Patents Assigned to Paul Wurth, S.A.
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Patent number: 8152430Abstract: A three hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the furnace by rotating a distribution member about the furnace central axis and a first, a second and a third hopper arranged in parallel above the rotary distribution device and offset from the central axis. A sealing valve housing is arranged between the hoppers and the distribution device. It has a top part with a first, a second and a third inlet respectively communicating with the first, the second and the third hopper. A first, a second and a third sealing valve are provided in the top part. Each sealing valve includes a flap which is pivotable between a closed sealing position and an open parking position. The sealing valve housing also has a funnel shaped bottom part with an outlet communicating with the distribution device.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Guy Thillen, Jean Gidt, Patrick Hutmacher
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Patent number: 8152882Abstract: A conventional dust-catcher for blast furnace gas comprises a pressure vessel, with a gas inlet and outlet dome (14), a separation chamber (16) and a lower dust hopper (18), and a diffuser pipe (26) extending axially through the gas inlet and outlet dome (14) into the separation chamber (16). To increase the separation efficiency of such a dust hopper (18), it is proposed to centrally arrange a flow deflecting chamber (50, 50?), having a smaller cross-section than the separation chamber (16), in the separation chamber (16), so that there remains an annular settlement chamber (52) between the inner wall of the separation chamber (16). The diffuser pipe (26) is connected to this flow deflecting chamber (50, 50?) so as to axially discharge a downward gas flow into the top end of the flow deflecting chamber (50, 50?), wherein this downward gas flow is deflected upward.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventor: Alfred Wolsfeld
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Publication number: 20120070253Abstract: A device (10) for distributing charge material into a shaft furnace comprises a main housing (12), a distribution chute, a suspension rotor (18) and an adjustment rotor (26), which are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. The chute (32) is suspended to the suspension rotor (18) to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and adjustable in orientation through the adjustment rotor (26) for radial distribution of charge material. A differential gear (86) interconnects the suspension rotor (18) and the adjustment rotor (26) and is configured to transmit to the adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to the suspension rotor by a main rotation drive (60) unless an adjustment drive (96) imparts, through the differential gear, a differential rotation to the adjustment rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Guy Thillen, Emile Lonardi, Lionel Hausemer, Christian Benoit Thix
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Publication number: 20120068392Abstract: A device for distributing charge material into a shaft furnace includes a main housing, a distribution chute, a suspension rotor and an adjustment rotor, which are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the chute is suspended to the suspension rotor to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and adjustable in orientation through the adjustment rotor for radial distribution of charge material, a differential gear interconnects the suspension rotor and the adjustment rotor and is configured to transmit to the adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to the suspension rotor by a main rotation drive unless an adjustment drive imparts differential rotation to the adjustment rotor, the device further including: a first gear casing arranged on the main housing and enclosing a gear mechanism that connects the main rotation drive to a first output shaft that protrudes into the main housing where it is connected to a gearwheel that meshes with a first gear rinType: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.AInventors: Guy Thillen, Emile Lonardi, Lionel Hausemer, Christian Benoit Thix
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Publication number: 20120064471Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a regenerative heater (10), in particular a hot blast stove of a blast furnace, the regenerative heater (10) comprising a first chamber (12) and a second chamber (22), the first chamber (12) having a burner (14) arranged therein, the second chamber (22) comprising heat storage means. Such a method comprises a heating cycle wherein fuel and oxidizing gas are fed to the burner (14) of the first chamber (12) and allowed to burn and wherein hot flue gasses are led through the second chamber (22) to heat the heat storage means; and a blowing cycle wherein a process gas is fed through the second chamber (22) to pick up heat from the heat storage means.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventor: Jean-Paul Simoes
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Publication number: 20120056361Abstract: A cooling plate (10) for a metallurgical furnace comprises a body (12) with a front face (14) and an opposite rear face (16), as well as coolants channel (18) therein; a plurality of lamellar ribs (24) on its front face, two consecutive ribs (24) being spaced by a groove (22); and inserts (26) fixed in the grooves (22) and projecting from the front face (14). The inserts (26) have an upper side projecting from the bottom edge of the rib directly above, which is configured so as to form a collecting surface (28) on which, in use, furnace burden material accumulates up to the top edge (32) of the rib (24) directly above.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Nicolas Maggioli, Dallas Garratt
