Process Control Responsive To Sensed Condition Patents (Class 75/375)
  • Patent number: 11966669
    Abstract: A molten metal component estimation device including: an input device configured to receive measurement information about a refining facility including measurement results regarding an optical characteristic; a model database that stores model expressions and model parameters, regarding a blowing process reaction, including a model expression and model parameters representing a relation between the oxygen efficiency in decarburization and a carbon concentration in a molten metal in the refining facility; and a processor configured to: estimate component concentrations of the molten metal including the carbon concentration in the molten metal by using the measurement information, the model expressions and the model parameters; estimate the carbon concentration in the molten metal based on the measurement results; and determine the model expression and the model parameters to be used when estimating the component concentrations of the molten metal, based on the estimation result of the carbon concentration in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto Kase, Shinji Tomiyama, Yukio Takahashi, Shota Amano, Toshifumi Kodama
  • Patent number: 11900255
    Abstract: The invention is in the field of iron and steel metallurgy, specifically a method and system for determining the amount of alloy added during the converter tapping process. Given that the LSTM neural network has a strong ability to capture nonlinear relationships, the invention builds an alloy element yield prediction model based on the LSTM neural network. Because different alloy elements have different factors that affect their yield, that is, different model input variables, different LSTM models are established for training. Furthermore, the invention uses integer linear programming to combine the yield prediction results to determine the alloy addition amount. This method not only finds the optimal alloy proportioning scheme quickly, but it also improves the component hit rate and the stability of steel products in the converter steelmaking process, obtains the lowest total cost, effectively reduces alloying costs, and has a good application prospect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING
    Inventors: Yanping Bao, Ruixuan Zheng
  • Patent number: 11794228
    Abstract: A corrosion resistant alloy, a method for making the corrosion resistant alloy, and a method for using the corrosion resistant alloy are provided. The corrosion resistant alloy includes 13-15 wt. % chromium, 5-7 wt. % nickel, and 2.5-4.5 wt. % molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Oladele Owoeye, Fauzia Rahman Eko Waluyo
  • Patent number: 11755976
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for predicting oxygen load in iron and steel enterprises based on production plan, which relates to influencing factor extraction, neural network modeling and similar sequence matching technologies. The method uses the actual industrial operation data to first extract the relevant data such as the production plan and production performance of converter steel-making, analyze the influencing factors, and extract the main influencing variables of oxygen consumption. Then, the neural network prediction model of oxygen consumption of a single converter is established, the mean square error is taken as the evaluation index, and the predicting result of time granularity of a converter in the blowing stage is given. Finally, in combination with the information of smelting time and smelting duration of each device in the converter production plan, the prediction value of oxygen load in a planned time period is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jun Zhao, Feng Jin, Guanghui Yang, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11635804
    Abstract: A detection system has an interface including a substrate supporting a conductive coating. Electrodes are provided to the substrate. A multiplexer provides current to the electrodes. A demultiplexer receives voltages from electrodes and provides corresponding signals to a controller. The controller receives these signals and determines therefrom an operation performed in connection with the interface by applying an algorithmic approach. Static interaction is recognizable, and machine learning can be used for gesture recognition and/or identification of other interaction types. The technology can be used in a broad array of applications, e.g., where it is desirable to sense interactions with a defined region such as, for example, in the case of touches, gestures, hovers, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC
    Inventors: Okan Agbuga, Xuequn Hu, Ali Mohammadkhah, Paul Topping
  • Patent number: 11545239
