Abstract: Plant for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising at least one process station for an additive manufacturing process, wherein at least one functional component, preferably a lifting device for a powder module, of the process station is at least partially enclosed by a housing structure of the process station, wherein the process station is coupled or can be coupled with at least one powder module, wherein the housing structure comprises at least one opening for loading and/or unloading the at least one powder module into or from the process station, wherein a platform is provided that is arrangeable or arranged adjacent to the at least one opening, wherein the platform comprises at least one positioning unit with at least one positioning surface for positioning a module carrier which is adapted to carry the at least one powder module.

Abstract: A blast furnace includes: a blast furnace body; raw material charging means for charging raw material into the blast furnace body; hot air blowing means for blowing hot air into the blast furnace body; a drying apparatus etc. for evaporating moisture in low-grade coal; a dry distillation apparatus etc. for carbonizing dried coal; a cooling apparatus etc. for cooling carbonized coal; a pulverization apparatus etc. for pulverizing the carbonized coal cooled by the cooling apparatus; a storage tank for storing powdered coal; a nitrogen gas supply source, a conveyor line and a cyclone separator etc. for conveying the powdered coal pulverized by the pulverization apparatus to the inside of the storage tank by generating a gas flow with the nitrogen gas; and an injection lance etc. for feeding the powdered coal inside the storage tank to hot air that is blown into the blast furnace body.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a gas mixing apparatus for fragmenting and mixing waste magnetic material comprising a plurality of reaction vessels, each of the plurality of reaction vessels comprising an internal liner having a plurality of openings defined therein, each of the internal liners configured to receive magnetic material and facilitate the circulation of gas around the magnetic material through the plurality of openings, and a pump and valve assembly operatively coupled to the plurality of reaction vessels to control the introduction of gas into the plurality of reaction vessels and to control transfer of gas between the plurality of reaction vessels.

Abstract: A blast furnace includes: a blast furnace body; raw material charging means for charging raw material into the blast furnace body; hot air blowing means for blowing hot air into the blast furnace body; a drying apparatus etc. for evaporating moisture in low-grade coal; a dry distillation apparatus etc. for carbonizing dried coal; a cooling apparatus etc. for cooling carbonized coal; a pulverization apparatus etc. for pulverizing the carbonized coal cooled by the cooling apparatus; a storage tank for storing powdered coal; a nitrogen gas supply source, a conveyor line and a cyclone separator etc. for conveying the powdered coal pulverized by the pulverization apparatus to the inside of the storage tank by generating a gas flow with the nitrogen gas; and an injection lance etc. for feeding the powdered coal inside the storage tank to hot air that is blown into the blast furnace body.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a metal nanopowder having a uniform particle size distribution by uniformly applying current to a center portion of the metal wire and a surface portion thereof. The method includes increasing a surface roughness of a metal wire; supplying the metal wire having the increased surface roughness to an electrode in a reaction chamber; and wire-exploding the metal wire by supplying electrical energy to the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of metal-containing waste, the method comprising: (i) introducing a particulate metal-containing waste into a plasma treatment unit; (ii) plasma treating the particulate metal-containing waste to form a layer of slag and, optionally, a layer of metal beneath the layer of slag; and (iii) recovering slag and/or metal from the plasma treatment unit; wherein the plasma treatment unit comprises an electrically conductive hearth for holding the layer of slag and optional layer of metal, one or more inlets for the particulate metal-containing waste arranged above the hearth, and an electrode arranged above the hearth so that, in use, a plasma arc is formed between the electrode and the hearth, and wherein the one or more inlets for the particulate metal-containing waste are arranged so that, in use, the particulate metal-containing waste introduced into the plasma treatment unit is heated by the plasma arc before contacting the slag layer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for retrieving active material from a galvanic cell, which comprises an active material, a support for the active material and a binder for bonding the active material and the support, with the steps: (a) crushing the cells, in particular under inert gas or in a vacuum, so that solid cell fragments are also formed, (b) heating the solid cell fragments up to the decomposition temperature (Tz), which is high enough to make the binder decompose and/or evaporate, preferably under inert gas or in a vacuum, such that heat treated cell fragmented are formed, and (c) classifying the heat treated cell fragments, whereby (d) the classifying comprises air jet sieving and (e) the air jet sieving is carried out in such a way that the active material is separated from the support.

