Abstract: A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, comprises includes an outer metal shell; a plurality of tuyeres arranged to inject hot blast into the shaft furnace; and means for injecting process gas in the shaft stack area, where the injector has a nozzle body with a peripheral wall extending along a longitudinal axis from a front portion, with at least one injection hole, to an opposite rear portion connected to a base member, where the nozzle body includes an inner gas channel for guiding process gas from an inlet port in the base member to the injection holes(s), nozzle body being mounted through an aperture in the metal shell in such a way that the front region with injection hole(s) is located on the inner side of the metal shell, whereas the rear portion is outside of the metal shell, and the base member includes a peripheral mounting portion configured for connecting the injector in a gas tight manner to a mounting unit surrounding the aperture in the metal shell.

Abstract: A reducing gas injection system for a blast furnace having a blast furnace wall, the system including a reducing gas distribution pipe, one or more injectors mounted to the blast furnace wall at a shaft level, where the reducing gas distribution pipe is attached to the blast furnace wall or its supporting structure, where the injector(s) have a nozzle body with a peripheral wall extending along a longitudinal axis from a front portion, with at least one injection hole, to an opposite rear portion with an inlet port, where the nozzle body includes an inner gas channel for guiding reducing gas from the inlet port to the injection holes(s); where the nozzle body is mounted trough an aperture in the blast furnace wall in such a way that the front portion with the injection hole(s) is located on an inner side of the blast furnace, whereas the rear portion with the inlet port is outside of the blast furnace wall, where the nozzle body includes a peripheral mounting portion configured for connecting the injector in

Abstract: A gas injection system for a blast furnace or shaft furnace or metallurgical furnace comprising a furnace wall and a cooling plate wherein the gas injection system comprises a gas distribution pipe, one or more injectors having a nozzle, wherein the nozzle comprises a ceramic insert, wherein the cooling element has a hot side, turned away from the furnace wall, wherein a protrusion is attached to the hot side of said cooling plate, wherein the ceramic insert traverses the furnace wall and the cooling plate and the protrusion on cooling plate and wherein the ceramic inserts have an adaptable length so that they either protrude inside the furnace, or that they are flush with a hot face of the cooling plate or stay slightly in retreat with a hot face of the cooling plate.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace including a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, the body having at least one cooling channel therein having an opening in the rear face and a coolant feed pipe is connected to the rear face of the cooling panel and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel, where in use, the front face is turned towards a furnace interior, and at least one emergency cooling tube is arranged within the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube has an end section with connection means for connecting an emergency feed pipe thereto, and in an emergency operation, the emergency cooling tube is physically connected to an emergency feed pipe via the connection means; while, in a normal operation, the connection means of the emergency cooling tube is physically disconnected from the emergency feed pipe. The invention also concerns the use of such a cooling plate.

Abstract: A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, includes a metal jacket defining the furnace outer wall and a protective layer protecting the inner surface of the outer wall. At least one condition monitoring probe is arranged inside within the protective layer to monitor the latter. The condition monitoring probe is connected to a wireless module arranged outside the outer wall to transmit condition monitoring data. The wireless module is located inside a casing mounted to the outer surface of the metal jacket. The condition monitoring probe includes one or more conductive loops positioned at predetermined depths below the front face of the cooling plate body, or of the refractory lining, so that wear of the body, resp. refractory, can be detected by a change of an electrical characteristic of the loop(s) due to abrasion.

Abstract: A cooling assembly for a metallurgical furnace includes a cooling plate disposed inside of a furnace shell of the metallurgical furnace; a cooling pipe traversing a shell opening in the furnace shell and being connected to the cooling plate; and a compensator disposed around the cooling pipe for forming a seal between the cooling pipe and the furnace shell. In order to provide ways for facilitating repair of a cooling system of the metallurgical furnace, the method includes at least the step of performing at least one cutting operation with a cutting device having a fixture and a cutting tool movably connected to the fixture for a guided movement with respect to the fixture. The fixture is mounted to the cooling pipe, whereby the cutting device is aligned with respect to the cooling pipe, and the cutting tool is guidedly moved while performing the cutting operation.

Abstract: A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, includes a metal jacket defining the furnace outer wall and a protective layer protecting the inner surface of the outer wall. At least one condition monitoring probe is arranged inside within the protective layer to monitor the latter. The condition monitoring probe is connected to a wireless module arranged outside the outer wall to transmit condition monitoring data. The wireless module is located inside a casing mounted to the outer surface of the metal jacket. The condition monitoring probe includes one or more conductive loops positioned at predetermined depths below the front face of the cooling plate body, or of the refractory lining, so that wear of the body, resp. refractory, can be detected by a change of an electrical characteristic of the loop(s) due to abrasion.

Abstract: A method for protecting an inner wall (12) of a shaft furnace, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one injection device (28) through the inner wall (12) of the shaft furnace, the injection device (28) being configured to inject protective material into the shaft furnace; and injecting on demand the protective material into the shaft furnace through the injection device (28), in such a manner that the protective material builds up to form a protection wall between the interior of the shaft furnace and the furnace wall (12).

Abstract: A device for mounting and/or dismantling staves on/from an inner wall of a shaft furnace, the device including a circular monorail for supporting at least one stave positioning hoist, where the monorail is divided into at least four separate arc portions, where each arc portion is connected to a neighboring arc portion by means of a rotatable connection, the arc portions are moveable between an unfolded position, in which the arc portions form a circular monorail, and a folded position, in which the overall size of the monorail is, in one direction, reduced.

