Abstract: A method for operating a metallurgical furnace and a simplified way of providing synthesis gas for a metallurgical furnace, includes the following steps performing a combustion process outside the metallurgical furnace by combusting a carbon-containing material with an oxygen-rich gas to produce an offgas, which offgas is a CO2 containing gas; and combining the offgas, while having an elevated combustion-induced temperature due to the combustion process, with a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas to obtain a first gas mixture having a temperature above a reforming temperature necessary for a reforming process, preferably a dry reforming process; the first gas mixture undergoing the reforming process, thereby producing a synthesis gas containing CO and H2, the reforming process being performed non-catalytically; and feeding the synthesis gas into the metallurgical furnace.

Abstract: A method for fitting or retrofitting a sinter cooler, which sinter cooler has a cooler grate chain with an endless chain of cooler cars, the method including, installing a lamella grate for holding sinter material and allowing air flow through the grate so that a support structure is connected to the cooler car and a plurality of lamellae are supported by and individually movable with respect to the support structure, and are disposed to allow air flow between neighbouring lamellae, where the support structure has at least one support element disposed underneath the plurality of lamellae to support the plurality of lamellae, and at least one downholder that is adapted to limit an upward motion of at least one lamella installed such that at least a portion of the downholder is disposed above the at least one lamella.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of operating a sinter plant, where a sinter mix is fired in a sintering machine, the method including crushing fired sinter to below an upper particle size limit; screening the crushed sinter to remove fines and separate at least two sinter size fractions, typically smaller, intermediate and upper size fractions; storing each of the at least two sinter size fractions in a respective, separate storage bin, where the screened sinter fractions are not mixed again at the sinter plant but are forwarded to the blast furnace plant, where they are stored in respective, separate storage bins, and the screened sinter fractions can be intermediately stored in separate bins at the sinter plant, before being forwarded to the blast furnace.

Abstract: A charging system for a shaft smelt reduction furnace includes a frame structure for mounting on a top charge opening of a shaft smelt reduction vessel; a center shaft arrangement supported by the frame structure and for removing off-gas gases from the furnace and to introduce granular charge materials to form a stack of materials in the furnace. The center shaft arrangement includes a center hood for off-gas extraction; a pair of first and second feed channels for first and second materials. The center hood includes a pair of facing off-gas panels defining an off-gas channel. The partition walls include lower portions that extend towards each other below the center hood to define a center feed passage, whereby material descending through the first feed channels may accumulate on lower portions according to the angle of repose of the material, permitting self-adjustment of the first material stock-line in the shaft arrangement.

Abstract: A cooling box for a metallurgical furnace including an elongated hollow body extending from a front end, to an opposite rear end, the rear end being, in use, connected to a wall of the furnace; the body includes an inner chamber having a cooling circuit configured to receive a flow of coolant fluid therein between at least one inlet and at least one outlet; the cooling box further including at least one partition plate fitted in the inner chamber through a form-fit connection to form the cooling circuit.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace including a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, the body having at least one cooling channel therein having an opening in the rear face and a coolant feed pipe is connected to the rear face of the cooling panel and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel, where in use, the front face is turned towards a furnace interior, and at least one emergency cooling tube is arranged within the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of the cooling channel, the emergency cooling tube has an end section with connection means for connecting an emergency feed pipe thereto, and in an emergency operation, the emergency cooling tube is physically connected to an emergency feed pipe via the connection means; while, in a normal operation, the connection means of the emergency cooling tube is physically disconnected from the emergency feed pipe. The invention also concerns the use of such a cooling plate.

Abstract: A drying hopper for drying granular material includes a hopper casing defining a plenum chamber for granular material, and an upper part and a bottom part. The hopper also includes a material inlet for the granular material arranged in the upper part; a material outlet port at the bottom part; a component for introducing hot drying gas into the hopper casing; and a gas outlet arranged in the upper part. The component for introducing hot drying gas includes gas pipes arranged to extend substantially vertically in the upper part, each gas pipe having a gas outlet port at its lower end and being connected at its upper end to an annular gas duct having a gas inlet for receiving a flow of drying gas, the gas pipes being distributed on the annular gas duct.

