Abstract: The present invention proposes a pulverized coal injection lance (10) for feeding pulverized coal from a rear end of the lance (10) to a front end (11) of the lance (10). The lance (10) comprises an outer pipe (12) for conveying combustive gas, and an inner pipe (14), coaxially arranged within the outer pipe (12), for conveying pulverized coal. The inner pipe (14) forms a separation wall for separating the pulverized coal from the combustive gas. The separation wall is at least partially discontinued in a region near the front end (11) of the lance (10), thereby forming a mixing region (16) within the pulverized coal injection lance (10). According to an important aspect of the invention, the outer pipe (12) and the inner pipe (14) have substantially the same length and wherein the inner pipe (14) comprises at least one lateral opening (18, 20) for allowing pulverized coal and combustive gas to come into contact within the pulverized coal injection lance (10) near the front end (11).

Abstract: A device (10), for moving a runner (12) of a shaft furnace between an upper tapping floor level (42), where the runner is in an operational position in front of a taphole of the furnace, and a lower service level (40), where the runner is accessible for replacement. The device (10) comprises a first support (28) and a second support (34) forming a base member (38), a carrier member (20) for bearing the runner, the carrier member having a first and a second longitudinal portion, a first lifting member (22) connected via a first articulation (26) to the first longitudinal portion and via a second articulation (30) to the first support, and a second lifting member (24) connected via a third articulation (32) to the second longitudinal portion and via a fourth articulation (36) to the second support. The base member (38), the carrier member (20) and the first and second lifting members (22, 24) together with the four articulations (26, 30, 32, 36) form a four-bar equivalent mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to computer-implemented charging of a blast furnace equipped with an automated to 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.

Abstract: A blast furnace charging system for feeding charge material into the hearth of a blast furnace includes at least two hoppers for temporarily storing charge material, each hopper having a discharge assembly for feeding the charge material from the respective hopper into the hearth of a blast furnace, the discharge assembly including an inclined discharge channel having, at its lower end, a material gate providing charge material flow control at the lower end of the discharge channel; and a protection ring arranged in the vicinity of the material gate for leading charge material from the discharge channel to a seal seat of the discharge assembly, where the discharge assembly further includes a heated panel arranged on the protection ring, the heated panel being formed by a panel-like copper body having fluid channels arranged therein so as to form a channel leading from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.

Abstract: A lower sealing valve unit for a charging system of a shaft furnace includes a housing having a pair of inlets and at least one outlet; a valve seat associated with each inlet; and a flap associated with each valve seat and adapted for, in a closed position, engaging the valve seat to sealingly close the inlet, each flap being supported by a pivotable shaft allowing displacement between the closed position and an open position off the associated valve seat, where a common structure, mounted to one side of the housing, includes a pair of drive mechanisms, each connected to one of the pivotable shafts for independent actuation thereof, the shafts passing coaxially though the housing side and being supported by the common structure.

Abstract: A method for producing pulverized coal including the steps of providing a drying gas heated to a predefined temperature in a hot gas generator; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer; introducing raw coal into the pulverizer, the pulverizer grinding the raw coal into pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer and feeding the mixture to a filter, the filter separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding the drying gas from the filter to an exhaust line; and collecting the drying gas exiting the filter and feeding part of the collected drying gas to a recirculation line for feeding recirculation drying gas to the hot gas generator.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a bustle pipe arrangement (10) of a shaft furnace, in particular for feeding hot gas into the shaft furnace such as e.g. a blast furnace, wherein the bustle pipe arrangement (10) comprises a circumferential bustle pipe (12) arranged along the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace, at a certain distance therefrom. The arrangement (10) further comprises a plurality of first support arms (22) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second support arms (24) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being separate from the second level. The first and second support arms (22, 24) are configured to support the circumferential bustle pipe (12). First blow channels (26) are arranged through the first support arms (22) for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the interior of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing halides, in particular chlorides and fluorides, from starting secondary zinc oxides, for example Waelz or Primus oxides, comprising the steps (1) for washing the secondary zinc oxides with sodium carbonate and separating the solid residue from the basic liquid, (2) leaching at least one portion of the solid residue of step 1 by means of H2SO4, preferably up to a pH between 2.5 and 4, and separating the solid residue from the acid liquid, and (3) treating the liquid from step 2 by adding Al3+ and PO43? ions and a neutralizing agent in order to remove the residual fluoride, preferably at a pH<4, and separating the liquid from the solid residue containing fluorides.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a bustle pipe arrangement (10) of a shaft furnace, in particular for feeding hot gas into the shaft furnace such as e.g. a blast furnace, wherein the bustle pipe arrangement (10) comprises a circumferential bustle pipe (12) arranged along the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace, the bustle pipe (12) being arranged at a certain distance form the outer casing (14). The arrangement (10) further comprises a plurality of first arms (22) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second arms (24) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being different from the second level. First and second blow channels (26, 30) are respectively arranged through the first and second arms (22, 24) for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the interior of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: A shaft furnace bleeder valve for controlling a gas outflow from the interior of a pressurized furnace to the ambient atmosphere through an exhaust conduit is proposed. The bleeder valve comprises a valve seat associated with the exhaust conduit, a movable closure member having a central closure surface and a peripheral sealing surface cooperating with the valve seat, the closure surface comprising a convex surface at least in proximity to the sealing surface. The valve further has an actuating mechanism, which is connected to the closure member for moving the closure member between a closed position on the valve seat and an open position distant from the valve seat.