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Publication number: 20120055382Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for burning blast furnace off-gas from a bleeder valve. It comprises a bleeder valve (20) having a fixed hollow valve body (22) defining an outlet (26) and a valve seat and a movable obturator (24) that cooperates with the valve seat for closing the bleeder valve and releasing blast furnace off-gas through the outlet. The arrangement includes an apparatus for combustion of blast furnace off-gas released by the bleeder valve (20). This apparatus is characterized by an ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) that is arranged on or adjacent the valve body or the moveable obturator of the bleeder valve (20) itself. The ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) has its spatial ignition range located downstream the outlet in a region where blast furnace off-gas released through the outlet mixes with ambient air when the obturator is in an open position so as to allow open-air combustion of blast furnace off-gas released into ambient air at the location of the bleeder valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Jeannot Loutsch, Lionel Hausemer
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Patent number: 8123453Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace, which includes at least one charging hopper having a discharge orifice arranged in a position off-centre with respect to the central axis of the shaft furnace, and a material distribution device arranged below this hopper. The material distribution device includes a feed channel coaxial with the central axis of the furnace and a rotatable, pivotable chute, which is arranged below the feed channel for distributing a charge in the shaft furnace. The charging device also includes a connecting box in the shape of a funnel, arranged between the material distribution device and the charging hopper. The connecting box possesses a lower central outlet communicating with the charging hopper and at least one upper inlet which is arranged off-centre with respect to the central axis of the furnace and communicates with the discharge orifice of the hopper.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Giovanni Cimenti
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Publication number: 20120043705Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Jeannot Loutsch, Jean-Paul Simoes, Lionel Hausemer
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Publication number: 20120045298Abstract: The invention concerns a drive mechanism for a distribution chute (14) in a shaft furnace charging installation. This drive mechanism comprises rotary supporting means (15) supporting the distribution chute so that it can be rotated, typically about a vertical axis of rotation (A), and a fixed structure (10) supporting the rotary supporting means (15). It has a main drive motor (30) for rotating the chute and an auxiliary drive motor (40) for adjusting the position of the chute, typically the pivotal position about a horizontal axis (B). The drive mechanism further comprises first, second and third transmission means (34; 46; 54). The first transmission (34) operationally couples the main drive motor (30) to a first ring gear (40) rigidly connected to the rotary supporting means (15). The second transmission (46) operationally couples the auxiliary drive motor (40) to a second ring gear (48) that is independently rotatable about the axis of rotation (A).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Guy Thillen, Emile Lonardi, Christian Benoit Thix, Gerald Hubeaux
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Publication number: 20120039700Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Jeannot Loutsch, Jean-Paul Simoes, Lionel Hausemer
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Publication number: 20120031236Abstract: “A method for producing direct reduced iron in a vertical reactor having an upper reducing zone and a lower cooling zone, the method including: feeding iron oxide feed material to an upper portion of the vertical reactor, the iron oxide feed material forming a burden flowing by gravity to a material outlet portion in a lower portion of the vertical reactor; feeding hot reducing gas to a lower portion of the reducing zone of the vertical reactor, the hot reducing gas flowing in a counter flow to the burden towards a gas outlet port in the upper portion of the vertical reactor; recovering direct reduced iron at the lower portion of the vertical reactor; recovering top gas at the upper portion of the vertical reactor; submitting at least a portion of the recovered top gas to a recycling process; and feeding the recycled top gas back into the vertical reactor, where the recycling process includes heating the recovered top gas in a preheating unit before feeding it to a reformer unit; feeding volatile carbon contType: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Jean-Luc Roth, David Rodriguez
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Patent number: 8101153Abstract: The present invention describes a method for treating residues comprising zinc ferrites and non-ferrous metals selected from among the group made up of lead (Pb), silver (Ag), indium (In), germanium (Ge) and gallium (Ga) or mixtures thereof in the form of oxides and sulfates, comprising the following steps: roasting of the residues in an oxidizing medium at elevated temperature in order to obtain a desulfurized residue, carburizing reduction/smelting of the desulfurized residue in a reducing medium, liquid phase extraction of carburized melt and slag, vapor phase extraction of the non-ferrous metals, followed by oxidation and recovery thereof in solid form.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Jean-Luc Roth, Marie Bontemps
