Patents by Inventor Markku Lahtinen

Markku Lahtinen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10852065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling suspension in a suspension smelting furnace. The method comprises feeding additionally to pulverous solid matter and additionally to reaction gas reducing agent into the suspension smelting furnace, wherein reducing agent is fed in the form of a concentrated stream of reducing agent through the suspension in the reaction shaft onto the surface of the melt to form a reducing zone containing reducing agent within the collection zone of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Bjorklund
  • Patent number: 10451350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner (1) of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement (3) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin (4), and a conveyor means (6) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin (4) to the concentrate or matte burner (1) of the suspension smelting furnace (2), and a loss-in-weight controller (5) between the dosing bin (4) and the conveyor means (6). The arrangement comprises an impact cone (8) arranged below a filling valve (7) between the fluidization arrangement (3) and the dosing bin (4) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement (3) within the dosing bin (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund
  • Patent number: 10428404
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of converting copper containing material to blister copper comprising: (a) providing copper containing material comprising copper sulfides and iron sulfides, whereby the copper containing material comprises at least 35 wt % copper of the total weight of the copper containing material; (b) reacting the copper containing material in a furnace with an oxygen containing gas, in the absence of flux, to effect oxidation of iron sulfide and copper sulfide, and controlling injection of the oxygen containing gas and the temperature so that the resulting converter slag is in a molten phase to obtain blister copper and converter slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Jouni Pihlasalo, Mikael Jåfs
  • Publication number: 20180209741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner (1) of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement (3) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin (4), and a conveyor means (6) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin (4) to the concentrate or matte burner (1) of the suspension smelting furnace (2), and a loss-in-weight controller (5) between the dosing bin (4) and the conveyor means (6). The arrangement comprises an impact cone (8) arranged below a filling valve (7) between the fluidization arrangement (3) and the dosing bin (4) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement (3) within the dosing bin (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund
  • Patent number: 10006718
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner (1) of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement (3) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin (4), and a conveyor means (6) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin (4) to the concentrate or matte burner (1) of the suspension smelting furnace (2), and a loss-in-weight controller (5) between the dosing bin (4) and the conveyor means (6). The arrangement comprises an impact cone (8) arranged below a filling valve (7) between the fluidization arrangement (3) and the dosing bin (4) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement (3) within the dosing bin (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund
  • Publication number: 20180156541
    Abstract: Provided is a burner such as a concentrate burner or a matte burner for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into a reaction shaft of a suspension smelting furnace. The burner comprises an annular fine solids discharge channel that is radially limited at the outside by a first annular wall and that is radially limited at the inside by a second annular wall. The annular fine solids discharge channel is configured to receive fine solids from a fine solids feeding arrangement and to create an annular flow of fine solids in the annular fine solids discharge channel. The annular fine solids discharge channel being provided with spreading means configured to be hit by the annular flow of fine solids and configured to even out particle distribution in the annular flow of fine solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Elli MIETTINEN, Sarianna SUOMINEN, Lauri P. PESONEN, Aki LAANINEN, Tapio AHOKAINEN, Kaj EKLUND, Markku LAHTINEN, Peter BJÖRKLUND
  • Patent number: 9957586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using a suspension smelting furnace and to a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner (4). The concentrate burner (4) comprises a first gas supply device (12) for feeding a first gas (5) into the reaction shaft (2) and a second gas supply device (18) for feeding a second gas (16) into the reaction shaft (2). The first gas supply device (12) comprises a first annular discharge opening (14), which which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of a feeder pipe (7), so that the first annular discharge opening (14) surrounds the feeder pipe (7). The second gas supply device (18) comprises a second annular discharge opening (17), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of the feeder pipe (7), so that the second annular discharge opening (17) surrounds the feeder pipe (7) opening (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Markku Lahtinen, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Tapio Ahokainen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Kaj Eklund
