Abstract: A method of ironmaking using full-oxygen hydrogen-rich gas which includes hot transferring and hot charging the high-temperature coke, sinter and pellet into the ironmaking furnace through transferring and charging device, and injecting oxygen and hydrogen-rich combustible gas at a predetermined temperature into the ironmaking furnace through the oxygen tuyere and the gas tuyere disposed at the ironmaking furnace, respectively. It also provides an apparatus for ironmaking using full-oxygen hydrogen-rich gas which includes a raw material system, a furnace roof gas system, a coke oven gas injecting system, a dust injecting system, a slag dry-granulation and residual heat recovering system and an oxygen system. Additionally an apparatus and method for hot transferring and hot charging of ironmaking raw material is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for burning blast furnace off-gas from a bleeder valve. It comprises a bleeder valve (20) having a fixed hollow valve body (22) defining an outlet (26) and a valve seat and a movable obturator (24) that cooperates with the valve seat for closing the bleeder valve and releasing blast furnace off-gas through the outlet. The arrangement includes an apparatus for combustion of blast furnace off-gas released by the bleeder valve (20). This apparatus is characterized by an ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) that is arranged on or adjacent the valve body or the moveable obturator of the bleeder valve (20) itself. The ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) has its spatial ignition range located downstream the outlet in a region where blast furnace off-gas released through the outlet mixes with ambient air when the obturator is in an open position so as to allow open-air combustion of blast furnace off-gas released into ambient air at the location of the bleeder valve.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charge material distribution device includes a main housing, a distribution chute, a suspension rotor and an adjustment rotor, which are rotatable about a vertical axis. The chute is suspended to the suspension rotor to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and is adjustable in orientation for radial distribution of charge material. A differential gear interconnects the suspension rotor and adjustment rotor and is configured to transmit to the adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to the suspension rotor by a main rotation drive unless an adjustment drive imparts differential rotation to the adjustment rotor. The device includes two gear casings arranged on the main housing and a shaft arrangement. The first gear encloses a gear mechanism connecting the main rotation drive to one output shaft. The second gear casing encloses the differential gear connecting the adjustment drive to another output shaft.

Abstract: A blast furnace installation includes a blast furnace and a chute transmission gearbox; the blast furnace having a top cone with a top cone ring arranged thereon for receiving a connection flange of the chute transmission gearbox. The connection flange is directly fixed onto the top cone ring by fixing means for establishing a firm connection between the top cone ring and the connection flange. According to an aspect of the present invention, the connection flange is fixed to the top cone ring in three separated fixation regions (30, 30?, 30?), each fixation region including one or more fixing means. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the blast furnace installation also includes a flexible sealing element arranged around the perimeter of the connection between the top cone ring and the chute transmission gearbox.

Abstract: A sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation includes a shutter-actuating device for moving a shutter between a closed position in sealing contact with a valve seat and an open position remote from the valve seat. The shutter-actuating device is of the dual-motion type and includes a primary tilting arm on a first tilting shaft defining the first axis and is equipped with bearings supporting the primary tilting arm. A secondary tilting arm carries the shutter is connected to a second tilting shaft that defines a second substantially parallel axis and has bearings that support the secondary tilting arm on the primary tilting arm. The shutter-actuating device has a mechanism configured to tilt the secondary tilting arm when the primary tilting arm is tilted. The first tilting shaft is configured as hollow sleeve shaft and the shutter-actuating device includes a reference rod extending through the first tilting shaft.

Abstract: A charging device (1 10; 210; 310; 410; 510; 610, 710) for distributing bulk material in an enclosure, in particular in a shaft furnace comprises a stationary housing (12) that supports a rotatable structure (14) carrying adjustable distribution means (16). Distribution of bulk material in circumferential direction is achieved by rotation of the distribution means (16) together with the rotatable structure (14). Distribution of bulk material in radial direction is achieved by adjustment of the distribution means (16). For rotating the distribution means, usually about the central axis (A) of the charging device, the device (1 10; 210; 310; 410; 510; 610, 710) includes a first rolling bearing (122) with a first stationary race (124; 324) that bears a first rotary race (128). The first rotary race is coupled to a first gear ring (130; 430; 530; 730) that cooperates with a first drive (50) for rotating the rotatable structure and thereby the distribution means.