Abstract: A shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, includes a metal jacket defining the furnace outer wall and a protective layer protecting the inner surface of the outer wall. At least one condition monitoring probe is arranged inside within the protective layer to monitor the latter. The condition monitoring probe is connected to a wireless module arranged outside the outer wall to transmit condition monitoring data. The wireless module is located inside a casing mounted to the outer surface of the metal jacket. The condition monitoring probe includes one or more conductive loops positioned at predetermined depths below the front face of the cooling plate body, or of the refractory lining, so that wear of the body, resp. refractory, can be detected by a change of an electrical characteristic of the loop(s) due to abrasion.

Abstract: A method of charging a coke oven with coal includes the steps of charging coal in a coke oven chamber, whereby a heap of coal forms in the chamber; and leveling the heap of coal, where the leveling step includes: introducing a blasting end of a blasting pipe into the heap of coal, the blasting pipe being in communication with a pressurized gas storage vessel configured to release gas blasts; releasing at least one gas blast through the blasting end in the heap of coal in order to cause a leveling thereof; removing the blasting pipe from the chamber.

Abstract: A device for mounting and/or dismantling staves on/from an inner wall of a shaft furnace, the device including a circular monorail for supporting at least one stave positioning hoist, where the monorail is divided into at least four separate arc portions, where each arc portion is connected to a neighboring arc portion by means of a rotatable connection, the arc portions are moveable between an unfolded position, in which the arc portions form a circular monorail, and a folded position, in which the overall size of the monorail is, in one direction, reduced.

Abstract: A cooling panel for a metallurgical furnace includes a body with a front face and an opposite rear face, a top face and an opposite bottom face and two opposite side faces. The body has at least one cooling channel therein, the cooling channel having openings in the rear face; wherein, in use, the front face of the body is turned towards a furnace interior. According to the invention, the cooling panel having at least one cooling pipe arranged in at least one elongate recess formed in the front face, where the cooling pipe has an elongate middle section and at either end thereof, an angled branch, the cooling pipe forming the cooling channel, and where the cooling pipe is arranged in the elongate recess such that the angled branches protrude through the openings in the rear face of the body.

Abstract: A sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation including a shutter that cooperates with a valve seat and a shutter-actuating device for moving the shutter between a closed position in sealing contact with the valve seat and an open position remote from the valve seat, where the shutter-actuating device includes a tilting shaft connected to the shutter, an electric motor with an output shaft connected to the tilting shaft, and a braking device associated with the electric motor, where the braking device is configured for, when engaged, preventing the output shaft of the electric motor from rotating, the shutter-actuating device further including a transmission means arranged between the output shaft of the electric motor and the tilting shaft, wherein the transmission means is configured for transmitting rotational movement of the output shaft of the electric motor to the tilting shaft, where the transmission means includes a backlash configured for having a predetermined amount of allow

Abstract: A stockhouse arrangement for a metallurgical furnace includes a set of storage bins granular material; a material feeding device associated with the set of storage bins, the material feeding device being arranged above the set of storage bins and allowing to selectively fill each of the storage bins with granular material; and a raw material feed system to convey raw granular material to the material feeding device, wherein a respective weighing hopper is arranged downstream of each storage bin and including an outlet associated with a feeding gate, and a charge conveying system is provided for collecting and conveying material selectively discharged from the weighing hoppers through their respective feeding gate, the material feeding device being configured to screen raw granular material arriving from the raw material feed system such that only material with desired granulometry is forwarded to the respective bin(s).