  • Patent number: 9926617
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing matte such as copper or nickel matte or crude metal such as blister copper in a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. Also provided is a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. The suspension smelting furnace comprises a reaction shaft, a settler in communication with a lower end of the reaction shaft, and an uptake shaft. The settler extending in two opposite directions from a landing zone for a jet of oxidized suspension below the reaction shaft in the settler so that the settler comprises a first settler part on a first side of the landing zone and a second settler part on an opposite second side of the landing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Markku Lahtinen
  • Publication number: 20170248368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling suspension in a suspension smelting furnace, to a suspension smelting furnace, and to a concentrate burner. The method comprises feeding additionally to pulverous solid matter and additionally to reaction gas reducing agent into the suspension smelting furnace, wherein reducing agent is fed in the form of a concentrated stream of reducing agent through the suspension in the reaction shaft onto the surface of the melt to form a reducing zone containing reducing agent within the collection zone of the melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Bjorklund
  • Patent number: 9677815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling suspension (8) in a suspension smelting furnace (1), to a suspension smelting furnace, and to a concentrate burner (2). The method comprises feeding additionally to pulverous solid matter (6) and additionally to reaction gas (7) reducing agent (13) into the suspension smelting furnace (1), wherein reducing agent (13) is fed in the form of a concentrated stream of reducing agent (13) through the suspension (8) in the reaction shaft (2) onto the surface (9) of the melt (10) to form a reducing zone (15) containing reducing agent (13) within the collection zone (14) of the melt (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Bjorklund
  • Publication number: 20170058380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of converting copper containing material to blister copper comprising: (a) providing copper containing material comprising copper sulfides and iron sulfides, whereby the copper containing material comprises at least 35 wt % copper of the total weight of the copper containing material; (b) reacting the copper containing material in a furnace with an oxygen containing gas, in the absence of flux, to effect oxidation of iron sulfide and copper sulfide, and controlling injection of the oxygen containing gas and the temperature so that the resulting converter slag is in a molten phase to obtain blister copper and converter slag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Markku LAHTINEN, Jouni PIHLASALO, Mikael JÅFS
  • Patent number: 9580771
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for refining copper concentrate. The arrangement includes a suspension smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft, and a settler. The reaction shaft is provided with a concentrate burner for feeding copper concentrate such as copper sulfide concentrate and/or copper matte and additionally at least reaction gas into the reaction shaft to obtain a blister layer containing blister and a first slag layer containing slag on top of the blister layer in the settler, and a slag cleaning furnace. The arrangement includes a feeder configured for feeding blister from the blister layer in the settler and for feeding slag from the first slag layer in the settler into the slag cleaning furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund, Tuomo Jokinen, Harri Rannikko, Maija Metsärinta, Markku Lahtinen
  • Publication number: 20150315673
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing matte such as copper or nickel matte or crude metal such as blister copper in a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. Also provided is a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace or a flash converting furnace. The suspension smelting furnace comprises a reaction shaft, a settler in communication with a lower end of the reaction shaft, and an uptake shaft. The settler extending in two opposite directions from a landing zone for a jet of oxidized suspension below the reaction shaft in the settler so that the settler comprises a first settler part on a first side of the landing zone and a second settler part on an opposite second side of the landing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventor: Markku LAHTINEN
  • Publication number: 20150233643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner (1) of a suspension smelting furnace (2). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement (3) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin (4), and a conveyor means (6) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin (4) to the concentrate or matte burner (1) of the suspension smelting furnace (2), and a loss-in-weight controller (5) between the dosing bin (4) and the conveyor means (6). The arrangement comprises an impact cone (8) arranged below a filling valve (7) between the fluidization arrangement (3) and the dosing bin (4) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement (3) within the dosing bin (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund