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace commonly comprises a rotary distribution configured to distribute charge material on a charging surface in the shaft furnace. A rotatable structure supports the rotary distribution means and a stationary support rotatably supports the rotatable structure. According to the invention, the charging device is equipped with an inductive coupling device including a stationary inductor fixed to the stationary support and a rotary inductor fixed to the rotatable structure. The stationary inductor and the rotary inductor are separated by a radial gap and configured as rotary transformer for achieving contact-less electric energy transfer from the stationary support to the rotatable structure by means of magnetic coupling through the radial gap for powering an electric load arranged on the rotatable structure and connected to said rotary inductor.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for closing or opening an opening, especially a bottom opening of a material hopper arranged above the mouth of a blast furnace having a drivable flap plate, which is movable into an open position leaving the opening clear and into a closed position blocking off the opening and vice-versa. The flap plate carries out, in the region of the opening, a linear movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening and, distal to the opening, a pivoting movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for observing the interior of a blast furnace system includes a visible light guiding unit which defines a light path along a viewing axis that is radial to an upright axis of a furnace wall body of a blast furnace and which is adapted to be secured to a furnace blowpipe to permit the light path to be in visual communication with a tuyere, a beam splitter which is disposed in an accommodation space in the tubular mount to split a beam of light propagating along the light path into a horizontal component so that the operator can observe furnace condition through a peeping hole, and a vertical component, and a video camera system which includes an elongate casing connected to the tubular mount, and a video camera disposed in a cooling chamber of the casing to capture a light image from the vertical component of the light beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to the iron and steel industry, in particular to batch charging into shaft, mainly blast furnaces. The inventive rotary batch distributor for shaft furnaces comprises an axle platform (1) and blades (2) which are equally spaced around the platform and are fixed thereto by means of brackets (3). The surface of each blade is embodied in the form of an involute of a truncated cone and consists of trapezoidal sections (4). The tilting angles of the trapezoidal sections with respect to the rotary batch distributor axis and to a horizontal plane are defined by the involutes (5) of truncated cone which are focused at the same point of the rotary batch distributor axis. The surface area of each blade is defined by the sector angle value ranging from 90 to 120° and by the radius of the describe circle of the rotary batch distributor. The end part (6) of the blade whose surface area is equal to 0.05-0.

Abstract: A shaft furnace bleeder valve for controlling a gas outflow from the interior of a pressurized furnace to the ambient atmosphere through an exhaust conduit is proposed. The bleeder valve comprises a valve seat associated with the exhaust conduit, a movable closure member having a central closure surface and a peripheral sealing surface cooperating with the valve seat, the closure surface comprising a convex surface at least in proximity to the sealing surface. The valve further has an actuating mechanism, which is connected to the closure member for moving the closure member between a closed position on the valve seat and an open position distant from the valve seat.

Abstract: A method and a device for charging feedstock, in particular coke or ore, and optionally separated fines of feedstock, for processing in a metallurgical vessel, to produce metal or primary metal products. The device includes a charging mechanism, which has a conveying device and at least one feeding device for supplying to the charging mechanism. The conveying device has an outlet opening which can be guided along an inwardly directed spiral during the charging into the vessel, to set a predefined coverage in the vessel. Charged materials can thereby be positioned precisely in the vessel, and it is possible for fines to be uniformly distributed in the circumferential region.

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a distribution chute for bulk material and a drive mechanism for the distribution chute. The distribution chute has a trough-shaped main part with an open impact section and an outlet section. The main part provides a sliding channel between the impact section and the outlet section. The drive mechanism for the distribution chute is capable of rotating the distribution chute about an essentially vertical axis and pivoting the distribution chute about an essentially horizontal axis so as to allow distribution of bulk material on a charging surface of the shaft furnace. According to the present invention, the distribution chute comprises a circumferentially closed funnel portion which tapers in the direction of flow and is arranged downstream of the impact section and with its outlet at the downstream end of said trough-shaped main part.

