Patents Assigned to OUTOTEC OYJ
  • Publication number: 20140151273
    Abstract: The flotation process is widely used in mineral industry for the separation of minerals from low-grade ore slurry. Several parameters, such as the bubble size distribution and/or amount of solids in the froth and slurry affect the outcome of the flotation process. To be able to monitor these parameters, knowledge of the temporal changes of froth-slurry phase interface as well as froth-air interface is essential. In the present invention, an electrical resistance tomography probe sensor, which is capable of analyzing the properties of froth and slurry based on the correlation between the estimated conductivity information and the parameters of interest, is introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Anssi Lehikoinen, Marko Vauhkonen
  • Patent number: 8728190
    Abstract: A vortex finder support is provided for fixing a vortex finder in an inlet region of a cyclone that includes a waste gas conduit leading out of the inlet region. A sleeve-shaped support element is configured to be disposed in the waste gas conduit and associated to the vortex finder, the support element including at least one lateral mounting hole having an approximately rectangular cross-section. A ring is configured to surround the support element and at least one of surround and be integrated in the waste gas conduit, the ring including a lateral opening. At least one holt having an approximately rectangular cross-section is configured to extend through the lateral opening of the ring and the mounting hole of the support element so as to connect the ring with the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Elena Werchowski, Bernd Roos, Jenny Jarabo
  • Patent number: 8726537
    Abstract: In a method and equipment for continuous sintering of pelletized mineral material, a partition wall (7, 8) arranged between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5, 6) is in the height direction placed at a distance from the pellet bed (2), so that in between the partition wall (7, 8) and pellet bed (2), there is left a gap (s) that allows gas to flow between two adjacent cooling chambers (4, 5; 5; 6) through the gap (s) in order to equalize the pressure between the cooling chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Marko Palander
  • Publication number: 20140131221
    Abstract: The invention relates to a permanent cathode (1) to be used as an electrode in the electrowinning of metals, including a permanent cathode plate (4) at least partially made of steel and providing the possibility of electrochemically depositing metal from an electrolytic solution onto its surface (6), in which case the dimensions of the grain boundaries (7) on the surface (6) of the permanent cathode plate (4) are arranged to be suitable for the adhesion of deposited metal on the surface and the stripping of metal from the surface at least in a part of the surface that is in contact with the electrolyte. The invention also relates to a method for treating the surface of a permanent cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Mari Lindgren, Henri Virtanen, Ville Nieminen
  • Publication number: 20140124993
    Abstract: An off-gas channel (1) of a closed-type smelting furnace (2), the off-gas channel (1) comprising a first end (3) opening to the upper part of the smelting furnace (2) and a second end (4) opening to a gas cleaning apparatus (5) for leading the furnace off-gases to the gas cleaning apparatus. The off-gas channel comprises at least one cleaning nozzle (6, 7, 8, 9) adapted to spray pressurized fluid to the inner surface of the off-gas channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Olli Pekkala
  • Publication number: 20140117128
    Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment to prepare ore concentrate for pelletizing and sintering/indurating of pellets in ferroalloys production. The equipment comprises a grinder (1) arranged to grind the concentrate to a predetermined grain size. The equipment further comprises a drying apparatus (2, 3, 4) arranged to dry the concentrate before and/or during grinding by the grinder (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Marko Palander
  • Patent number: 8701967
    Abstract: A method for coating the base element of a cooling element used in connection with a metallurgical furnace or the like, said base element being mainly made of copper, at least partly with a metal coating involves a step wherein the metal coating is explosion welded to the base element of a cooling element mainly made of copper. A cooling element, particularly to be used in connection with metallurgical furnaces or the like, includes a base element mainly made of copper, in which base element there is arranged a cooling water channel system, said base element of the cooling element being at least partly coated with a metal coating. The metal coating is explosion welded to the base element that is mainly made of copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Esa Peuraniemi, Kai Seppälä, Mikael Jåfs
  • Patent number: 8696817
    Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment for removing deposits accumulated in electrolytic refining on the surface of an electrode, such as a cathode, said equipment including at least one element for stripping the deposits and at least one element for controlling the stripping element; said equipment includes at least one stripping element that is turnably movable in the vertical direction of the cathode, and the cathode can be bent owing to the contact with said stripping element. The invention also relates to a method realized by said equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Peter Nord, Rolf Andersson
  • Publication number: 20140099587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner arrangement comprising a fluid cooled copper block. Further, the invention relates to a burner assembly, a duct element, a gas circulating duct, and a metallurgical furnace comprising said burner arrangement. The burner arrangement (B) comprises a fluid cooled copper block (3) including a cooling conduit (4) for circulation of the cooling fluid, a first end (5) to which the burner unit (1) is releasably attached and a second end (6), and that the burner channel (2) extends inside the fluid cooled copper block (3) from the first end (5) to the second end (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Gunnar Weissman, Jukka Vuorio, Mikael Jafs
  • Patent number: 8691000
    Abstract: A wet gas scrubber is provided for removing at least one of solid and liquid particles from water-saturated gases with a Venturi zone adjustable with respect to the flow cross-section. The wet gas scrubber includes a fixed lower Venturi plate and a vertically adjustable upper Venturi plate disposed above the fixed lower Venturi plate. The Venturi plates are substantially parallel to one another and include corresponding segments configured to engage in each other. A plurality of Venturi channels are disposed between the Venturi plates and configured to guide a mixture of a gas to be cleaned and cleaning liquid droplets injected into a stream of the gas by a nozzle. The segments of the Venturi plates engage in each other while the Venturi channels are kept free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Henning Nixdorff