    Abstract: A method for predicting a yield of calcium in a calcium treatment process based on deep neural network as provided relates to a calcium treatment process of molten steel refining in the field of iron and steel metallurgy, and includes steps of: obtaining production and operation data information of each of charges and thereby constructing a dataset; training and testing a deep neural network based on constructed dataset to establish a prediction model; and based on the prediction model, predicting and calculating current yield of calcium by taking actual production and operation data information of each charge as input. The method can predict the yield of calcium in the calcium treatment process, is favorable for accurately controlling a calcium content of steel, can stably control the calcium treatment process, improve the calcium treatment effect, improve the product quality, and ensure the production stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: NORTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, YANSHAN UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING
    Inventors: Lifeng Zhang, Weijian Wang, Qiang Ren, Ying Ren, Yan Luo
  • Patent number: 11493273
    Abstract: A method for measuring the softening and melting performances of iron ore in blast furnace is disclosed, which is implemented by a device including a high temperature furnace, gas supply system, a loading system and a weighing system. The method includes: step 1: the dried coke and iron ore specimen are placed in the graphite crucible in a specified way; step 2: the graphite crucible is placed in the high temperature furnace, and N2 is continuously fed into the high temperature furnace to reach an airtightness requirement; step 3: a vacuum pump is used to extract mixed gas in a hearth of the high temperature furnace and heating process is started; step 4: both the composition of mixed gas and pressure imposed on the iron ore are controlled according to the designed temperature variation; step 5: data are acquired to calculate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Shengfu Zhang, Chenguang Bai, Rongjin Zhu, Cheng Yin, Qingyu Deng, Liangying Wen, Jian Xu, Jie Dang, Zhixiong You, Wenzhou Yu, Liwen Hu
  • Patent number: 11133845
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for operating an inductive coupling reader. The techniques include operations comprising: detecting a change in a resonance frequency of the inductive coupling reader; comparing the change in the resonance frequency to a threshold; determining that the change in the resonance frequency falls outside the threshold; and activating a compensation circuit to offset the change in the resonance frequency of the inductive coupling reader in response to determining that the change in the resonance frequency falls outside the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventor: Hans-Juergen Pirch
  • Patent number: 9763397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and controlling irrigation faults in leaching piles, comprising: a thermographic vision system and a visible spectrum vision system which capture images on areas of the leaching piles; an orientation system which selectively directs the capture lens of the thermographic vision and visible spectrum systems; a meteorological system which measures meteorological variables close to the leaching pile; a processing system which interacts with the thermographic vision and visible spectrum systems and with the meteorological system, processing information and, from the captured images, identifying the levels of moisture in pre-determined areas; and a user interface which displays the information processed by the processing system and allows the user to control variables of the thermographic vision and visible spectrum systems and of the orientation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: APLIK S.A.
    Inventors: Guillermo Ricardo Vidal Quevedo, Jaime Ramirez Mancilla, Andres Alfonso Alvarado Cordero
  • Patent number: 9494366
    Abstract: A system for pumping molten metal and melting metal scrap in a furnace that includes a first well that is separated from a second well by a refractory separating wall. The first well and the second well are in fluid communication with a main vessel, the separating wall including a passageway for molten metal. The system includes a pump disposed in the first well for pumping molten metal. A scrap charging vessel is disposed in the second well into which the scrap is added to molten metal contained therein. A conduit extends from the pump over the separating wall. Molten metal pumped from the pump travels from the conduit into the scrap charging vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Bruno Thut
  • Patent number: 9221703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass melting furnace comprising a channel-shaped melting tank, the batch materials being introduced at an upstream end, the molten glass being recovered at the downstream end, said furnace being heated by means of burners, in which the combustion energy is produced by oxy-fuel combustion in respect of at least 65% thereof, the burners being distributed on the walls along the length of the furnace, in which flue gas discharge is mostly localized close to the upstream end near the openings through which the batch materials are introduced, the rest of the flue gas being removed close to the downstream part so as to maintain dynamic sealing with respect to the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: AGC Glass Europe
