Abstract: Provided is a method for melting copper scrap and/or refining blister copper, comprising the steps of: (a) charging of copper scrap into an empty anode furnace and melting the copper scrap; (b) charging molten blister copper into the anode furnace; (c) optionally charging more copper scrap into the anode furnace and melting the copper scrap; (d) optionally repeating steps (b) and/or (c) one or more times until the anode furnace is full and a desired amount of copper scrap has been charged and melted until a final copper batch is obtained; and (e) refining the final copper batch to obtain anode copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of melting ferrous metal using a gaseous fuel, a liquid fuel or a pulverized solid fuel in a cokeless horizontal reverberatory furnace (FIG. 1) consisting of a hearth (1), an sloped melting chamber (2) a vertical refractory grid (4), a burner (3), a recuperator or regenerator (5) to transfer heat from waste gas and products of combustion to fresh oxygen bearing gases, whereas a burner system is installed on the hearth for combustion of the fuel and oxygen bearing gas, the hearth under the burner acts as a superheater to achieve the temperature necessary for alloying and to receive the molten metal cascading from the sloped melting chamber, the sloped melting chamber being fed from one end by the rising gas products of combustion and in which the waste gases are subject to post-combustion of carbon monoxide and volatiles before passing through a recuperator or a regenerator to pre-heat the oxygen bearing gases necessary for combustion.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a combustion furnace with coaxial staged hearth and heating method thereof, in which the combustion furnace comprises a metal furnace body (40) whose internal part is provided with a furnace chamber. The furnace chamber is divided into two sections at the middle by fire resistant material to form a left and a right independent combustion chambers (18, 19). Two independent combustion chambers (18, 19) are respectively connected with the ends of flue gas chambers (2, 60), while the other ends of the flue gas chambers (2, 60) are respectively connected with a burner (3). The peripherals of two independent combustion chambers (18, 19) are respectively provided with a flue gas heat radiation pipe (14). A middle flue gas chamber (100) is set in the middle position of the furnace chamber. Two ends of the flue gas heat radiation pipe (14) are respectively connected with the flue gas chamber (2, 60) and the middle flue gas chamber (100).

Abstract: A system for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.

Abstract: The melter furnace includes a heating chamber (16), a pump chamber (18), a degassing chamber (20), and a filter chamber (22). The pump chamber (18) is located adjacent the heating chamber (16) and houses a molten metal pump (30). The degassing chamber (20) is located adjacent and in fluid communication with the pump chamber (18), and houses a degassing mechanism (36). The filter chamber (22) is located adjacent and in fluid communication with the degassing chamber (20). The filter chamber (22) includes a molten metal filter (38). The melter furnace (12) is used to supply molten metal to an externally located holder furnace (14), which then recirculates molten metal back to the melter furnace (12).

Abstract: A gas fired melting apparatus for particulate material. The melting apparatus has four successively connected vertically disposed sidewall members, a floor member and a roof member. These members define a cubic melting chamber for containing a freestanding generally conical pile of particulate material to be melted. The sizes, shapes and positions of the chamber radiating surfaces as well as their relative distances from the pile surfaces promote heat transfer to the pile. A high temperature gas fired burner is mounted in each sidewall adjacent to the corner formed by the tail end of one sidewall and the head end of a successive sidewall member. The axis of each burner is parallel with its successive wall member so the combined effect of the burners is to produce a toroidal flow of combustion products in the melting chamber around its central vertical axis.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the rapid efficient melting of solid ferrous metal scrap without direct exposure to water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen or oxygen-containing gases, using natural gas and/or other caloric gaseous fuels. The apparatus includes a furnace having a refractory base, means for introducing ferrous metal such as solid steel scrap to the wall area, means for providing a slag layer over the solid steel scrap, and gas burner means for emitting one or more forced gas flames for superheating the slag layer to a liquid which covers the scrap and for agitating and circulating the molten slag to form a highly-efficient heat-transfer medium for melting and refining the steel scrap while it is insulated against contact with gases, particularly water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen or oxygen-containing gases. The process may operate continuously and can recover heat for scrap preheating, turbine power and other efficient uses.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments of the invention described in the specification, a hearth for melting and refining metal has a hearth bed with cooling pipes so that a skull of molten metal is formed and energy input devices are directionally controlled to permit the skull to form a barrier between a melting region where solid material is introduced into the hearth and a refining region where molten material is refined before being poured into a mold. In one embodiment, the barrier formed by the skull provides a dam with a narrow channel between the melting region and the refining region, and in another form, the barrier provided by the skull consists of spaced peninsulas extending from opposite sides of the hearth to provide a serpentine path between the melting region and the refining region.

Abstract: Melting and holding furnace in which melting (1) and holding (2) chambers are separated from one another, and are connected via openings (6). The holding chamber is designed to be deeper in order to receive the melt which flows out of the melting chamber (1). The chimney (18) through which the burnt gases produced during heating of the melting chamber (1) pass is arranged in the cover (14) of the holding chamber (2), namely at the end of the holding chamber (2) opposite to the openings (6).

Abstract: A tank furnace for the metallurgical treatment of non-ferrous metals, consisting of a refractory hearth in the form of an inverted arch disposed on perimetral plate assemblies which are able to move in order to compensate for hearth expansion, a containing belt formed of metal box elements, and walls and a crown of refractory material, said elements being separately supported by an external frame and being able to slide relative to each other due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: A shaft melting furnace for melting metals is proposed with an interior receiving the molten bath, a charging shaft for supplying the melting stock and a burner supplying heat to the latter. The charging shaft is funnel-shaped and passes into a melting zone of constant cross-section leading to a melting bridge.