Abstract: An installation is provided for supplying materials into a metallurgical unit by the alloying steel for synchronizing the process of melting the supplied materials and reducing the alloying elements. The installation includes a distributor gear made as a funnel and a swivel launder with a drive, and intermediate hoppers interconnected with a pipe-chute. The installation is provided with a housing having a lid and means for fastening to structures of a plant. The funnel is mounted in the lid, the swivel launder is mounted under the lid and the intermediate hoppers are positioned radially in the housing to form a cavity by hopper surfaces facing a longitudinal axis of the installation, said cavity being separated from the interior of the hoppers, which are coupled to the pipe chute by discharge openings formed therein and shutters mounted to move relative to a longitudinal axis of a hopper.

Abstract: A pretreatment process for solid lump feed material for a gas and pellet/lump-based direct reduction process, comprising preheating feed material to a temperature of from about 200 C to about 500 C, without reduction, in a non-reducing atmosphere prior to charging the feed material to gas-based direct reduction furnace, thereby minimizing the formation of fines within the furnace.

Abstract: A pretreatment process for solid lump feed material for a gas and pellet/lump-based direct reduction process, comprising preheating feed material to a temperature of from about 200 C to about 500 C, without reduction, in a non-reducing atmosphere prior to charging the feed material to gas-based direct reduction furnace, thereby minimizing the formation of fines within the furnace.

Abstract: In order to design a blast furnace in a space and cost-saving manner, the invention provides for an especially compact blast furnace (10) having no hearth, wherein the burden is transported to the charging platform by vertical conveyers (20) and a compactly designed burdening (30) and pouring bay (50) are placed in the immediate proximity of said installation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a throat closing device for shaft furnaces, especially blast furnaces having a material feeding hopper (1), to which a temporarily rotating rotary hopper (2) which is sealed with regard to the stationary parts (3) is connected. The inventive throat closing device is produced such that it has a less complex construction and is easier to install, and can be easily serviced due to the provision of a sealing unit (5) comprised of an adjusting flange (7) which is arranged above the rotary hopper (2), is complementary to the hopper flange (6) thereof, can be lifted and lowered, and which comprises seals (8, 9) located on the flange underside. Said sealing unit is configured in a spanning wall (12) which comprises a compensating element (13) and which connects the adjusting flange (7) to the stationary part (3) of the rotary hopper (2).

Abstract: A feeding device for closed shaft furnaces connected to a gas-extracting device, in particular for low shaft furnaces for melting steel scrap, having a transporting device, which leads to the head of the upper furnace vessel and is integrated at least partially in the furnace atmosphere, and a distributing device for distributing the charge. In this case, a carousel which can be charged by a conveying device is provided in the furnace head. The carousel, in the furnace head, is guided rotatably on a path, fastened on the casing of the upper furnace vessel, above the gas-extracting device and has shutter elements connected to actuators.

Abstract: In order to configure a bell and hopper for shaft furnaces, in particular, blast furnaces, comprising a charging bin with a feed tube, a rotating chute carrier with rotary drive, a swiveling chute in the interior of the furnace with drive means arranged external to a housing, in a less failure-prone and a wear resistant way, the drive means for the swivel movement of the chute are to comprise: at least one motor (7) which drives by a respective pinion (8) a crown gear (9), wherein the crown gear (9) engages the spindle gear wheels (11) of at least two spindles (13) distributed about the periphery of the bell and hopper external to the rotating chute carrier (3) for generating a lifting and lowering movement of the spindles, as well as means (14, 15, 17, 21) for transmitting this vertical movement of the spindles onto the tilting shafts (22), which penetrate the inner wall (24) of the chute carrier (3) and from which the chute can be suspended, for generating a swivel and tilting movement of the chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft furnace, in particular a direct-reduction shaft furnace, with a charge composed of particulate material, in particular a particulate material containing iron oxide and/or sponge iron, the said material being capable of being fed into the shaft furnace from above, and with, arranged in one plane, a multiplicity of gas-inlet orifices for a reduction gas in the region of the lower third of the shaft furnace, the shaft contour having a diametral widening and a cavity being formed between the gas-inlet orifices and the charge. The shaft furnace according to the invention makes it possible to supply gas to the shaft furnace so as to be distributed uniformly over its circumference.