Abstract: A metal powder production method and a metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing costs, and obtaining spherical metal powder are provided. Supply means supplies a downward flow of molten metal, and a plurality of jet burners emit flame jets to the downward flow of the molten metal supplied from the supply means. Each of the jet burners is provided to emit the flame jet from the same angle and from each of positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the downward flow of the molten metal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separation means for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collection means for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A continuous hydrogen pulverization method of a rare earth permanent magnetic alloy includes: providing a hydrogen adsorption room, a heating dehydrogenation room and a cooling room in series, applying hydrogen adsorption, heating dehydrogenation and cooling on a rare earth permanent magnetic alloy in the production device at the same time, wherein collecting and storing under an inert protection atmosphere can also be provided. Continuous production is provided under vacuum and the inert protection atmosphere in such a manner that an oxygen content of the pulverized powder is low and a proportion of single crystal in the powder is high.

Abstract: A method for recycling a battery pack includes steps of: roasting the battery pack that houses a battery assembly that is in a charged condition, as it is, dismantling the roasted battery pack and separating the battery pack into unit cells and parts other than the unit cells, comminuting the unit cells obtained by separation, washing and screening the comminuted cells, dehydrating a slurry below a sieve after screening and recovering metals used for positive and negative electrodes, and recovering metal containing nickel by magnetically separating metal remaining on the sieve after screening, using a magnet.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separator for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collector for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing an iron ore tailings byproduct are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing an iron ore tailings byproduct includes sizing particles within a slurry of the iron ore tailings byproduct to separate particles from the slurry having a dimension less than a predetermined size. After sizing, the method may further include centrifugating the particles less than the predetermined size into centrifugated concentrate and tails portions. The centrifugated concentrate portion may be separated into separated concentrate and tails portions. Finally, in certain embodiments, the separated concentrate portion may be de-watered to a remaining composition of matter comprising iron in greater proportion than in the iron ore tailings byproduct. Generally, using the systems and methods described herein, iron that would have otherwise been un-recovered is extracted from the iron ore tailings byproduct.

Abstract: A system and process for reclaiming nickel and cadmium from a feed source such as Ni—Cd batteries. The feed source is shredded to produce feed particles, screened to size the particles, magnetically separated to remove non-metallic materials, and induction heated to generate nickel and cadmium products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron. The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron including a charge container receiving the supply of reducing material in which hot fine direct reduced iron from multiple fluidized-bed reactors are mixed; at least one pair of roller presses to which the fine direct reduced iron is supplied to undergo roll pressing, thereby producing continuous compacted material having lumped portions adjacent to each other; a crusher crushing the compacted material produced by the roller presses; and a melter-gasifier to which is charged crushed compacted material that is crushed by the crusher. Each of the pair of roller presses include pressed portions and protruded lines formed between the pressed portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron. The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing molten iron including a charge container receiving the supply of reducing material in which hot fine direct reduced iron from multiple fluidized-bed reactors are mixed; at least one pair of roller presses to which the fine direct reduced iron is supplied to undergo roll pressing, thereby producing continuous compacted material having lumped portions adjacent to each other; a crusher crushing the compacted material produced by the roller presses; and a melter-gasifier to which is charged crushed compacted material that is crushed by the crusher. Each of the pair of roller presses include pressed portions and protruded lines formed between the pressed portions.

Abstract: One aspect provides for the separating of two or more joined materials by heating with microwaves, thereby producing differential thermal expansion of the materials. The pieces to be treated are exposed to microwave energy, producing differing rates of heating, and therefore expansion, of the differing materials making up the treated pieces of material. The differential thermal expansion of the differing materials will cause sufficient strain to separate the differing materials. Separation can be enhanced in some cases by following microwave heating with rapid cooling of the treated material.

Abstract: A method for producing char and fuel gas includes degasifying a carbonaceous material with oxygen-containing gases in a fluidized bed reactor at a temperature of more than about 1000° C. and at a pressure of from about 1 bar to about 40 bar. A supply of oxygen within the fluidized bed reactor is adjusted so as to recover more than 60% of fixed carbon in the carbonaceous material in a char product, and an oxygen availability in a lower or bottom region of the fluidized bed reactor is less than 80% of an oxygen availability in an upper region of the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A method for processing converter slag produced in copper smelting includes feeding the converter slag into a reducing furnace, reducing zinc and copper contained in the converter slag by heating and removing the reduced zinc through volatilization in a reducing furnace. The slag discharged from the converter is transformed into a raw material for iron making.

