Abstract: A hearth for a metallurgical furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, the hearth including a wall lining and a bottom lining of refractory material for containing a molten metal bath, the bottom lining including a lower region and an upper region that is arranged to cover the top of the lower region and that is built of ceramic elements, the ceramic elements of the upper region being made of microporous ceramic material including a granular phase made of a silico-aluminous high alumina content granular material and a binding phase for binding grains of said granular material, said microporous ceramic material having thus an maintaining permanently a thermal conductivity lower than 7 W/m.° K.

Abstract: A hearth for a metallurgical reactor, in particular for a blast furnace, has an outer shell and an annular wall lining of refractory material inside the shell, the wall lining having a lower region with a multi-layered construction, a radially inner layer faces the interior of the hearth and includes at least one inner ring of refractory elements, radially outer layer faces the outer shell and has at least one outer ring of refractory elements, where in the at least one inner ring elements are made of a first carbonaceous refractory material that is different from one or more carbonaceous refractory materials of the elements in the outer layer such that, the first refractory material contains, in a proportion of at least 5% by mass in total, at least one property-enhancing additive other than metallic silicon or silicon carbide. In beneficial combination therewith, the at least one inner ring has a wall thickness of less than 45%, of the corresponding total wall thickness of the wall lining.

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 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 hearth for a metallurgical furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, the hearth including a wall lining and a bottom lining of refractory material for containing a molten metal bath, the bottom lining including a lower region and an upper region that is arranged to cover the top of the lower region and that is built of ceramic elements, the ceramic elements of the upper region being made of microporous ceramic material including a granular phase made of a silico-aluminous high alumina content granular material and a binding phase for binding grains of said granular material, said microporous ceramic material having thus an maintaining permanently a thermal conductivity lower than 7 W/m.° K.

Abstract: A hearth for a metallurgical reactor, in particular for a blast furnace, has an outer shell and an annular wall lining of refractory material inside the shell, the wall lining having a lower region with a multi-layered construction a radially inner layer faces the interior of the hearth and includes at least one inner ring of refractory elements, radially outer layer faces the outer shell and has at least one outer ring of refractory elements, where in the at least one inner ring elements are made of a first carbonaceous refractory material that is different from one or more carbonaceous refractory materials of the elements in the outer layer such that, the first refractory material contains, in a proportion of at least 5% by mass in total, at least one property-enhancing additive other than metallic silicon or silicon carbide. In beneficial combination therewith, the at least one inner ring has a wall thickness of less than 45%, of the corresponding total wall thickness of the wall lining.

Abstract: A method for protecting a tuyere assembly and a refractory lining of a furnace, and in particular a blast furnace, against damage caused by expansion of the refractory lining. This method includes providing a clearance between the tuyere assembly and a refractory lining portion below the tuyere assembly and monitoring this clearance by means of a displacement sensor.

Abstract: A method for protecting a tuyere assembly and a refractory lining of a furnace, and in particular a blast furnace, against damage caused by expansion of the refractory lining. This method includes providing a clearance between the tuyere assembly and a refractory lining portion below the tuyere assembly and monitoring this clearance by means of a displacement sensor.