    Inventors: Olivier Douxchamps, Johan Behen
  • Patent number: 9058033
    Abstract: The invention relates to computer-implemented charging of a blast furnace equipped with an automated top-charging installation and stockhouse for batchwise charging. It proposes: obtaining a nominal charge dataset reflecting a nominal blast furnace charge and comprising plural charge material records, each charge material record comprising a material type and an associated nominal charge quantity; generating a graphical user interface comprising batch data fields for entering and displaying plural batch datasets for pre-configuring batches, each batch dataset comprising at least one batching record, each batching record comprising a material type and an associated batching proportion. According to the invention, the batching proportion associated to a material type in a batching record is used for predefining a ratio between the material quantity that is to be contained in a batch and the nominal charge quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Paul Tockert, Damien Meyer, Fabrice Hansen
  • Patent number: 8986423
    Abstract: A method of heap leaching including forming a heap lift, installing a horizontal solution collection system between the heap layers including a horizontal tubing with a wireline data collection tool disposed therein, providing a heap leach model for modeling the heap leach operation including a solvent formulation and a irrigation setting, obtaining collected data from the wireline data collection tool while irrigating the heap lift, the collected data including in-situ material parameters of the heap layers and in-situ solution parameters of the solution flowing in the heap layers, modeling the heap leach operation using the collected data based on the heap leach model to generate a result, and adjusting the heap leach operation based on the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kent Lang, Gilles Mathieu, Roland Banas, Robert A. Will
  • Patent number: 8961648
    Abstract: An integrated steelmaking plant for merging continuous operation of a reduction reactor producing hot DRI with the batch operation of a DRI melting furnace(s). The reactor produces hot DRI for a DRI melting furnace or cold DRI continuously even when the DRI production exceeds the DRI consumption rate of the furnace or suffers long-term operational delays. The reduction reactor has a DRI cooling zone therein which is selectively operable for cooling DRI when the hot DRI produced in the reactor can't all be consumed by the DRI melting furnace and when the capacity of the DRI bin feeding the melting furnace is insufficient to accumulate additional hot DRI. No separate DRI cooling vessel plus its gas compressor and gas cooling-cleaning system is needed, thus decreasing capital and operational costs. This also permits a flexible and modular construction and operation of a steelmaking plant with high or low pressure reduction reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: HYL Technologies, S.A. DE C.V., Danieli & C. Officine Mecaniche, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Jorge Octavio Becerra-Novoa, Ronald Victor Manuel Lopez-Gomez, Alessandro Martinis, Andrea Tavano
  • Publication number: 20150013497
    Abstract: A process for recovering iron/steel from scrap mill scales and fines is disclosed. A process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises mixing mill scales and fines with coke or other carbon containing fines and sealing the mixture in a container. The container is charged into a cupola or blast furnace, where the components react to form molten iron/steel. The recovery process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is performed integral to cupola or blast furnace operations and the recovered metal is collected at the base of the furnace as molten iron/steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Henry H. HOFFMAN, Jeffrey J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8808421
    Abstract: A method of making steel in a vessel comprising providing a lance for blowing oxygen on the surface of the steel in the vessel, the lance joined to a lance carriage and in communication with an accelerometer, the accelerometer in signal communication with a data acquisition module and a computer; charging the vessel with materials for steel making; lowering the lance into the vessel and injecting oxygen into the materials; acquiring a signal from the accelerometer indicative of lance vibration; processing the vibration signal to determine component frequencies of lance vibration; comparing the levels of the component frequencies to desired operating values; and adjusting at least one steel making process parameter based on the level of at least one of the component frequencies. The steel making process parameter to be adjusted may be oxygen flow rate through the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tenova Goodfellow Inc.