Abstract: A plasma arc reactor and process for producing a powder from a solid feed material, for example aluminium, is provided. The reactor comprises: (a) a first electrode (5), (b) a second electrode (10) which is adapted to be spaced apart from the first electrode by a distance sufficient to achieve a plasma arc therebetween, (c) means for introducing a plasma gas into the space between the first and second electrodes, (d) means for generating a plasma arc in the space between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode has a channel (7) running therethrough, an outlet of the channel exiting into the space between the first and second electrodes, and wherein means are provided for feeding solid material (20) through the channel to exit therefrom via the outlet into the space between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: In a process for granulating slag, from a blast furnace or a smelting reduction plant, in which a granule/water mixture formed during the granulation is fed to a granulation tank and then to a dewatering installation, in which the slag granules are dewatered. H2S-containing vapors and gases formed during the granulation are at least partially condensed by injection of water in a condensation space which is flow-connected to the granulation tank. H2S-containing residual gases are discharged from the compensation space below the water injection point, H2S is burnt.

Abstract: A method for recycling a battery pack includes steps of: roasting the battery pack that houses a battery assembly that is in a charged condition, as it is, dismantling the roasted battery pack and separating the battery pack into unit cells and parts other than the unit cells, comminuting the unit cells obtained by separation, washing and screening the comminuted cells, dehydrating a slurry below a sieve after screening and recovering metals used for positive and negative electrodes, and recovering metal containing nickel by magnetically separating metal remaining on the sieve after screening, using a magnet.

Abstract: A valuable-substance recovery method according to the present invention includes: a solvent peeling step (S3) of dissolving a resin binder included in an electrode material by immersing crushed pieces of a lithium secondary battery into a solvent, so as to peel off the electrode material containing valuable substances from a metal foil constituting the electrode; a filtering step (S4) of filtering a suspension of the solvent, so as to separate and recover the electrode material containing the valuable substances and a carbon material; a heat treatment step (S5) of heating the recovered electrode material containing the valuable substances and the carbon material, under an oxidative atmosphere, so as to burn and remove the carbon material; and a reducing reaction step (S6) of immersing the resultant electrode material containing the valuable substances into a molten salt of lithium chloride containing metal lithium, so as to perform a reducing reaction.

Abstract: A metal powder production system includes a vacuum chamber having a vacuum chamber interior, a stock feed mechanism communicating with the vacuum chamber interior, a radiation source provided in the vacuum chamber interior, a cooling chamber having a cooling chamber interior communicating with the vacuum chamber interior and a container communicating with the cooling chamber interior. A metal powder production method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and process for reclaiming nickel and cadmium from a feed source such as Ni—Cd batteries. The feed source is shredded to produce feed particles, screened to size the particles, magnetically separated to remove non-metallic materials, and induction heated to generate nickel and cadmium products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the nanostructured powder by a wire explosion in liquid and a device for manufacturing the same. To be more specific, the object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the nanostructured powder by a wire explosion in liquid and a device for manufacturing the same, in which, a metal wire (18) is vaporized in liquid (14) by generating an electrical explosion using the same principle al in gas, with the characteristic of pulsed power, even though the liquid (14) with a low conductivity is used, and the nanostructured powder of a metal wire (18) is produced in the space made by the volume expansion of vaporized vapour, all of which was performed with an understanding that electrical explosion is not so different in principle weather in gas or in liquid.

Abstract: The production of ultrafine metal carbide powders from solid metal carbide and nitrogen-containing material is disclosed. The starting materials are fed together or separately to a plasma system where the solid metal carbide is melted and/or vaporized in the presence of nitrogen to form ultrafine metal carbide particles of high purity.

Abstract: A method for discharging a reduced product produced on a movable hearth of a movable-hearth furnace uses a discharging device. The discharging device includes a removal unit for removing the reduced product from the movable hearth, a separation unit for separating the reduced product from a solid reductant, a leaving-returning unit for either leaving substances other than the reduced product on a solid reductant layer or returning the substances onto the solid reductant layer, and a discharge unit for discharging the reduced product to the outside of the movable-hearth furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are invented for producing fine particles, which can readily realize the formation of fine particles of sub-?m order to 100 micron order as well as fine particles of several micrometer which cannot be realized by a conventional method and apparatus available for producing fine particles, and a large quantity of fine particles having the desired particle diameter can be obtained with a high yield. A molten material (1), which is a molten raw material to be fragmented into fine particles, is supplied into a liquid coolant (4), boiling due to spontaneous-bubble nucleation is generated, and the molten material (1) is cooled and solidified while forming fine particles thereof by utilizing a pressure wave generated by this boiling.