Abstract: Gravitational type furnace for the direct reduction of mineral iron comprising a median reaction zone (14) in which the reactions to reduce the mineral iron occur, means (12, 13) to feed the mineral iron to said reaction zone (14), distribution means (16, 17, 18) to introduce reducing gas into said reaction zone (14), discharge means (15) to discharge the reduced metal iron, and an intake device (20) for the reducing gas, said intake device (20) being positioned in correspondence with a chamber (21) situated above said reaction zone (14), a toroidal grid (22) being arranged in said chamber (21).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace top distribution device used for blast furnace and in particularly, to a furnace top chute feeder driven by steel cables. The chute feeder comprises a system for oscillating said chute which consists of steel cable and assembly pulley, and directional limit means for vertically translation, which consists of vertical guide posts, directional limit roller for vertical translation, adjustable supports, shafts of said supports and adjustable screws for adjusting hold-down degree of the rollers, etc., and an AC permanent-magnet servomotor controlled by an AC servodriver is used as an actuating motor for chute oscillating. The chute feeder is simple in structure and has homogeneous driving force. It operates smoothly and can be worked and maintained easily. It has a strong reliability and a high positioning accuracy. So the distributor can better meet the needs of distribution process.

Abstract: A device for direct observation of the charging process inside a shaft furnace during its operation, in particular a blast furnace, with a measuring lance, which is arranged above the charge column in the shaft furnace in such a way that it is exposed to the charge material falling from a charging device during the charging process, and sensor means which detect the position of the falling charge material in relation to the measuring lance.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a shaft-type cupola furnace and located between an upper stack and a lower furnace having a preselected inside diameter. An inverted conical trough is provided for receiving charge materials delivered to the furnace. The conical trough having an axis of rotation with an apex of the trough extending downwardly immediately above the furnace. The trough having an opening at its apex through which the charge materials may flow. The opening sized to have a diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the furnace. The trough positioned above the furnace with the opening positioned adjacent to and opening into the furnace. The apparatus further including means for rotating the conical trough about its axis of rotation. A circular charge door wall is provided with a bottom edge sized to abut against the inner surface of the conical trough above the opening.