    Inventors: Frank L. Kemeny, David I. Walker
  • Patent number: 8808422
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for automatically evaluating a delivery system in respect of the energy efficiency and emissions efficiency thereof. The method may include: determining a service level for the delivery system according to an energy intensity and an evaluation relevance of the particular delivery system, detecting energy data and emissions data of the delivery system corresponding to the determined service level of the delivery system, and calculating at least one indicator based on the detected energy data and emissions data and/or based on data for the energy management and environmental management of the delivery system for evaluating the delivery system with respect to the energy efficiency and emissions efficiency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Robert Millner, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Kurt Wieder, Johann Wurm
  • Patent number: 8771397
    Abstract: A steelmaking plant including a pressurized direct reduction reactor for continuous production of hot direct reduced iron with a batch-melting furnace and a standby cooler, all three being capable of being situated side-by-side, with such DRI being able to be alternatively fed to the furnace or to the cooler. The furnace is selectively charged through a diverter valve by a pneumatic transport system with the hot DRI being entrained in a carrier gas fed into a receiving bin (having an upper DRI/gas disengagement space and a lower DRI buffer portion). A pressurized charge of the DRI accumulated in such disengaging/buffer bin is periodically fed down into a dosing/depressurization bin which in turn depressurizes the DRI and feeds a batch of DRI down into the furnace. Upon sensing that the buffer portion is full, the DRI is then pneumatically diverted to the cooler, such as during furnace maintenance shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: HYL Technologies, S.A. de C.V., Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gilberto Garza-Rodriguez, Andrea Tavano, Octavio Jorge Becerra-Novoa
  • Patent number: 8747518
    Abstract: In order to carry out foaming of a slag having a high ratio of chromium oxide having values of often above 20% of a non-corrosive melt in an AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization) or MRP (Metallurgical Refining Process) converter or CONARC SSt for stainless steel by adding a foam material, according to the invention a previously defined mixture (5) of a metal oxide, iron carrier, carbon and binding material in the form of pellets or briquettes (4) is introduced into the converter, which reacts in a chemically reducing manner under the slag layer (2) due to the high ambient temperature, wherein gaseous carbon monoxide formed in particular by means of the reduction process of the metal oxide with the carbon within the pellets or briquettes (4) induces the slag foaming with the gas bubbles (7) thereof and wherein the specific density of the pellets or briquettes (4) and the resolve time of the reduction process are selected so that optimal bubble formation in respect of size and duration is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Reichel, Lutz Rose
  • Patent number: 8728196
    Abstract: A semi-liquid metal processing and sensing device comprising a crucible that is at least partially encircled by at least one induction coil. The one or more induction coils can be water cooled. The one or more induction coils can be designed to generate a variable power and/or variable frequency magnetic field which can be modulated to control the cooling of a molten metal charge in the crucible from the liquidus temperature to a selected heat content, resistivity and/or viscosity. The magnetic field can be designed to induce toroidal agitation of the metal charge in the crucible. The semi-liquid condition is sensed and can be actively controlled by the induction power supply via real time or non-real time analysis of electrical feedback signals that are obtained from the induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Alan A. Koch
  • Publication number: 20140047951
    Abstract: A process for recovering hard material particles which are present in a residue quantity, which is in a free-flowing or pourable form, of a hard metal which has a matrix consisting of a steel, nickel or a nickel alloy, in which the hard material particles are embedded, comprising the following production steps: pouring the residue quantity into an acid bath which contains a strong acid having a pKa value measured at room temperature of <4, adding an oxidant to the acid bath, wherein by adding the oxidant or the acid a redox potential of the acid bath is set which is within a desired range of 300-800 mV, dissolving the matrix of the residue quantity, and depositing of the hard material particles contained in the acid bath after dissolving the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: DEUTSCHE EDELSTAHLWERKE GMBH
    Inventors: André Van Bennekom, Frank Niesius, Matthias Kozariszczuk
  • Patent number: 8650002
    Abstract: A test system for facilitating determining whether a plasma processing system (which includes a plasma processing chamber) is ready for processing wafers. The test system may include a computer-readable medium storing at least a test program. The test program may include code for receiving electric parameter values derived from signals detected by at least one sensor when no plasma is present in the plasma processing chamber. The test program may also include code for generating electric model parameter values using the electric parameter values and a mathematical model. The test program may also include code for comparing the electric model parameter values with baseline model parameter value information. The test program may also include code for determining readiness of the plasma processing system based on the comparison. The test system may also include circuit hardware for performing one or more tasks associated with the test program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Choi, Gunsu Yun, Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Norman Williams
  • Publication number: 20130333521
    Abstract: A load current value I of a motor rotationally driving an impeller is read out when the impeller is rotated at a predetermined set rotational speed X0, and the rotational speed of the impeller is increased so that the load current value I becomes equal to or larger than a threshold value I0 when it is determined that the load current value I is smaller than the predetermined threshold value I0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Shintarou Tada, Masayuki Sugimura