Abstract: A method and systems are provided for extracting heavy metal from glass waste. Glass is initially crushed to a diameter size between about 10 nanometers and about 2 millimeters. The glass is then added to a tank having a solution of water and acid, where the acid removes metal from the surface of the glass particles. In some embodiments, the solution and glass particles are elevated to a configurable temperature above ambient temperature and circulated for a configurable period of time. The solution is then separated from the glass particles. In some embodiments, the glass particles are then rinsed while in transit to a final destination or in a separate rinsing tank.

Abstract: A method and systems are provided for extracting heavy metal from glass waste. Glass is initially crushed to a diameter size of about 2 millimeters. The glass is then added to a tank having a solution of water and acid, where the acid removes metal from the surface of the glass particles. The solution is then separated from the glass particles. In some embodiments, the glass particles are also rinsed with water and the rinsed water is treated to remove any residual contaminates. In more embodiments, the solution can be reused for a number of iterations that treat glass waste in order to extract heavy metal from the glass waste.

Abstract: A process comprises a separating process to mechanically separate refuse secondary batteries and to separate them into a separated cathode material and a separated anode material, and a process to recover valent metals from the separated anode and the separated cathode material separated in the separating process is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for reclaiming cadmium and tellurium from cadmium telluride solar cell. The system comprises a crushing apparatus for crushing cells into pieces, a first conveyor for transporting solar cells to the crushing apparatus, a barrel for receiving etchant for etching the crushed cell pieces, a second conveyor for transporting crusehed pieces of cells from the crushing apparatus to the barrel, and a screen separator for separating the crushed cell pieces into at least three components.

Abstract: A method of separating and recycling shards and fines that occur in a briquetting operation using an non-reactive carrier gas to separate and entrain the hot shards and fines, and conduct them to a material inlet of the briquetting machine, while separating and recycling the carrier gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of separating and recycling shards and fines that occur in a briquetting operation using an non-reactive carrier gas to separate and entrain the hot shards and fines, and conduct them to a material inlet of the briquetting machine, while separating and recycling the carrier gas. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing reduced iron agglomerates comprises the steps of supplying iron oxide agglomerates including carbonaceous material on a moving hearth, heating and reducing the agglomerates to yield reduced iron agglomerates while the moving hearth moves in the reduction furnace, discharging the reduced iron agglomerates from the reduction furnace, recovering the reduced iron agglomerates, and removing seized hearth fragments separated from the moving hearth in close proximity to a discharge location or a recovery location for the reduced iron while the reduction furnace is being operated. According to the method, the reduction furnace can be operated for a long period of time without stopping the operation thereof and supply of the iron oxide agglomerates.

Abstract: A method for disposing synthetic resinous material comprises: dechlorinating a synthetic resinous material by heating the synthetic resinous material and decomposing the same; and supplying the synthetic resinous material into the furnace as a fuel or a reducing agent. An apparatus comprises: a chlorine removing means for dechlorinating the synthetic resinous material by heating the synthetic resinous material; and a pulverizer for pulverizing the dechlorinated synthetic resinous material, a supply means for supplying the processed synthetic resinous material into a furnace.

