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

Abstract: A hearth for a metallurgical furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, the hearth including a wall lining and a bottom lining of refractory material for containing a molten metal bath, the bottom lining including a lower region and an upper region that is arranged to cover the top of the lower region and that is built of ceramic elements, the ceramic elements of the upper region being made of microporous ceramic material including a granular phase made of a silico-aluminous high alumina content granular material and a binding phase for binding grains of said granular material, said microporous ceramic material having thus an maintaining permanently a thermal conductivity lower than 7 W/m.° K.

Abstract: A granulation installation for a melt produced in a metallurgical plant, especially for blast furnace slag having a water injection device for quenching and thereby granulating the melt and a granulation tank for collecting water and granulates a steam condensation tower is located above the granulation tank for collecting steam generated in the tank, where the tower has a steam condensing system with a water-spraying device and a water-collecting device below the water-spraying device, and the tower is equipped with a stack for selectively evacuating excessive steam to the atmosphere, the stack having an inlet communicating with the lower zone of the condensation tower and an outlet arranged to evacuate steam to the atmosphere above the condensation tower, the stack being equipped with an obturator device for selective evacuation of steam through the stack, where the installation according to the invention may process an increase of 60% of slag, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding hot gas to a shaft furnace (12), wherein the method comprises feeding a first portion (32) of a first gas flow (24) to a mixing chamber (36) and feeding a second portion (34) of the first gas flow (24) into said shaft furnace. The method further comprises feeding a second gas flow (28) to the mixing chamber (36), allowing the first portion (32) of the first gas flow (24) to mix with the second gas flow (28) in the mixing chamber (36), thereby forming a third gas flow (38), and feeding the third gas flow (38) to the shaft furnace (12). The first gas flow (24) has a first volumetric fluid flow rate (V1), a first temperature (T1) and a first pressure (p1); the second gas flow (28) has a second volumetric fluid flow rate (V2), a second temperature (T2) and a second pressure (p2); and the third gas flow (38) has a third volumetric fluid flow rate (V3), a third temperature (T3) and a third pressure (p3).

Abstract: A cooling plate (10) for a metallurgical furnace in accordance with the present invention has a panel-like body (12) with a front face (14) and an opposite rear face (16), an upper edge (22) and an opposite lower edge (24), and a first side edge (18) and an opposite second side edge (20). The front face (14) is provided with grooves (32) extending between the first and second edges (18, 20), the grooves (32) forming lamellar ribs (34) on the front face (14), each rib (34) having a crest (37) and adjoining sidewalls (39, 39?), a base (38) being arranged in the groove (32) between two neighboring ribs (34). In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, at least one of the grooves (32) is provided with a metal insert (40) arranged against at least one of the sidewalls (39, 39?).

Abstract: A method for operating a blast furnace and a corresponding blast furnace, the method including recovering top gas from the blast furnace, submitting at least a portion of the top gas to a recycling process, and feeding the recycled top gas back into the blast furnace, where the recycling process includes feeding the recovered top gas to a reformer unit, feeding volatile carbon containing material to the reformer unit, proceeding to flash gasification of the volatile carbon containing material in the reformer unit, at a temperature between 1100 and 1300° C., and thereby producing devolatized carbonaceous material and synthesis gas, and allowing the devolatized carbonaceous material and synthesis gas to react with the recovered top gas.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding a burden to a blast furnace (32), wherein the method comprises providing a charging device (38) having at least one material hopper (40), the material hopper (40) comprising a hopper chamber (42), a material inlet aperture for feeding a burden into the hopper chamber (40), and a material discharge aperture for feeding a burden from the hopper chamber (40) to the blast furnace (32); the material inlet aperture having an associated inlet seal valve 44) for opening and closing the material inlet aperture and the material discharge aperture having an associated material discharge valve (46) for opening and closing the material discharge aperture.

Abstract: A process for dry granulation of hot liquid slag wherein the hot liquid slag is mixed with solid metallic particles so as to form a solidified, vitrified slag cake mixed with the metallic particles, the slag cake is crushed so as to form hot slag particles and heated solid particles, said particles are cooled and said solid metallic particles are recycled.

Abstract: A coke oven offtake piping system includes a pipe assembly for conveying coke oven gases from a coke oven to a collecting main, at least one spraying nozzle in the pipe assembly, and a discharge section with a discharge pipe having a discharge orifice. A gate member cooperates with the discharge orifice and is movable along the discharge orifice in order to present a closing surface to the extremity thereof, whereby the opening area of said discharge orifice can be varied for controlling the flow rate to the collecting main. The gate member is a spherical cap with a concave closing surface. The gate member is configured to pivot around a pivoting axis to expose the discharge orifice and to cover the discharge orifice, respectively.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a vitreous slag including rotating a cone about a vertical cone axis, the cone including an external shell having a lateral surface; cooling the lateral surface of the external shell; pouring molten slag onto the lateral surface of the cone to form a film of slag by gravity, which is solidified as it is entrained in rotation by the cone about the cone axis; and detaching pieces of the film from the lateral surface and removing solidified slag in the form of the pieces after the film has been entrained through between 0.6 and 0.9 revolutions of the cone, the molten slag being poured onto the lateral surface in a pouring zone and spreads to form a film over substantially the entire length of the lateral surface, preferably over between 75% and 95% of the length of the lateral surface.