  • Publication number: 20140083010
    Abstract: A process for producing fuel gas and for carrying out a metallurgical process includes providing first and second process stages. In the first process stage, biomass is reacted with an oxygen-containing gas so as to obtain a fuel gas containing at least one of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and steam. The fuel gas is cooled to a temperature in a range from 300 to 600° C. The cooled fuel gas is subjected to a solids separation. In the second process stage, the fuel gas after the solids separation is directly supplied to at least one burner of the metallurgical process, the temperature of the fuel gas being maintained above the condensation temperature of tar and within the range from 300 to 600° C. by supplying heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Andreas Orth, Agnes Von Garnier
  • Patent number: 8673058
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for removing solid particles and tar component from carbon monoxide gas. In the method, carbon monoxide gas is conducted from a ferroalloy smelting furnace (1) to a gas scrubber (2), the carbon monoxide gas is scrubbed in the gas scrubber (2) by a liquid medium for removing part of the solid particles, the carbon monoxide gas is conducted from the gas scrubber to a blower (3), the flow rate of the carbon monoxide gas is increased by the blower (3), and the carbon monoxide gas is conducted to a particulate filter (5) and the remaining solid particles are essentially filtered in the particulate filter (5) from the carbon monoxide gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Tom Rönnberg, Stefan Hajek
  • Patent number: 8668488
    Abstract: A process for the combustion of a liquid in a combustion chamber includes atomizing liquid sulfur using a rotary atomizer and introducing the liquid sulfur into the combustion chamber. The liquid sulfur is charged onto an inside of a cup. The cup is rotated so as to form a liquid film on the inside of the cup and so that parts of the liquid film are radially flung off from an edge of the cup edge into the combustion chamber. The rotational speed of the cup is varied so as to control a thickness of the liquid film in the cup to between 200 and 1000 ?m. The liquid sulfur is evaporated and subsequently burnt in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: Outotec Oyj, Saacke GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk, Jean Claude Hein, Thomas Schueller, Ludwig Emich, Bernhard Rieger, Dieter Sterner, Johann-Peter Arning
  • Patent number: 8670524
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of a measuring window in a continuously operated X-ray analyzer (1), said analyzer being is used particularly for analyzing elemental contents in solid, liquid or slurry-like materials; which measuring window (2) separates the sampling space (3) containing the sample material to be measured and the measurement space (4) containing the measuring probe (11), and is sealed by a lid structure (6) arranged in the sampling space, said lid structure defining the measurement aperture (7) of the sampling space, in which case the lid structure defining the measurement aperture of the sampling space is provided with a sealing surface (8) of the measuring window, so that said surface is at least partly planar and at least partly curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Kari Mann, Christian Von Alfthan
  • Patent number: 8658121
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Henry Eisermann, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 8657934
    Abstract: A cyclone for separating sticky particles from gas streams includes an inlet duct having an end in a direction of a particle outlet. The end has a flow cross-section including a triangular expansion that is formed laterally by a vertical of a cylindrical outer wall of the cyclone and by art outer boundary of the cyclone. An outer angle of inclination between the vertical and the outer boundary, proceeding from the end of the inlet duct, is reduced from 30° to 0° in a flow direction of gas streams. An immersion tube is disposed eccentrically in a direction of the inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Mithat Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8641909
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (20) of separating pulp from a feed material within a tank (1), the method comprising the steps of (23) introducing the feed material (22) into the tank (1); (24) allowing the feed material (22) to settle in the tank (1); (25) allowing the pulp (21) to form into aggregates (13); (26) allowing the pulp aggregates (13) to settle towards the bottom of the tank (1) and form a networked layer (2) of pulp; and (27) causing a disturbance substantially uniformly across a disturbance zone (16) in an upper region of the networked layer (2), so as to disrupt the networked pulp in the disturbance zone within a predetermined period of time; thereby releasing entrained liquid from the networked pulp in the disturbance zone (16) and increasing the relative density of the pulp below the disturbance zone. The invention also provides a separation device (40) for separating pulp (21) from a feed material (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Ian Arbuthnot, Richard Triglavcanin, Loc Thanh Le
  • Publication number: 20140021016
    Abstract: A device for changing a pallet car in a plant for the treatment of bulk materials where pallet cars that are continuously conveyed by means of a lifting wheel and a lowering wheel on an outer rail and an inner rail in an endless chain includes, in a regions of a bottom and top strand of the lifting wheel, first and second outer curve links of the outer rail openable such that the pallet car is removable from the chain and another pallet car is insertable into the chain. The device includes a removal switch disposed in the region of the bottom strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is movable out from the chain, and a supply switch disposed in the region of the top strand of the lifting wheel, via which the pallet car is insertable into the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Andrej Schulakow- Klass, Juergen Emmel, Thomas Holzhauer
  • Publication number: 20140000491
    Abstract: A method for producing a clinker substitute for use in cement production includes predrying clay with an iron content >1.5 wt-% in a form of iron oxides and a kaolinite content <40 wt-% to a moisture <10 wt-%. The clay is comminuted to a grain size <2 mm. The clay is calcined by thermal treatment in a furnace at a temperature of 600 to 1000° C. The clay is thermally treated under reducing conditions at a temperature of 600 to 1000° C. so as to form a reduction product. The reduction product is intermediately cooled to a temperature <300° C. and finally cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Edgar Gasafi, Michael Missalla
  • Patent number: RE44850
    Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Stephen Peter Hughes, Robert W. Matusewicz, Ross Alexander McClelland, Antony Acquadro, Brian Ross Baldock