Abstract: A method for blowing a synthetic resin material into a furnace which comprises processing film-shaped synthetic resins into a first granular resin material; crushing non-film-shaped synthetic resins into a second granular resin material; pneumatically feeding the first granular resin material and the second granular resin material to a furnace; and blowing the first and second granular resin material into the furnace.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for extracting gold from circuit boards, gold fingers and gold pins is described comprising the steps of applying liquid nitrogen directly to the surface of the circuit boards, gold fingers and gold pins, thus freezing the gold. A vibration is then instituted to loosen the gold from the substrate to which it was attached. The gold flakes or particles are then collected by a high powered vacuum apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting gold from gold ore. The apparatus and process save capital and operating costs in the extracting of gold from gold ore and include comminution and leaching of the ore, and more particularly the apparatus and process reduce the costs for the ore grinding, and make a fine ore grinding superfluous without having to accept a reduction in the gold yield during leaching. The gold ore is subjected to a product bed stressing and interparticle crushing in the nip of a high-pressure roller press before being leached and the product that has been product-bed-comminuted and subjected to interparticle crushing and the product agglomerates thereby formed are piled on a heap that is sprayed with a lixivium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for granulating slag in which molten slag is charged into a drum and is solidified and granulated therein on cooled surfaces. To ensure a rapid cooling at a high thruput rate, the molten slag is applied to the inside surface of a drum, which rotates on a horizontal axis and has a cooled shell, and the solidified film of slag is mechanically detached from the inside surface after about three-quarters of a revolution of the drum and is discharged.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for handling molten slag, in which the slag is delivered from a furnace to a cooling conveyor by a reciprocating spout, driven in a horizontal plane to provide a stream of molten slag in a substantially sinusoidal pattern to the conveyor. The conveyor is sloped to provide gravity flow from an input end to an output end, and vibration is imparted to the conveyor for separating the molten stream of slag into pieces of slag and for propelling slag from the input end toward the output end. Cooling is provided by a water jacket around the sides and bottom of the conveyor, sufficient substantially to solidify the pieces of slag before they reach the output end. Further cooling may be provided by a spray bar, positioned above the conveyor, which provides a stream of cooling water to the surface of the slag. A water bath is disposed to receive pieces of slag dispensed from the output end of the conveyor, further cooling the slag to about 200 degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: An apparatus for air-pulverizing high-temperature molten slag by blowing air at high speed through a nozzle into a flow of molten slag that is falling from an inclined container by the intermediary of a turndish. A heat detector is provided for detecting the quantity of heat in the flow of molten slag after being air-pulverized by the high speed air flow, and a feedback control device which is responsive to a detection signal issued from the detector is provided for calculating a desirable inclination angle of the container or the turndish and transmitting a control signal obtained as a result of the calculation to a controller for controlling the inclination of the container or turndish thereby stabilizing the air-pulverizing of the high-temperature molten slag.

Abstract: In a process for the direct production of sponge iron particles and liquid crude iron from iron ore in lump form, which is reduced in a direct reduction unit and fed in a hot condition to a melting gasifier, the sponge iron particles which are discharged from the direct reduction unit are separated into a fine grain fraction and a coarse grain fraction, and only the fine grain fraction is fed to the melting gasifier. That ensures economy of operation, without an excess of gas.

Abstract: Molten slag is poured onto the upper surface of an elongated conveyor member. The surface of the conveyor member is cooled while maintaining it free from contact with liquids. Preferably, this is accomplished by way of a water cooled pan connected to the lower surface of the member. Reciprocal lengthwise motion is imparted to the conveyor member to transport the slag over the cooled surface until the slag is solidified and broken into pieces.

Abstract: A reclaiming method and apparatus for reclaiming aluminum from the skim recovered from an aluminum furnace by a highly mechanized method and apparatus.

Abstract: The process for beneficiating iron ore, particularly high phosphorous iron ore, by controlled selective solid-state reduction in which the resultant sponge iron is produced in a malleable condition followed by ultrafine preferential grinding to form flake powder of the sponge iron and produce finely divided oxide gangue, including the phosphate bearing materials, and separation of said flake powder and finely divided gangue by conventional concentration techniques to obtain a high iron flake powder concentrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for the pelletization of heat-liquifiable materials, such as metallurgical slags, consists of feed means for the molten material, these feed means depositing the material on a downwardly-extending feed plate over which it flows while it is mixed with water, if water is necessary to promote the expansion of the molten material and for control of the cooling. The material then flows on to a first rotating radially-vaned drum or rotor by which it is projected into the air for simultaneous cooling and pelletization. The feed means comprises flow control means such that any flow greater than a predetermined maximum is fed onto a second feed plate disposed above the first, from which the excess molten material flows on to a second rotating radially-vaned drum or rotor operative in like manner to the first. The flow control means may comprise for example a dam over which the excess material flows.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating sponge iron products from the hot discharge material of a rotary furnace. A discharge chamber is connected to the rotary furnace for receiving the hot discharge material from the rotary furnace. A screen is provided at the lower end of the discharge chamber for separating the sponge iron products from the hot discharge material. The screen is attached to a support which is removably sealed to the lower end of the discharge chamber and is provided with a mechanism for displacing the support and attached screen. The support includes a discharge chute connected beneath the screen for carrying away the material which passes through the screen and is provided with cooling means.

Abstract: Molten slag fresh from a smelting or refining furnace is ladled into a pan on a wheeled carriage and is thereby transported to a first heat recovery station, where water is heated by radiation from the slag while the latter is being agitated and granulated. On granulation the slag is conveyed as by a skip hoist to a second heat recovery station, where the residual heat of the slag is utilized to heat air by convection. The heated air is directed into a utility device such as a boiler, from which the cooled air is fed back to the second heat recovery station for reheating. Several embodiments are disclosed.