Abstract: A hearth for a metallurgical reactor, in particular for a blast furnace, has an outer shell and an annular wall lining of refractory material inside the shell, the wall lining having a lower region with a multi-layered construction a radially inner layer faces the interior of the hearth and includes at least one inner ring of refractory elements, radially outer layer faces the outer shell and has at least one outer ring of refractory elements, where in the at least one inner ring elements are made of a first carbonaceous refractory material that is different from one or more carbonaceous refractory materials of the elements in the outer layer such that, the first refractory material contains, in a proportion of at least 5% by mass in total, at least one property-enhancing additive other than metallic silicon or silicon carbide. In beneficial combination therewith, the at least one inner ring has a wall thickness of less than 45%, of the corresponding total wall thickness of the wall lining.

Abstract: Tuyere stock arrangement of a blast furnace including a tuyere body configured for installation in a shaft furnace wall, the tuyere body including a front face facing an interior of the shaft furnace and an opposite rear face, a tuyere channel extending from the rear face to the front face the tuyere stock arrangement further including a blowpipe connected between the rear face of the tuyere body and a hot blast air supply system, the blowpipe having a front portion connecting to the tuyere body and an opposite rear portion connecting to the hot blast air supply system where a fuel injection lance is provided for feeding fuel into the shaft furnace and a gas injection lance is provided for feeding an oxidizing gas to the shaft furnace, the fuel injection lance being arranged through the tuyere body and according to an important aspect of the invention, the gas injection lance is arranged in the rear portion of the blowpipe, the gas injection lance being arranged in such a way as to feed the oxidizing gas into

Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace including a rabble arm with a tubular structure and a solid plug body. The latter is received in a socket arranged in an arm fixing node. It has an axial through boring and cooling fluid supply and return channels arranged around this through boring. A clamping bolt is rotatably fitted in the through boring. It has a bolt head, which can be brought by rotation into and out of hooking engagement with an abutment surface on the arm fixing node. A threaded end of the clamping bolt sticks out of the through boring at the rear end of the plug body. A threaded sleeve, which is screwed onto this threaded end, bears on an abutment surface at the rear end of the plug body for exerting a clamping force onto the clamping bolt.

Abstract: A charging device for charging a shaft furnace, including a rotary distributor and a variable drive for rotating the rotary distributor about an essentially vertical axis of rotation, where the rotary distributor includes a plurality of guiding members which form sliding channels for charge material, and where the rotary distributor comprises a junction slide from which each guiding member issues and which is arranged such that a flow of charge material slides via one specific guiding member in function of the velocity and/or the sense of rotation of the rotary distributor.

Abstract: A distribution device for distributing bulk material with a distribution spout on a cardan suspension that has a first and a second gimbal member pivotable about two perpendicular suspension axes where a drive arrangement has a first and a second transmission mechanism for controlling pivotal motion of the distribution spout about the suspension axes and the drive arrangement has a further cardan joint, with a first part pivotable about a third axis and a second part pivotable about a fourth axis, and a rotary motor for driving a rotary drive shaft that is connected to the cardan joint by means of an articulated connecting arm such that the rotational position and the axial position of the drive shaft determine the pivotal position of the second part about the third and fourth axes respectively, where the transmission mechanisms transmit torque about the third and fourth axes from the cardan joint to the cardan suspension for pivoting the distribution spout about the first and second axes respectively.

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

Abstract: “Annular swivel joint including an annular fixed part and an annular rotary part and having an annular trough that defines an annular volume, via which the circuits portions communicate, a stationary forward connection for receiving cooling fluid from the stationary circuit portion; a rotary forward connection for supplying cooling fluid to the rotary circuit portion; a rotary return connection for receiving cooling fluid from the rotary circuit portion; and a stationary return connection for returning cooling fluid to the stationary circuit portion; a partition dividing the annular volume into an annular external cavity and an annular internal cavity so that the forward connections are coupled via one of the external and internal cavities and the return connections are coupled via the other cavity, so that the internal cavity is at least partially surrounded by the external cavity.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a device (10) for regulating the temperature of a gas in a hot gas main for feeding hot gas to a blast furnace. Such a device (10) comprises a mixing pot (14) with a first mixing chamber (16) and a second mixing chamber (18), the first and second mixing chambers (16, 18) being in fluid communication with each other by means of a Venturi-type restriction (20). The first mixing chamber (16) is provided with a first inlet port (22) for feeding hot gas into the first mixing chamber (16), a second inlet port (26) for feeding cold gas into the first mixing chamber (16) and a third inlet port (56) for feeding cold gas into the second mixing chamber (18).

Abstract: A flow control valve for fluidized material comprises a valve housing having a valve chamber with a valve seat and a valve plug having a flow passage, the valve plug being arranged inside the valve chamber in front of the valve seat (30) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for controlling a flow through the flow control valve. It further comprises spring means biasing the valve plug against the valve seat perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, for achieving a sealing contact between the valve seat and the valve plug. According to an important aspect of the invention, the spring means comprises at least one cantilever spring (40) arranged in a clearance space opposite to the valve seat (30) so as to bias the valve plug against the valve seat.

Abstract: The invention relates to an upper or lower sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation. The arrangement comprises a shutter-actuating device (20; 120; 220; 320; 420) for moving a shutter (10) between a closed position in sealing contact with a valve seat (12) and an open position remote from the valve seat. The shutter-actuating device is of the dual-motion type, more specifically of the type configured to confer to the shutter a superposition of two rotations about substantially parallel axes (29; 39). It has a primary tilting arm (22) on a first tilting shaft (24) that defines the first axis (29) and is equipped with bearings (26) that support the primary tilting arm (22). A secondary tilting arm (32) carries the shutter (10) is connected to a second tilting shaft (34) that defines the second substantially parallel axis (39) and has bearings that support the secondary tilting arm (32) on the primary tilting arm (32).