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Publication number: 20120007291Abstract: Tuyere stock arrangement (10) of a blast furnace comprising a tuyere (14) having a tuyere body (20) configured for installation in a blast furnace wall (12); the tuyere body (20) having an outer wall (22), a front face (24) and a rear face (26), the tuyere body (20) further having a tuyere channel (28) extending from the rear face (26) to the front face (24), the tuyere channel (28) forming an inner wall (30) in the tuyere body (20). The tuyere stock arrangement (10) further comprises a blowpipe (34) connected between the rear face (26) of the tuyere body (20) and a gas feeding device (38), the blowpipe (34) being configured and arranged so as to feed hot gas, generally hot blast air, from the gas feeding device (38) to the tuyere channel (28) for injection into the blast furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Paul Goedert, Lionel Hausemer, Jean-Paul Simoes
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Publication number: 20120009534Abstract: 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).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Jean-Luc Roth
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Patent number: 8092136Abstract: A multiple hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the shaft furnace by rotating a distribution member about a central axis of the shaft furnace and at least two hoppers arranged in parallel and offset from the central axis above the rotary distribution device. Each hopper has a lower funnel part ending in an outlet portion and each hopper has a material gate valve with a shutter member associated to its outlet portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Emile Lonardi, Guy Thillen, Claude Thinnes, Jeannot Loutsch
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Patent number: 8088327Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace commonly comprises a rotary distribution configured to distribute charge material on a charging surface in the shaft furnace. A rotatable structure supports the rotary distribution means and a stationary support rotatably supports the rotatable structure. According to the invention, the charging device is equipped with an inductive coupling device including a stationary inductor fixed to the stationary support and a rotary inductor fixed to the rotatable structure. The stationary inductor and the rotary inductor are separated by a radial gap and configured as rotary transformer for achieving contact-less electric energy transfer from the stationary support to the rotatable structure by means of magnetic coupling through the radial gap for powering an electric load arranged on the rotatable structure and connected to said rotary inductor.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Emile Breden, Lionel Hausemer, Emile Lonardi, Guy Thillen
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Patent number: 8088192Abstract: A process for recovering non-ferrous metals, in particular copper, nickel and cobalt, from metallurgical residues containing these non-ferrous metals at an oxidation state of greater than or equal to zero, in an alternating current type plasma arc electric furnace comprising a plurality of electrodes, containing a liquid copper heel covered by a fluid slag comprising at least one fusion-reduction phase, comprising charging of metallurgical residues comprising the non-ferrous metals onto the heel contained in the plasma arc electric furnace, fusion of the metallurgical residues in the fluid slag or at the slag-metal bath interface, reduction of at least the non-ferrous metals to oxidation state zero, and intense stirring of the copper heel by injection of inert gas, preferably nitrogen and/or argon, so as to avoid crust formation and to accelerate the reduction reaction and to cause the copper-miscible non-ferrous metals to pass into the copper heel.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Jean-Luc Roth, Christophe Solver
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Publication number: 20110311926Abstract: In a charging process of a shaft furnace, in particular of a blast furnace, batches of charge material are typically discharged in cyclical sequence into the furnace from a top hopper using a flow control valve. A method and system is proposed for adjusting the flow rate of charge material in such a process. Pre-determined valve characteristics for certain types of material are provided, each indicating the relation between flow rate and valve setting for one type of material. According to the invention, a specific valve characteristic is stored for each batch of charge material, each specific valve characteristic being bijectively associated to one batch and indicating the relation between flow rate and valve setting of the flow control valve specifically for the associated batch.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Paul Tockert, Emile Breden, Emile Lonardi, Damien Meyer
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Publication number: 20110311346Abstract: In a charging process of a shaft furnace, in particular of a blast furnace, batches of charge material are typically discharged in cyclical sequence into the furnace from a top hopper using a flow control valve. A method and system is proposed for adjusting the flow rate of charge material in such a process. According to the invention, a respective set of plural valve settings is stored for each batch, each valve setting of a set being associated to a different stage in the discharge of the batch. The method and system are configured to discharge a given batch so that, at each stage in the discharge of the given batch, the flow control valve operates at a constant valve opening according to the valve setting associated to that stage and so that an actual average flow rate at which charge material is discharged is determined for that stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.Inventors: Paul Tockert, Emile Breden, Emile Lonardi, Damien Meyer