  • Patent number: 8568507
    Abstract: In a method for processing and/or reducing solid or molten materials and/or pyrophoric materials, in particular shredder light fractions, the solid or molten materials are charged onto an at least partially inductively heated graphite body, wherein a reducing agent different from the carbon of the graphite is introduced, and the flowing-off reduced and/or degassed melt is collected, wherein the reducing agent is introduced together with the solid or molten charging materials, and, as the reducing agent, natural gas, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or ammonia are introduced along with water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide and/or halogens or hydrogen halides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: SGL Carbon SE
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Patent number: 8535409
    Abstract: A control method for melting a metal charge in a furnace comprising at least a hearth containing the metal charge and a roof. The method provides that the hearth is weighed by means of a plurality of weighing elements distributed along the perimeter of the base of the hearth, and that the values detected by the plurality of weighing elements are sent to a control unit in order to obtain information relating to the distribution of the metal charge inside the hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Stefano Terlicher, Franco Scotti, Romano Sellan
  • Patent number: 8435323
    Abstract: A process for batchwise working-up valuable metals containing recycling materials having a content of organic constituents so high that its use as smelting materials in conventional metal smelting processes is not suitably or even possible. The material is charged to a tiltable reactor rotatable along its own longitudinal axis having a common opening for charging and emptying. The material is heated to a temperature promoting the expulsion of organic constituents by pyrolysis and/or combustion. The material consists at least to an essential part of such size fractions that admits a continuous charging during operation. The process is characterized in that said material during operation is charged continuously in an adjustable stream being controlled and/or adjusted by means of running measurements of different process variables so that the flow and composition of the combustible gas and the heat release is kept under control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Boliden Mineral AB
    Inventor: Olof Sandberg
  • Publication number: 20120266722
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improved process control in metal smelting through measurement of off-gas profiles in real time. A tunable laser source is projected across a volume of off-gas and detected to provide a real time profile of gas concentrations. The real time gas concentration profile may be compared with known profiles to identify problems in the smelting process or to identify when the process is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Alak Chanda, Gervase I. MacKay
  • Patent number: 8246715
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a vortex of molten metal comprises providing a scrap charging vessel. The scrap charging vessel includes a vortex control plate having an outlet orifice that can be positioned at a bottom of the vessel so that the outlet orifice is in fluid communication with an outlet passageway of the vessel. A vortex level is estimated or observed. A size of the outlet orifice of the vortex control plate is selected that can produce a desired level of a vortex in the vessel that is the same as or different than the estimated or observed vortex level. The vortex control plate of the selected outlet orifice size is positioned in the vessel. Molten metal is moved into an inlet opening of the vessel and forms the vortex at the desired level in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Bruno H. Thut
  • Patent number: 8241390
    Abstract: A semi-liquid metal processing and sensing device comprising a crucible that is at least partially encircled by at least one induction coil. The one or more induction coils can be water cooled. The one or more induction coils can be designed to generate a variable power and/or variable frequency magnetic field which can be modulated to control the cooling of a molten metal charge in the crucible from the liquidus temperature to a selected heat content, resistivity and/or viscosity. The magnetic field can be designed to induce toroidal agitation of the metal charge in the crucible. The semi-liquid condition is sensed and can be actively controlled by the induction power supply via real time or non-real time analysis of electrical feedback signals that are obtained from the induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Alan A. Koch
  • Patent number: 8173064
    Abstract: Method for operating a shaft furnace, whereby an upper section of the shaft furnace is charged with raw materials which due to gravity descend inside the furnace while the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace causes part of the raw materials to melt and/or to be reduced, and in a lower section of the shaft furnace a process gas is injected so as to at least partly modify the atmosphere prevailing in the shaft furnace. The pressure and/or volume flow of the injected process gas is dynamically modulated within a time span of 40 s. Also, a shaft furnace operable by said method, thus achieving improved through-gassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp At.Pro Tec GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd König, Wolfram König, Hans-Heinrich Heldt, Dieter-Georg Senk, Heinrich-Wilhelm Gudenau, Alexander Babich
  • Patent number: 8097063
    Abstract: A method of making steel in a vessel comprising providing a lance for blowing oxygen on the surface of the steel in the vessel, the lance joined to a lance carriage and in communication with an accelerometer, the accelerometer in signal communication with a data acquisition module and a computer; charging the vessel with materials for steel making; lowering the lance into the vessel and injecting oxygen into the materials; acquiring a signal from the accelerometer indicative of lance vibration; processing the vibration signal to determine component frequencies of lance vibration; comparing the levels of the component frequencies to desired operating values; and adjusting at least one steel making process parameter based on the level of at least one of the component frequencies. The steel making process parameter to be adjusted may be oxygen flow rate through the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tenova Goodfellow Inc.