Abstract: Described herein is an Improved Converter System designed to help reduce air, land and water pollution by completely converting materials that presently cause pollution into clean burning fuels and a host of other products beneficial to mankind. The primary conversion unit in the system is a zone controlled multipurpose slagging-ash oxygen jet blast converter. All incoming materials are passed through this process computer aided talented offspring of its two ancient prototypes the blast furnace and slagging-ash gas producers and the zone controlled blast furnaces described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,938, 4,495,054, 3,928,023 and 3,814,404. It employs two sets of tuyeres located in the bosh to input endothermic reacting gases, vapors and dusts through tuyere sets T1 and T2. A 100% oxygen jet blast is also input through tuyere set T2.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a shaft furnace, in which each of plane faces of a second segment of a guiding member of a unit for distributing a burden over a cross section of the furnace is formed so that its first line of intersection with a first vertical plane passing through its geometric center and tangentially to a circle lying in a horizontal plane and having the center on an axis of the furnace and the radius equal to the distance from the furnace axis to the geometric center, is inclined at angle ".alpha." to the horizontal plane, the intersection lines of all plane faces forming a polygonal line, each subsequent length of the polygonal line, in a burden flow direction, making a greater angle of inclination with the horizontal plane than the preceding one, and a second line of intersection of each plane face with a second vertical plane passing through its geometric center and the furnace axis is inclined at angle ".beta." to the horizontal plane, with angle ".beta." increasing with the burden flow.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charging device with rotating chute comprises a supporting structure (22) overhanging the shaft furnace (10), a mounting flange (18) fixed rigidly to the shaft furnace (10), a batch hopper (26, 28) supported by the supporting structure (22), a drive housing (30) for the chute (32) which is connected in a sealed manner at one end to the batch hopper (26, 28) and at the other end to the mounting flange (18), and at least one large diameter roller ring (40) mounted in the housing (30) in order to support the chute (32) with the ring (40). In order to increase the working life of the roller ring (40), at least one deformable linking element (70) is incorporated in the chain of rigid elements connecting the mounting flange (18) to the roller ring (40), in such a way that a rigid transmission of deformations of the mounting flange (18) to the roller ring (40) is largely prevented.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to provide a system for solid material arging into vertical reactors by electronic control of the exhaust gases, a unique process applied for charging into vertical reactors, cupolas, ferrous and non-ferrous blast furnaces, and shaft furnaces in the absence of the use of conventional flap valves, pressure chambers, doors or bells to prevent the exhaust gases from escaping uncontrolled to the atmosphere. In this invention, the solid charging materials are loaded at all times into the reactor through the charge duct without loss of exhaust to the atmosphere or air infiltration into the exhaust gases. A controlled post combustion is conducted when the exhaust gases contain substantial amount of combustible gases. An adjustable-high-temperature-air blast is used for reduced fuel costs. The heat of exhaust gases is transferred to the air and the waste gases are exhausted at low temperature.

Abstract: A charging device is provided for feeding an enclosure with a predetermined flow rate of a solid material. The device comprises a materials hopper, a pipe for feeding the enclosure, and a member for retaining and for regulating the flow rate of material. The member for retaining and for regulating the flow rate of material comprises a bell for closing off a discharge opening, and a central metering body which is oblong and distinctly more slender than the bell. The bell and the central metering body can be moved relative to one another so that the distance which separates the two of them can be freely adjusted.

Abstract: An installation is proposed for charging a shaft furnace comprising a rotating and pivoting distribution chute. The chute is supported in a removable manner by two lateral side plates of a "U"-shaped stirrup piece. When a first ring securely fastened to a dome performs a relative movement with respect to a second ring, the dome, via an arm causes the stirrup piece to pivot about its horizontal axis which transmits this pivoting to the chute. The end of the arm pivots, to this end, in a runner block sliding in a groove of the dome.

Abstract: In a plant including a shaft, which, in its upper end region, includes a gas exhaust device and a charging arrangement for continuously charging bulk material, a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the gas emerging from the bulk material is provided. In order to ensure the uniform treatment of the bulk material, i.e., a uniform gas passage through the same over the entire cross section of the shaft at little structural expenditures, several temperature measuring devices are provided in the upper end region of the shaft, distributed in a cross sectional plane, and the charging arrangement includes several tubular mouth pieces for forming at least one conical pile within the shaft, which are adjustable relative to the shaft cross section in the radial direction.

Abstract: In a control method of material dumping at top of a blast furnace, in which material stored in a furnace top bunker is dumped through a flow rate control gate into a blast furnace in a specified time, value of initial material weight before the transfer start, divided by the specified time is set to first target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the actual dumping speed after the dumping start is coincident with the first target dumping speed, and further, if necessary, remaining material weight in the furnace top bunker on the way of dumping is actually measured and value of the remaining material weight divided by the remaining time is set to second target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled, based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the second dumping speed after the measurement of the remaining material weight is coincident with the sec

