal injection lance (18) having a lance tip (24) arranged in the tuyere (15); allowing the pulverised coal and the combustive gas to form a mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas at the lance tip (24); burning the mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas in the tuye

Abstract: A stave cooler for a metallurgical furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, including a panel-like body having a front face for facing the interior of the metallurgical furnace and an opposite rear face; and at least one internal coolant passage arranged within the panel-like body, where the at least one shaft, protrudes from the front face of the panel-like body.

Abstract: A process for granulation of hot liquid slag where the hot liquid slag is mixed with solid metallic particles so as to form a solidified, vitrified slag cake mixed with said metallic particles and said slag cake is discharged in a water bath.

Abstract: A method for producing pulverized coal including the steps of providing a drying gas heated to a predefined temperature in a hot gas generator; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer; introducing raw coal into the pulverizer, the pulverizer grinding the raw coal into pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer and feeding the mixture to a filter, the filter separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding the drying gas from the filter to an exhaust line; and collecting the drying gas exiting the filter and feeding part of the collected drying gas to a recirculation line for feeding recirculation drying gas to the hot gas generator.