    Inventors: Frank L. Kemeny, David I. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120000315
    Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling vibrations of a metallurgical vessel that occur while gas is being injected into liquid molten metal located in the metallurgical vessel, a certain total amount of gas per unit of time is injected into the liquid molten metal, and the total amount of gas being is injected into the liquid molten metal through a number of individual nozzles in the metallurgical vessel, measured values correlating with the vibrations of the metallurgical vessel occurring are being measured during the injection, wherein while keeping the total amount of gas injected per unit of time largely constant, the amount of gas injected from individual nozzles per unit of time is changed in dependence on the measured values that are measured and correlate with the vibrations of the metallurgical vessel occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Fleischanderl, Martin Hiebler, Guenther Staudinger, Peter Wimmer
  • Patent number: 8021459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a continuous metal removal in conjunction with a zinc preparation process, in which the metal removal is performed in one or more reactors (11a-c), in conjunction with the reactor, the redox potential (16a-c) and the acidity and/or basicity are measured, and based on the measurement results, the process variables (17a-c) of the metal removal are adjusted towards the desired direction. According to the invention, the redox potential measurements (16a-c) are performed from the sludge produced in the reactor in conjunction with the outlet pipe of the reactor outside the reactor, and the measuring instrument (16a-c) is purified at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Aimo Järvinen, Kai Judin, Harri Natunen, Yrjö Oinonen, Panu Talonen
  • Publication number: 20110209579
    Abstract: A method of making steel in a vessel comprising providing a lance for blowing oxygen on the surface of the steel in the vessel, the lance joined to a lance carriage and in communication with an accelerometer, the accelerometer in signal communication with a data acquisition module and a computer; charging the vessel with materials for steel making; lowering the lance into the vessel and injecting oxygen into the materials; acquiring a signal from the accelerometer indicative of lance vibration; processing the vibration signal to determine component frequencies of lance vibration; comparing the levels of the component frequencies to desired operating values; and adjusting at least one steel making process parameter based on the level of at least one of the component frequencies. The steel making process parameter to be adjusted may be oxygen flow rate through the lance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: NUPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank L. KEMENY, David I. WALKER
  • Patent number: 8002871
    Abstract: A method for control of a basic oxygen furnace includes creating a computer-implemented model of the basic oxygen furnace based on support vector regression (SVR) such that the model is configured to produce a prediction of first turndown quality of the basic oxygen furnace. Historical data associated the first turndown quality is received. The model is applied to the historical data to produce a prediction of first turndown quality, which is compared to an actual measurement of first turndown quality. The control recipe for the basic oxygen furnace based at least in part upon a result of the comparison. The system generally includes a preprocessor, a database configured to store historical data associated with first turndown quality of the basic oxygen furnace, a prediction module coupled to the database, and a run-to-run control module. A graphical user interface is provided for visualization and adjustment of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yongzai Lu, Lucy He
  • Publication number: 20110129891
    Abstract: A method for leaching a material containing one or more target metals using an acidic leaching solution to extract said one or more target metals, said method including (I) empirically determining an optimal acid concentration range for said acidic leaching solution by: (a) determining the relationship between the concentration of extracted target metal/s and acid consumption in said leaching solution, (b) utilizing said relationship to evaluate value parameters for the target metal containing material as a function of said acid consumption, and (c) determining said optimal acid concentration range, which is the pH range corresponding to an optimal value parameter; and (II) controlling the concentration of said acidic leaching solution such that its pH is substantially within the optimal acid concentration range throughout said material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Chris du Plessis
  • Patent number: 7942950
