Abstract: A horizontal furnace for converting nonferrous metal sulfide concentrates to a molten matte has a plurality of vertically disposed burners along the longitudinal axis of the furnace roof, the burners spaced from each other, means for introducing oxygen-rich gas to said burners, and means for introducing metal sulfide concentrates and flux into the furnace, with the spaced burners introducing the same into the hot atmosphere of the furnace as a plurality of paraboloidal suspensions whereby substantially uniform heat and mass distribution is effected over a major portion of the horizontal furnace.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for collection of gases and particulates which arise during the feeding of an electric furnace, especially in the manufacture of phosphorus. The collection system for the gases and particulates includes novel explosion panels which are employed in an enclosure that contains the gases and particulates, and the use of such panels also in the ductwork and filter units that conveys and treats the gases and particulates from the enclosure. A further treating system also prevents moisture in the gases and particulates from clogging the filters used to separate the particulates from the gases. Also described is a novel furnace feeding system that can be used in cooperation with the gas and particulate collection system.

Abstract: Hot briquetting apparatus for ferrous or non-ferrous particles has a furnace having upper and lower chambers. The particles are supplied to the lower chamber and leave the lower chamber through a discharge tube to enter a briquetting press. A passage is performed between the lower and upper chambers and sensing means sense the constituents of the gases in that passage. Control means control the air-to-fuel ratio of a zone of the lower chamber. The control means are connected to the output of the sensing means so as to maintain the atmosphere within the zone as a reducing atmosphere, the whole of the lower chamber being a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution apparatus for throat closures of shaft furnaces, in particular blast-furnace closures, with a lock chamber arranged within the furnace dome, at the entrance of which is arranged a funnel tube and underneath which, opening out above the charging surface is arranged a distribution pipe which may be swung around the pivot axis by means of a horizontal pair of swivel pins, within a frame, whereby the frame is arranged by means of a hollow shaft or a shaft pin normal to the pivot axis, also extending horizontally and penetrating the furnace dome to which it is sealed and connected to a swing drive, and the pivot drive for the distribution pipe is connected to a drive shaft penetrating the hollow shaft and connected with a pin of the swivel-pin pair.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for reducing metal ore to sponge metal in a vertical shaft, moving bed, gaseous reduction reactor by controlling the amount of gas intermixing between the reduction and cooling zones of the reactor to result in increased productivity and improved carburization of sponge iron. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, process efficiency is maximized while capital cost is minimized through the use of an optimally designed reactor with a pre-determined equivalent height to equivalent diameter ratio.

Abstract: The profile of material deposited on the hearth of a pressurized furnace is controlled by means of a charging installation including a lower charging bell which has, suspended therefrom, a variable geometry distributor which may be controlled to select the point of deposition of material delivered to the furnace. The charging bell cooperates with an intermediate storage hopper, positioned within a hermetically sealable casing, whereby the hopper may be alternately filled with material and emptied by permitting the material to fall onto the distributor via an annular opening defined when the bell is lowered.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing materials into a blast furnace using no bell. The apparatus has a material distributing hopper disposed for a rocking motion around the central axis of said furnace. The rocking motion of the material distributing hopper is caused by an axial movement and rotation of a single drive shaft disposed outside the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing particulate iron oxide and producing molten iron in which coal and oxygen are impinged onto a molten iron bath in a closed vessel to melt the iron and gasify the coal. The hot off gas from the vessel is removed and used as the reductant in a counterflow shaft furnace to reduce iron oxide pellets and/or iron ore in a continuous manner. The hot reduced product from the shaft is discharged directly into the molten iron bath and melted.

Abstract: A burner for the flash oxidation of particles of metal concentrates has three downwardly directed, concentrically mounted tubes each having a venturi nozzle on the discharge end thereof. Finely divided metal concentrates introduced into the annular space between the inner tube and the intermediate tube are accelerated by high pressure oxygen introduced through the inner tube to substantially the velocity of an oxidizing gas introduced into the annular space between the intermediate tube and the outer tube. Means are provided for adjusting the extent that the nozzles on the ends of the inner tube and intermediate tube extend into the nozzles on the ends of the intermediate and outer tubes respectively.

Abstract: Iron, for example is directly recovered from relatively fine-grained (having a grain particle size range of less than 250 microns), iron-bearing ore whereby carbon-containing materials and oxygen-containing materials are fed through a molten metal bath and converted into a CO/H.sub.2 -rich reduction gas which is sequentially passed upwardly at gas speeds of at least 1.5 m/sec. through downwardly moving ore particles within a reduction apparatus comprised of a sequence of interconnected cyclones so that ore particles in each cyclone are in a state of suspension and in intimate contact with the reduction gas and each other whereby extensive reduction of the ore particles occurs at each cyclone so that after a last cyclone the so-reduced ore particles are directly fed into a smelting means, from which liquid iron is recovered.

Abstract: A gate arrangement, especially for counterpressure blast furnaces, including a seal lid having an annular soft seal-insert and a steel seal-ring arranged at the lower end of the gate, which corresponds to the soft seal-insert. The arrangement also includes heating means operatively connectible to the steel seal-ring about its periphery.

Abstract: A suspension of a powdery substance and a reaction gas is formed by allowing the powdery substance to fall as an annular flow into a reaction space, feeding the reaction gas downwardly to encircle the annular flow of powdery substance, the kinetic energy of the annular flow of descending powdery substance being utilized towards its gradual spreading to the sides with the aid of a sliding surface disposed within the reaction space, so that the flow of powdery substance which has been spread to be laterally directed will meet the reaction gas flow substantially at right angles in the reaction space.

Abstract: A shaft reduction furnace is provided with a pressure equalizing chamber for supplying raw materials such as ores in the furnace. The interior of the furnace is separated by a dividing plate into an upper portion and a lower portion. A pipe path through the dividing plate communicates the upper portion with lower portion. The upper portion and the pipe path form an inside ore hopper for supplying ore continuously into the lower portion of the furnace, thus omitting the conventional ore hopper of pressure-proof-structure provided separately outside of the furnace.

Abstract: The pressurization and depressurization of a container, and specifically a feed hopper for materials to be delivered to the interior of a blast furnace, is accomplished with the aid of pressure equalization devices which each include a valve and a wear and sound reducing mechanism immediately downstream of the valve. The wear and sound reduction mechanism subdivides the stream of gas, which may contain entrained particulate matter, into a plurality of jets which are caused to follow a zig-zag trajectory.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a novel furnace top charging apparatus, especially of the bell-less type, having a rotating distribution chute, wherein there is provided a portal truck serving as a stand on a floor under chuting bunkers, which normally supports collecting chutes, and moves them when requested. The collecting chutes have a mouth for mounting a vertical chute at an upper portion between pivots of two swingable sealing valves. These members enable efficient preservation, checking inspection or repair of the collecting chutes, the vertical chute and the rotating chute.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the even distribution of charge material in shaft furnaces, particularly high pressure blast furnaces. The apparatus includes a stationary hopper with a distributor pipe hinged universally below it. The universal swivel hinge is formed with an annular support swiveling around a first horizontal axis, the distributor pipe being suspended in such annular support to swivel around a second axis at right angles to the first axis.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for cooling and cleaning the sealing surfaces of the sealing valves of a material storage hopper which are subjected to the high temperature and pressure within a shaft furnace. The method comprises introducing a cooling medium into the charging installation of the furnace and causing the coolant to continuously impinge upon the sealing valves. The apparatus includes a rotatable sealing flap having a sealing surface of resilient material and a cooling fluid supply conduit for directing a flow of cooling fluid towards the sealing surface of the flap when the flap is in its opened position.