Abstract: An injection system for solid particles comprises a conveying hopper (11) located at an upstream location (1), a fluidizing device (21) for fluidizing the solid particles at the outlet of the conveying hopper (11) and forming a solid-gas flow, a pneumatic conveying line (15) for conveying the solid-gas flow from the fluidizing device (21) to a downstream location (2) and a static distribution device (17) with a plurality of injection lines (19), connected thereto. An upstream flow control system controls the mass flow rate in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1) by controlling the opening of an upstream flow control valve (35) responsive to the solid material mass flow measured in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1).

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, is disclosed. The charging device is equipped with a cooling system. The rotary charging device includes a rotatable support for rotary distribution means as well as a stationary housing for the rotatable support. The cooling system includes a rotary cooling circuit fixed in rotation with the rotatable support as well as a stationary cooling circuit on the stationary housing. A heat transfer device is provided which includes a stationary heat transfer element configured to be cooled by a cooling fluid flowing through the stationary cooling circuit and which includes a rotary heat transfer element configured to be heated by a separate cooling fluid circulated in the rotary cooling circuit.

Abstract: A cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace includes a body with a front face, an opposite rear face (16), four side edges and at least one coolant channel extending from the region of one side edge to the region of the opposite side edge, where a bent connection pipe connects at least one extremity of each coolant channel for coolant fluid feed or return, and the bent connection pipe is sealingly connected with the extremity of the associated coolant channel within a respective recess in the body that is opened toward the rear side, where the coolant channel opens in the recess in a connection surface beveled towards the rear side; and the bent connection pipe does not extend laterally beyond the corresponding side edge.

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 devolatised carbonaceous material and synthesis, and allowing the devolatised carbonaceous material and synthesis gas to react with the recovered top gas.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Method for producing pulverized coal, the method comprising the steps of heating a drying gas, preferably an inert gas, in a hot gas generator (26) to a predefined temperature; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer (20); introducing raw coal into the pulverizer (20), the pulverizer (20) grinding the raw coal into pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer (20) and feeding the mixture to a filter (34), the filter (34) separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding the drying gas from the filter (34) to a recirculation line (38) for returning at least part of the drying gas to the hot gas generator (26); and determining an oxygen level in the drying gas, preferably in the recirculation line (38), and comparing the determined oxygen level to a predetermined oxygen level threshold.

Abstract: Method for producing pulverized coal, the method comprising the steps of heating a drying gas, preferably an inert gas, in a hot gas generator (26) to a predefined temperature; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer (20); introducing raw coal into the pulverizer (20), the pulverizer (20) grinding the raw coal to pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer (20) and feeding the mixture to a filter (34), the filter (34) separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; and collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding part of the drying gas from the filter to a recirculation line (38) for returning at least part of the drying gas to the hot gas generator (26).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding pulverised coal into a blast furnace, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a tuyere stock (14) for blowing hot blast air from a bustle pipe (12) into a furnace hearth of a blast furnace through a tuyere (15) in an opening in the furnace wall (16); providing a pulverised coal injection lance (18) for feeding pulverised coal into the tuyere (15), the pulverised coal injection lance (18) comprising an inner pipe (20) for conveying pulverised coal and an outer pipe (22), coaxially arranged around the inner pipe (20), for conveying combustive gas, the inner pipe (20) forming a separation wall for separating the pulverised coal from the combustive gas, the pulverised coal injection lance (18) having a lance tip (24) arranged in the tuyere (15); allowing the pulverised coal and the combustive gas to form a mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas at the lance tip (24); burning the mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas in the tuye

Abstract: A lower sealing valve assembly for a shaft furnace charging installation including a lower sealing valve housing with a lower outlet through which charge material can freely drop onto a distribution device, the housing has at least one upper inlet for communicating with an outlet of a hopper arranged above the housing, where each inlet has an associated valve seat that is arranged inside the lower sealing valve housing and turned towards the interior of the housing, a shutter is further operatively connected to an actuation mechanism for moving the shutter into and out of sealing contact with the valve seat, the valve actuation mechanism includes a turn-slide cylindric joint having a typically vertical joint axis for swiveling the shutter in a plane perpendicular to the joint axis inside the lower sealing valve housing and for translating the shutter up and down along the joint axis such that the cylindric joint includes a shaft that is axially fixed and rotatably in a hollow sleeve, which in turn is axially

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace, in particular for a blast furnace and a cooperating distribution chute are proposed, where the distribution chute has an elongated chute body providing a sliding channel for bulk material and two chute-mounting members attached laterally to either side of the chute body for mounting the distribution chute to the charging device, the charging device including a mechanism for rotating the distribution chute, the mechanism having a rotatable support rotor with two suspension flanges cooperating with the chute-mounting members of the distribution chute for mounting the distribution chute, where each chute-mounting member of the chute includes a hook-shaped portion that forms a suspension hook for mounting the distribution chute to the suspension flanges, each suspension flange in turn has a support configured for engagement with the hook-shaped portion of the chute along a hook engagement direction, and furthermore, each chute-mounting member includes an abutment portion tha