    Abstract: A method introducing a stirring gas through a vessel bottom, receiving a measurable mechanical vibration by at least one sensor fixed to the vessel or to a supporting frame thereof, filtering the thus detected vibration signals by a high pass filter and preferably by a low pass filter, sampling and digitizing the vibration signals for exposing them to a second filtering which is digital and calibrated upon the vessel vibration responses, sequencing the response, exposing each sequence to the calculation of a temporal moving mean square, and extracting the total effective value RMS (Root Mean Square) of the measured vibration signal therefrom. The effective value is used for controlling the stirring gas flowrate supplied to the vessel. The method can be used for a stirring stand of steel making shop ladles, converters, RH processes, electric arc furnaces, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal France
    Inventors: Marc Burty, Charles Pusse, Patrick Wetta, Francis Sulin, Claude Bertoletti, Yves Borneque, Daniel Pernet, Eric Carioli
  • Publication number: 20110048172
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for leaching material from an object. Examples include leaching ceramic from metallic components. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for leaching systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Max Eric Schlienger, Michael Dean Baldwin, Michael Christopher Maguire
  • Publication number: 20110011209
    Abstract: A method for producing molten iron by melting an iron source material using an iron bath-type melting furnace comprising a top-blowing lance at an upper part of the furnace, a bottom-blowing tuyere in the bottom of the furnace and a tap hole at a lower part on the side of the furnace, the method comprising: a melting process of charging the iron source material, a carbonaceous material and a flux into the furnace and top-blowing an oxygen-containing gas through the top-blowing lance while blowing an inert gas through the bottom-blowing tuyere into melt present in the furnace to stir the melt to thereby melt the iron source material and generate the molten iron and slag using combustion heat of combusting carbon in the carbonaceous material and/or in the molten iron, wherein the melting process has at least one tapping process of discharging the molten iron and the slag through the tap hole while holding a position of the furnace in generating the molten iron, and the tapping process continues or interrupts ge
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Masataka Tateishi, Hiroshi Sugitatsu, Hideaki Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20100326240
    Abstract: A control method for melting a metal charge in a furnace comprising at least a hearth containing the metal charge and a roof. The method provides that the hearth is weighed by means of a plurality of weighing elements distributed along the perimeter of the base of the hearth, and that the values detected by the plurality of weighing elements are sent to a control unit in order to obtain information relating to the distribution of the metal charge inside the hearth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
    Inventors: Stefano Terlicher, Franco Scotti, Romano Sellan
  • Patent number: 7740684
    Abstract: A method of recovering the metal from automobile scrap and electronic waste. It includes separating the automobile scrap and the electronic waste to provide some metal pieces, washing and/or shredding and/or selecting said metal pieces to provide some groups of metal pieces having the same metal element, making a full-elemental analysis, comparing the weight of different metal pieces having the same metal element and attaining different combinations of value, weighted averaging the combination of value to calculate the full-elemental weighted average according to the different combinations of value, comparing the different full-elemental weighted averaging to different composite material, and finding a optimal set or some optimal sets, further disposing metal pieces according to the optimal set, and manufacturing alloy. Present invention has a lot of advantages, such as reducing pollution and cost, and processing more waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Shenzhen Green Eco-Manufacture Hi-Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaihua Xu
  • Publication number: 20100071508
    Abstract: In a method of regulating the output of CO in steel production, oxygen is introduced into a melt to remove carbon present, the actual value of the carbon stream evolved from the melt is determined, the intended value of the evolved carbon stream derived from the amount of oxygen introduced and the carbon content of the melt is calculated, intended and actual values are compared with one another and if the actual value is below the intended value, measures for preventing boiling are undertaken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Matschullat
  • Publication number: 20100011907
    Abstract: Nickel entrained in the sulphide mineral pyrrhotite is engineered to dissolve in leaching acid in a two step procedure. First, a slurry of the mineral and the acid is activated by oxidation. This is done in a time T1 by electrolysis; or alternatively chemically, by adding e.g an oxidizing acid to the mineral. After activation, the slurry is then kept under anoxic conditions for a time T2. During T2, the sulphide starts to dissolve much more rapidly, and the rapid breakdown of the sulphide enables the nickel to dissolve and thus to be leached out of the mineral. The dissolved nickel is extracted from the leaching acid e.g by electro-winning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Enpar Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Paul Seed, Gene Sidney Shelp
  • Publication number: 20090193936