  • Publication number: 20150197828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using a suspension smelting furnace and to a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner (4). The concentrate burner (4) comprises a first gas supply device (12) for feeding a first gas (5) into the reaction shaft (2) and a second gas supply device (18) for feeding a second gas (16) into the reaction shaft (2). The first gas supply device (12) comprises a first annular discharge opening (14), which which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of a feeder pipe (7), so that the first annular discharge opening (14) surrounds the feeder pipe (7). The second gas supply device (18) comprises a second annular discharge opening (17), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of the feeder pipe (7), so that the second annular discharge opening (17) surrounds the feeder pipe (7) opening (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Jussi SIPILÄ, Markku LAHTINEN, Peter BJÖRKLUND, Kaarle PELTONIEMI, Tapio AHOKAINEN, Lauri P. PESONEN, Kaj EKLUND
  • Publication number: 20150143951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for refining copper concentrate (1). The arrangement comprises a suspension smelting furnace (2) comprising a reaction shaft (5), and a settler (6). The reaction shaft (5) is provided with a concentrate burner (8) for feeding copper concentrate (1) such as copper sulfide concentrate and/or copper matte and additionally at least reaction gas (9) into the reaction shaft (5) to obtain a blister layer (11) containing blister and a first slag layer (12) containing slag on top of the blister layer (11) in the settler (6), and a slag cleaning furnace (3). The arrangement comprises feeding means (16, 18, 23) for feeding blister from the blister layer (11) in the settler (6) and for feeding slag from the first slag layer (12) in the settler (6) into the slag cleaning furnace (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Björklund, Tuomo Jokinen, Harri Rannikko, Maija Metsärinta, Markku Lahtinen
  • Patent number: 9034243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using a suspension smelting furnace and to a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner (4). The concentrate burner (4) comprises a first gas supply device (12) for feeding a first gas (5) into the reaction shaft (2) and a second gas supply device (18) for feeding a second gas (16) into the reaction shaft (2). The first gas supply device (12) comprises a first annular discharge opening (14), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of a feeder pipe (7), so that the first annular discharge opening (14) surrounds the feeder pipe (7). The second gas supply device (18) comprises a second annular discharge opening (17), which is arranged concentrically with the mouth (8) of the feeder pipe (7), so that the second annular discharge opening (17) surrounds the feeder pipe (7) opening (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Markku Lahtinen, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Tapio Ahokainen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Kaj Eklund
  • Patent number: 8986421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the thermal balance of the reaction shaft of a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner for feeding reaction gas and pulverous solid mater into the reaction shaft of the suspension smelting furnace. In the method, endothermic material (16) is fed by the concentrate burner (4) to constitute part of the mixture formed from the powdery solid matter (6) and reaction gas (5), so that a mixture containing the powdery solid matter (6), reaction gas (5) and endothermic material (6) is formed in the reaction shaft (2). The concentrate burner (4) comprises cooling agent feeding equipment (15) for adding the endothermic material (16) to constitute part of the mixture, which is formed from the pulverous solid matter (6) that discharges from the orifice (8) of the feeder pipe and the reaction gas (5) that discharges through the annular discharge orifice (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Markku Lahtinen, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Tapio Ahokainen, Lauri P. Pesonen
  • Publication number: 20140239560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling suspension (8) in a suspension smelting furnace (1), to a suspension smelting furnace, and to a concentrate burner (2). The method comprises feeding additionally to pulverous solid matter (6) and additionally to reaction gas (7) reducing agent (13) into the suspension smelting furnace (1), wherein reducing agent (13) is fed in the form of a concentrated stream of reducing agent (13) through the suspension (8) in the reaction shaft (2) onto the surface (9) of the melt (10) to form a reducing zone (15) containing reducing agent (13) within the collection zone (14) of the melt (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Markku Lahtinen, Lauri P. Pesonen, Tapio Ahokainen, Peter Bjorklund
  • Publication number: 20120204679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the thermal balance of the reaction shaft of a suspension smelting furnace and to a concentrate burner for feeding reaction gas and pulverous solid mater into the reaction shaft of the suspension smelting furnace. In the method, endothermic material (16) is fed by the concentrate burner (4) to constitute part of the mixture formed from the powdery solid matter (6) and reaction gas (5), so that a mixture containing the powdery solid matter (6), reaction gas (5) and endothermic material (6) is formed in the reaction shaft (2). The concentrate burner (4) comprises cooling agent feeding equipment (15) for adding the endothermic material (16) to constitute part of the mixture, which is formed from the pulverous solid matter (6) that discharges from the orifice (8) of the feeder pipe and the reaction gas (5) that discharges through the annular discharge orifice (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Markku Lahtinen, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Tapio Ahokainen, Lauri P. Pesonen