Abstract: A plant for the production of molten metals includes a melting vessel in whose wall burners and optionally oxygen-containing-gas feeding ducts are installed and on whose upper end a charging device as well as a gas evacuation duct receiving the offgases forming enter.In order to enable the continuous charging of the melting vessel by avoiding any unintentional escape of gas from the melting vessel, both the gas evacuation duct and the charging means run into the upper end of the furnace shaft laterally and approximately diametrically opposite each other. The charging means projects into a charging opening brushed over by a gas curtain and an intake chute for charging material is provided below the charging opening in a manner directed towards the center of the furnace shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for charging a shaft furnace. The apparatus includes a rotary and pivoting distributor chute suspended on the head of the furnace, a device for driving this chute, which consists of a first and second running ring designed respectively for rotating the chute about the vertical axis of the furnace and for changing its inclination relative to this axis as a result of a pivoting about its horizontal suspension axis, and a device for actuating the two running rings independently of one another, a central charging lock equipped with upper and lower sealing flaps and with a metering and closing valve for adjusting the flow of material from the lock on to the distributor chute, and a device for filling the lock.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing an orifice is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shutter and an annular seat. The shutter includes a shutter body and a soft peripheral gasket. The shutter has a closed position in which the gasket is laid against the annular seat, in order to ensure sealing between a medium located on the same side of the seat at a given pressure and a medium located on the opposite side at a higher pressure. The seat is associated with the pressure compensator acting on the shutter in its opening direction under the action of a hydraulic fluid, the thrust of which is adjusted so as to correspond approximately to the force acting on the shutter in its closed position and resulting from the pressure differences prevailing either side of the shutter.

Abstract: A shutter for sealing a flow-off orifice of charging lock for charging a shaft furnace is disclosed. The shutter includes a soft peripheral gasket and is movable between a closed position, in which the gasket is laid against an annular seal surrounding a passage orifice, and an open position in which the gasket is set apart from the passage orifice. In order to reduce the thermal stresses on the gasket, the seat has an internal channel connected to a circuit of a temperature regulating fluid.

Abstract: A charging arrangement for shaft furnaces, in particular blast furnaces, comprising a container which is arranged above the shaft furnace and which is subdivided by a separating wall into a lower distributor chamber and an upper lock chamber to which the charging material can be fed from above through a filling hopper. Outside its middle and distributed around its periphery the separating wall includes at least two individually closable bottom openings through which the charging material can be passed from the lock chamber into the distributor chamber. The charging material is fed to the shaft furnace through distributor pipes which connect the distributor chamber to the shaft furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handling device for a distribution chute of a shaft furnace, the said distribution chute being suspended pivotably on a rotary cage mounted by means of bearings in a housing installed in the head of the furnace and containing drive means for rotating the said cage about the vertical axis of the furnace and drive means for pivoting the chute about its horizontal suspension axis. The invention also relates to a mechanism for driving the chute which is suitable for this device.

Abstract: To provide for a horizontal offset (x) of the apex of a folding triangle former (2,42), the former triangle, together with a substrate removal or run-out roller (11,51) is movable in a plane positioned at the angle of inclination (.alpha.) of the folding former, for example by interengagement of projection-and-recess means formed on a frame (5,45) holding the former triangle in sidewalls (11,12;52,53) of the apparatus, the recess extending, for example in the form of an elongated slot, at the angle of inclination of the folding former.

Abstract: The position of the discharge end of a tubular member, supported from its first end so as to be rotatable about a first axis and pivotal about a second axis which intersects and is transverse to the first axis, is controlled from a remote location. The controllable tubular member may be the distribution spout of a shaft furnace charging installation which is mounted between the branches of a suspension fork which is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. A motion transmission mechanism extends through the suspension fork and, in cooperation with the movements of the fork itself, transmits the movements imparted to a control device, which is caused to undergo precisely the same movements as it is desired to have the spout perform, to the spout.

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: A pilot flame to be positioned close to the charge opening of a cupola which uses carbon monoxide as a fuel in the presence of a fresh supply of combustion air, such carbon monoxide being drawn off from a position on the cupola where the temperature is above the self-ignition temperature of the carbon monoxide. Air preheated to a temperature above the self-ignition temperature of carbon monoxide may also be supplied.