Abstract: A transfer or distribution chute for conveying bulk material by gravity flow includes an elongated chute casing defining a flow path for bulk material and a wear-resistant lining arrangement covering at least part of a flow path facing an upper side of the elongated chute casing. The wear-resistant lining arrangement includes a perforated plate affixed to the chute casing and has a plurality of perforations through which wear-resistant inserts having a body and an enlarged base are fitted in the perforations from a side opposite the flow path, such that their body protrudes through the perforation within the flow path, and their enlarged base abuts the borders of the perforation from the side opposite the flow path on one side and is held in place by the chute casing on the other side.

Abstract: Extraction device for extracting a tuyere part, in particular a tuyere or a tuyere cooler, from a shaft furnace, the device including a supporting frame with positioning elements configured to position the device against a furnace wall, a carriage supported by the supporting frame and movable in a direction radial to the furnace wall, an extraction rod having a first end attached to the carriage and a second end for connecting to the tuyere part, where the first end of the extraction rod had a stopper, the device further including a percussion system acting on the stopper of the extraction rod in a direction away from the furnace wall, and a pretensioning mechanism on the supporting frame configured to apply a load to the carriage, in a direction away from the furnace wall.

Abstract: An installation for distribution of granular or powder material via pneumatic transport comprising at least one dispensing hopper (3) for temporary storage of said granular or powder material, the dispensing hopper being suited to being, alternately, pressurized for emptying the dispensing hopper and depressurized to permit filling thereof, and a device for depressurizing said dispensing hopper. The depressurizing device comprises a depressurizing duct (12) connected to said dispensing hopper, a bag filter (11), having a maximum operating flow rate, connected to the depressurizing duct, and flow control means (15) for controlling the flow rate in said depressurizing duct through the bag filter. The bag filter (11) is suited to operating under pressure, and the flow control means (15) are located on the depressurizing duct (12) downstream of the bag filter (11) and are arranged to provide a flow rate which is at most equal to the maximum flow rate of the bag filter.

Abstract: A Material hopper, in particular for a blast furnace, includes a containing hollow shell for storing material, the shell having an upper shell part with an inlet portion and an asymmetric funnel-shaped lower shell part with an outlet portion, a wear plate arrangement covers at least part of an inner wall of the lower shell part, the wear plate arrangement having a plurality of wear plates arranged adjacent to one another in a plurality of rows stacked along the inner wall, the wear plates being arranged in rows that follow parallel mounting lines that are defined by the intersection of the lower shell part with planes perpendicular to the axis of a virtual right circular cone substantially matching the shape of the funnel-shaped lower shell part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charging installation (1) of a metallurgical reactor, with a cooling assembly (4) disposed for cooling a reactor side of the charging installation (1). In order to facilitate the installation and maintenance of a heat protection shield in a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor, the cooling assembly (4) comprises a plurality of cooling panels (10), each cooling panel (10) comprising at least one coolant channel (12). The channel (12) is formed as a groove in the base plate (11), which groove is covered by a cover plate (13) mounted on the base plate (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat protection assembly (2, 30) for a charging installation (1) of a metallurgical reactor. In order to increase the lifetime of a heat protection shield in a charging installation of a metallurgical reactor, the assembly (2, 30) comprises a plurality of heat protection tiles (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4) disposed adjacent to each other along a surface The assembly further comprises a plurality of heat protection panels (10, 110), each panel (10, 110) comprising a common base plate (11, 111) to which a plurality of tiles (31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4) are connected, which heat protection panels (10, 110) are configured to be mounted on the charging installation (1) adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A process for pressurizing bulk material in an apparatus for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper containing a bulk material, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas, lines to convey the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to one or more inlets of the lock hopper, a valve arrangement arranged in the lines, wherein the process is characterized in that said valve arrangement comprises at least two valves arranged in parallel, each valve being connected to a downstream Laval tuyere, and in that said valves are controlled to open in an operating sequence to provide pressurizing gas with an adjusted gas flow rate to the lock hopper.