Patents by Inventor MIkael Jåfs

MIkael Jåfs 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: 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
  • Patent number: 10190824
    Abstract: A taphole assembly (1) for arranging in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a metallurgical furnace (5) such as a pyrometallurgical furnace and for leading melt from the inside of the metallurgical furnace (5) to the outside of the metallurgical furnace (5). The taphole assembly comprises: a frame section of metal (6) to be arranged in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a of a metallurgical furnace (5), at least one refractory insert channel element (7) arranged in a seat (8) of the frame section of metal (6) and having a channel (9) for melt. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing a taphole assembly and to a metallurgical furnace including a taphole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Eero Hugg, Kari Pienimäki, Mika Ketola, Mikael Jåfs
  • Patent number: 9869515
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft (1), an uptake shaft (2), and a lower furnace (3), as well as a concentrate burner (4) for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into the reaction shaft (1) of the suspension smelting furnace. The concentrate burner (4) comprises a fine solids discharge channel (5) that is radially limited by the wall (6) of the solids discharge channel, a fine solids dispersion device (7) in the fine solids discharge channel (5), an annular reaction gas channel (8) that surrounds the fine solids discharge channel (5) and is radially limited by the wall (9) of the annular reaction gas channel (8), and a cooling block (10) that surrounds the annular reaction gas channel (8). The cooling block (10) is a component that is manufactured by a continuous casting method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Mikael Jåfs, Tapio Ahokainen, Kari Pienimäki, Lauri P. Pesonen
  • 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: 9429316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner arrangement comprising a fluid cooled copper block. Further, the invention relates to a burner assembly, a duct element, a gas circulating duct, and a metallurgical furnace comprising said burner arrangement. The burner arrangement (B) comprises a fluid cooled copper block (3) including a cooling conduit (4) for circulation of the cooling fluid, a first end (5) to which the burner unit (1) is releasably attached and a second end (6), and that the burner channel (2) extends inside the fluid cooled copper block (3) from the first end (5) to the second end (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Gunnar Weissman, Jukka Vuorio, Mikael Jåfs
  • Publication number: 20150176903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a taphole assembly (1) for arranging in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a metallurgical furnace (5) such as a pyrometallurgical furnace and for leading melt from the inside of the metallurgical furnace (5) to the outside of the metallurgical furnace (5). The taphole assembly comprises: a frame section of metal (6) to be arranged in a taphole assembly opening (2) extending through a shell (3) and a refractory lining (4) of a of a metallurgical furnace (5), at least one refractory insert channel element (7) arranged in a seat (8) of the frame section of metal (6) and having a channel (9) for melt. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing a taphole assembly and to a metallurgical furnace including a taphole assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Eero Hugg, Kari Pienimäki, Mika Ketola, Mikael Jåfs
  • Publication number: 20150115511
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling element for a pyrometallurgical furnace such as for a flash smelting furnace or for a flash converting furnace or for a suspension smelting furnace. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing a cooling element for a pyrometallurgical furnace such as for a flash smelting furnace or for a flash converting furnace or for a suspension smelting furnace. The cooling element (2) has a fire surface (2) to be in contact with an interior of the metallurgical furnace. The cooling element comprises a base element (4) containing copper and a coating (5) at least partly covering the base element (4). The coating (4) forms the fire surface (2) of the cooling element (1). The coating (5) is at least partly applied by a laser coating process such as laser deposition, and the coating (5) contains a Ni based alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Mari Lindgren, Peter Björklund, Mikael Jåfs, Lauri P. Pesonen
  • Patent number: 8701967
    Abstract: A method for coating the base element of a cooling element used in connection with a metallurgical furnace or the like, said base element being mainly made of copper, at least partly with a metal coating involves a step wherein the metal coating is explosion welded to the base element of a cooling element mainly made of copper. A cooling element, particularly to be used in connection with metallurgical furnaces or the like, includes a base element mainly made of copper, in which base element there is arranged a cooling water channel system, said base element of the cooling element being at least partly coated with a metal coating. The metal coating is explosion welded to the base element that is mainly made of copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Esa Peuraniemi, Kai Seppälä, Mikael Jåfs
  • Publication number: 20130099431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension smelting furnace comprising a reaction shaft (1), an uptake shaft (2), and a lower furnace (3), as well as a concentrate burner (4) for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into the reaction shaft (1) of the suspension smelting furnace. The concentrate burner (4) comprises a fine solids discharge channel (5) that is radially limited by the wall (6) of the solids discharge channel, a fine solids dispersion device (7) in the fine solids discharge channel (5), an annular reaction gas channel (8) that surrounds the fine solids discharge channel (5) and is radially limited by the wall (9) of the annular reaction gas channel (8), and a cooling block (10) that surrounds the annular reaction gas channel (8). The cooling block (10) is a component that is manufactured by a continuous casting method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Mikael Jåfs, Tapio Ahokainen, Kari Pienimäki, Lauri P. Pesonen
  • Publication number: 20110127020
    Abstract: A method for coating the base element of a cooling element used in connection with a metallurgical furnace or the like, said base element being mainly made of copper, at least partly with a metal coating involves a step wherein the metal coating is explosion welded to the base element of a cooling element mainly made of copper. A cooling element, particularly to be used in connection with metallurgical furnaces or the like, includes a base element mainly made of copper, in which base element there is arranged a cooling water channel system, said base element of the cooling element being at least partly coated with a metal coating. The metal coating is explosion welded to the base element that is mainly made of copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Esa Peuraniemi, Kai Seppälä, MIkael Jåfs