Abstract: A cooling panel for a metallurgical furnace includes a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, a top face and an opposite bottom face and two opposite side faces. The body has at least one cooling channel therein, the cooling channel having openings in the rear face; wherein, in use, the front face of the body is turned towards a furnace interior. According to the invention, the cooling panel having at least one cooling pipe arranged in at least one elongate recess formed in the front face, where the cooling pipe has an elongate middle section and at either end thereof, an angled branch, the cooling pipe forming the cooling channel, and where the cooling pipe is arranged in the elongate recess such that the angled branches protrude through the openings in the rear face of the body.

Abstract: A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, includes a metal jacket defining the furnace outer wall and a protective layer protecting the inner surface of the outer wall. At least one condition monitoring probe is arranged inside within the protective layer to monitor the latter. The condition monitoring probe is connected to a wireless module arranged outside the outer wall to transmit condition monitoring data. The wireless module is located inside a casing mounted to the outer surface of the metal jacket. The condition monitoring probe includes one or more conductive loops positioned at predetermined depths below the front face of the cooling plate body, or of the refractory lining, so that wear of the body, resp. refractory, can be detected by a change of an electrical characteristic of the loop(s) due to abrasion.

Abstract: A device for mounting and/or dismantling staves on/from an inner wall of a shaft furnace, the device including a circular monorail for supporting at least one stave positioning hoist, where the monorail is divided into at least four separate arc portions, where each arc portion is connected to a neighboring arc portion by means of a rotatable connection, the arc portions are moveable between an unfolded position, in which the arc portions form a circular monorail, and a folded position, in which the overall size of the monorail is, in one direction, reduced.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace including a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, the body having at least one cooling channel therein having an opening in the rear face and a coolant feed pipe connected to the rear face of the cooling panel and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel where in use, the front face is turned towards a furnace interior, and at least one emergency cooling tube is arranged within the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube has an end section with connection means for connecting an emergency feed pipe thereto, and in an emergency operation, the emergency cooling tube is physically connected to an emergency feed pipe via the connection means; while, in a normal operation, the connection means of the emergency cooling tube is physically disconnected from the emergency feed pipe. The invention also concerns the use of such a cooling plate.

Abstract: A cooling panel for a metallurgical furnace includes a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, a top face and an opposite bottom face and two opposite side faces. The body has at least one cooling channel therein, the cooling channel having openings in the rear face; wherein, in use, the front face of the body is turned towards a furnace interior. According to the invention, the cooling panel having at least one cooling pipe arranged in at least one elongate recess formed in the front face, where the cooling pipe has an elongate middle section and at either end thereof, an angled branch, the cooling pipe forming the cooling channel, and where the cooling pipe is arranged in the elongate recess such that the angled branches protrude through the openings in the rear face of the body.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace comprising a body (12) with a front face (18) and an opposite rear face (20), the body having at least one coolant channel (14) therein; the front face (18) being turned towards the furnace interior and preferably comprises alternating ribs (22) and grooves (24). The cooling plate includes wear detection means comprising: a plurality of closed pressure chambers (26, 28) distributed at different locations in said body, said pressure chambers being positioned at predetermined depths below the front face (18) of said body; and a pressure sensor (30) associated with each pressure chamber (26, 28) in order to detect a deviation from a reference pressure inside said pressure chamber when the latter becomes open due to wear out of said body.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace comprising a body (12) with a front face (18) and an opposite rear face (20), the body having at least one coolant channel (14) therein; the front face (18) being turned towards the furnace interior and preferably comprises alternating ribs (22) and grooves (24). The cooling plate includes wear detection means comprising: a plurality of closed pressure chambers (26, 28) distributed at different locations in said body, said pressure chambers being positioned at predetermined depths below the front face (18) of said body; and a pressure sensor (30) associated with each pressure chamber (26, 28) in order to detect a deviation from a reference pressure inside said pressure chamber when the latter becomes open due to wear out of said body.

Abstract: A stave cooler for a metallurgical furnace includes a panel-like body having a front face for facing the interior of the metallurgical furnace, an opposite rear face, an upper face, an opposite lower face, and two side faces. At least one internal coolant passage is arranged within the panel-like body. The panel-like body is provided with a ledge on its front face extending between the side faces for being arranged in a horizontal plane. At least one protection element is provided for covering at least part of an upper face of the ledge. The protection element includes a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, and a central portion. The lateral portions each include a widened front section and a narrow connection section. The panel-like body is provided with at least one through hole arranged for passing each of the lateral portions and the central portion of therethrough in turn.

Abstract: A stave cooler for a metallurgical furnace includes a panel-like body having a front face for facing the interior of the metallurgical furnace, an opposite rear face, an upper face, an opposite lower face, and two side faces. At least one internal coolant passage is arranged within the panel-like body. The panel-like body is provided with a ledge on its front face extending between the side faces for being arranged in a horizontal plane. At least one protection element is provided for covering at least part of an upper face of the ledge. The protection element includes a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, and a central portion. The said first and second lateral portions each include a widened front section and a narrow connection section. The panel-like body is provided with at least one through hole arranged for passing each of the lateral portions and the central portion of therethrough in turn.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a gap-filler insert (20) for use with cooling plates (12, 12?) for a metallurgical furnace, the cooling plates (12, 12?) having a front face (14, 14?) directed towards the interior of the furnace, an opposite rear face (16, 16?) directed towards a furnace wall (10) of the furnace and four edge faces (18, 18?). In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the gap-filler insert (20) comprises a metal front plate (24) with a front side (24) facing the interior of the furnace and anchoring means (28, 28?, 30, 30?, 32, 34) for mounting the front plate (24) between two neighboring cooling plates (12, 12?) in such a way that the front plate (24) extends between the edge faces (18, 18?) of both cooling plates (12, 12?), and that the front side (26) of the front plate (24) is flush with the front faces (14, 14?) of both cooling plates (12, 12?).

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.