    Abstract: A method for control of a basic oxygen furnace includes creating a computer-implemented model of the basic oxygen furnace based on support vector regression (SVR) such that the model is configured to produce a prediction of first turndown quality of the basic oxygen furnace. Historical data associated the first turndown quality is received. The model is applied to the historical data to produce a prediction of first turndown quality, which is compared to an actual measurement of first turndown quality. The control recipe for the basic oxygen furnace based at least in part upon a result of the comparison. The system generally includes a preprocessor, a database configured to store historical data associated with first turndown quality of the basic oxygen furnace, a prediction module coupled to the database, and a run-to-run control module. A graphical user interface is provided for visualization and adjustment of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Yongzai Lu, Lucy He
  • Publication number: 20090107295
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of refractory debris materials and ladle slags as process slags in the iron metallurgy production in EAFs and the related metering to the furnace for the formation of the process slag comprises the following steps: grinding and screening of the refractory debris materials until powders of controlled granulometry are obtained, storage of the powders in storage sites, injection of the powders into an EAF furnace by means of automatic metering of the various components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Francesco Memoli, Osvaldo Brioni, Mauro Bianchi Ferri
  • Patent number: 7524355
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing an energetic metastable nano-composite material. Under pre-selected milling conditions a mixture of powdered components are reactively milled. These components will spontaneously react at a known duration of the pre-selected milling conditions. The milling is stopped at a time at which the components have been compositionally homogenized to produce nanocomposite powder, but prior to said known duration, and thereby before the spontaneous reaction occurs. The milled powder is recovered as a highly reactive nanostructured composite for subsequent use by controllably initiating destabilization thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Edward Leonid Dreizin, Mirko Schoenitz
  • Patent number: 7468090
    Abstract: A method for tapping of steel from a steelmaking furnace to a receiving vessel comprising the steps of providing a steelmaking furnace comprising a tapping hole, and means for angular positioning of the furnace to vary the depth of molten steel and slag contained in the furnace above the tapping hole; determining a guidance profile for the tapping of the furnace, the guidance profile including the parameters of minimum tapping angle, maximum tapping angle, and time of rotation from the minimum tapping angle to the maximum tapping angle; performing an initial angular rotation of the furnace from an initial position to the minimum tapping angle; beginning the transfer of molten steel from the furnace through the tapping hole to a receiving vessel; rotating the furnace to the maximum tapping angle in accordance with the guidance profile; and ceasing the flow of molten steel through the tapping hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Nupro Corporation
    Inventors: Frank L. Kemeny, David I. Walker, Jeremy A. T. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080307926
    Abstract: In a method for determining a dividedness and/or position of a batch material (7) existing essentially in the solid phase in an arc furnace (1) having a furnace vessel (2), acoustic signals (Ne, Ng, Nd) are generated by an arc discharge (6) between an electrode (3a, 3b, 3c) and the batch material (7). The acoustic signals (Ne, Ng, Nd) reflected and/or transmitted through by the batch material (7) are measured by acoustic sensors (5a, 5b, 5c, 5e, 5g, 5h, 5s, 5t), wherein at least one acoustic sensor (5a, 5b, 5c, 5e, 5g, 5h, 5s, 5t) is provided per segment (Sn) of the furnace vessel (2) subdivided into a plurality of segments (Sn), and wherein the dividedness and/or position of the batch material (7) in the arc furnace (1) is determined by evaluating the measured acoustic signals (Ne, Ng, Nd).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Matschullat
  • Publication number: 20080282841
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Werner Bogner, Guenther Brunnbauer, Franz Lasinger, Bernhard Schuerz
  • Patent number: 7357826
    Abstract: The present invention is direct to a method/apparatus for verifying a nodularization process in a molten iron disposed within a ladle. The method includes the steps of: transferring the ladle with the molten iron to a nodularization area; adding an amount of magnesium to the molten iron in the ladle for producing the nodularization process in the molten iron; measuring vibration of the ladle containing the molten iron caused by the nodularization process in the molten iron; comparing the measured vibration with a predetermined level of vibration; and determining that the nodularization process occurs if the measured vibration is higher than the predetermined level of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC.
    Inventors: David A. Niederhelman, Mark A. Bassett