Abstract: A highly compact and efficient tilting crucible furnace and smelting method is disclosed for use in the direct smelting of a precious metal containing material. A furnace body having a refractory lined cavity which has a top opening is pivotally mounted on a support frame to allow tipping thereof. A cover having a first opening to receive a gas burner and a second multi-purpose opening therein is rigidly attached to the body. A gas burner attached to the cover provides a downwardly directed oxidizing flame into the cavity to oxidize iron which is added to the cavity and other impurities in the precious metal containing material. A flux is provided to provide a thoroughly liquid mixture and after heating, the molten mass is poured through the multi-purpose cover opening into a mold. As the mold cools, a dore button of precious metal settles to the bottom of the mold and slag containing impurities forms on the top.

Abstract: Copper is melted in a reverberatory furnace having a longitudinally extending hearth, a roof, side and end walls and having a burner system at one end wall thereof for providing at least one flame extending longitudinally through said furnace for heating the hearth thereof, the method also including using at least one oxygen lance extending downwardly from the roof of the furnace with the flame thereof in head-on contact with a unit portion of copper charged to the furnace, the total charge in the furnace comprising a plurality of unit portions disposed along said hearth.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a molten metal to a high quality by means of applying gas treating and filtration consecutively in a simple compact treating vessel. The vessel is divided into two parts, i.e., fluxing and filtration compartments, by a vertical partition wall having a molten metal passage therein integrally formed with the vessel, and a vacant space is left above the top of the partition wall and the ceiling of the vessel of sealed box type for allowing communication of the upper space above the bath level in both compartments. In two chambers formed in the fluxing compartment divided by a pair of dividers a respective gas treating device including a graphite pipe supplying treating gas and a rotor body to stir the molten metal is inserted from above.

Abstract: Oxygen is blown into an open hearth furnace beneath the surface of the molten metal through a jacketed tuyere, each tuyere angled toward the center of the furnace. A high volume of jacketing coolant is injected through two separate annular passageways around the oxygen to form a large skull around the tuyere. Apparatus is also disclosed for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A reverberatory furnace includes a reverberatory furnace body for melting metal and holding molten metal, having an opening well, an electromagnetic trough for transporting hot molten metal from the reverberatory furnace body upwardly and slantly, having an inductor for generating a travelling magnetic field, and a guide trough for guiding the hot molten metal from the electromagnetic trough to the opening well. The hot molten metal is circulated through the reverberatory furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to reverberatory furnaces used to operate upon baths of light metals, non-ferrous metals and alloys thereof. Reduction of wear on furnace walls, of energy used during operation and of dross formation on the metal bath, is achieved by a furnace (11) with a container (12) and roof (13) which form a shallow heating chamber (37) above the bath surface. A burner (14) directs a tight flame (39) to impinge against the bath surface.

Abstract: Oxygen is blown into an open hearth furnace beneath the surface of the molten metal through a jacketed tuyere, each tuyere angled toward the center of the furnace. A high volume of jacketing coolant is injected through two separate annular passageways around the oxygen to form a large skull around the tuyere. Apparatus is also disclosed for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A furnace for the melting and refining of raw copper and/or blister copper comprises a shaft furnace having a lock-chamber feeder for the material at the top of the shaft furnace and an opening into a hearth furnace in which the copper is refined. The shaft furnace and the hearth furnace are constructed unitarily with one another with the shaft furnace surmounting the hearth furnace in such manner that, when the apparatus has been charged, a pile of copper is formed which is supported on the bottom of the hearth furnace and slopes toward a portion of the length of the hearth furnace.

Abstract: Gas is injected into molten metal, such as aluminum, to purify the molten metal either of dissolved gases (degassing), or of dissolved solids such as magnesium ( "demagging"). The apparatus for accomplishing this injection contains two metallic bath chambers, the molten metal being transferred from one chamber to the other through a conduit. A gas injection conduit is connected to the metal transfer conduit at a location submerged within the first metallic bath chamber from which metal is transferred to the second chamber, and the gas to be injected is introduced through this gas injection conduit into a location submerged within the first metallic bath chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating elements broken up in small pieces wherein the pieces are loaded into baskets with solid vertical walls and perforated or porous bases, and are pushed in a continuous line into a tunnel to there introduce a hot gas which passes vertically through each basket and its contents. A principal application is the preheating of products feeding a smelting or resmelting furnace, and in this case the hot gases used are fumes from the furnace.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of iron from iron ores, in which the ore is being heated and reduced in a rotary kiln by a treatment with solid carbon and with flame gas flowing in a countercurrent, the reduced iron is being collected and overheated in a first hearth furnace and is being fed in batches into a second hearth furnace, and is being converted there to pig iron, cast iron or steel, characterized in that the hot exhaust gases formed in the second hearth furnace are passed into the first hearth furnace and then through the rotary kiln together with the hot exhaust gases produced in the first hearth furnace.

Abstract: The upper structure of an aluminum melting furnace is constructed with supporting structure for a fossil fuel burner and supporting structure for electrically operated heating elements. The furnace may thus be operated with alternate heating systems, one system using fossil fuel and the other electricity.