Abstract: The invention concerns a charging installation for a shaft furnace, in particular for a blast furnace, and especially the lower sealing valve assembly thereof, the installation including at least two hoppers acting as lock hoppers for intermediate storage of charge material to be charged into the furnace, the lower sealing valve includes a lower sealing valve housing arranged below the hoppers, the lower sealing valve housing has at least two inlets respectively communicating with one of the hoppers and an outlet for passing charge material into the furnace, each inlet has a respective associated valve seat providing gas-tight sealing of the hoppers downstream, the lower sealing valve assembly further includes a sealing valve mechanism for sealing the inlets, more specifically for closing the seats in technically gas-tight manner, where the sealing valve mechanism includes a one-sided shutter having a single sealing face that cooperates with both of the at least two valve seats, by virtue of the sealing valve

Abstract: The invention describes a method for recovering molybdenum, nickel, cobalt or their mixtures from used or regenerated catalysts in an electric arc furnace containing a heel of liquid cast iron, surmounted with a fluid slag, comprising the following steps: a) adding used or regenerated catalysts into the heel contained in the electric arc furnace, b) adding dosed lime in order to obtain a slag with a CaO to Al2O3 ratio comprised between 0.7 and 1.3, c) mixing the heel by injecting gas so as to avoid formation of crusts, d) melting the used or regenerated catalysts in the electric arc furnace in order to obtain a liquid ferro-alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for the treatment of divided metal residues contaminated by one or more organic compounds, including mixing, inside a chamber, of metal residues with at least one calcium/magnesium compound capable of reacting exothermically with water; exothermic reaction of the at least one calcium/magnesium compound with the water that the metal residues contain; rise in temperature of the metal residues subject to an exothermic reaction; dehydration of the metal residues during this exothermic reaction; oxidation of the organic compounds during the mixing, by bringing the metal residues contaminated by one or more organic compounds mixed with the at least one calcium/magnesium compound into contact with a gas stream containing at least partly oxygen; and removal from the chamber of a handleable dehydrated treated product having a residual content of organic compounds of less than 1% by weight of the treated product.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion and extraction of a fuel injection lance into and out of a tuyere stock (1) of a shaft furnace, in particular of a blast furnace, is proposed, the tuyere stock includes a lance sheath that defines an insertion/extraction axis and is mounted in coaxial extension of a lance channel through which an injection lance can be inserted into the tuyere stock where the proposed apparatus includes a linear guide, a carriage and a mounting support, the carriage is movably supported by the linear guide and cooperates with a connecting device for connecting an injection lance to the carriage such that the injection lance can be moved axially along a translation axis by the carriagee, where the linear guide includes a mechanism for linearly moving the carriage along a guide axis and a first coupling half for mounting the linear guide to the mounting support attached to the tuyere stock, the mounting support having a second coupling half cooperating with the first coupling half of the linear guide

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: The invention concerns a method for treating iron-and-steel plant sludge comprising adjusting the available CaO content of the sludge so as to obtain an available CaO content of 3% to 8% based on the sludge weight, adding a carbon-containing fuel, introducing the sludge onto one of the upper stages of a multistage furnace, heating the multistage furnace, gradually transferring the sludge onto the lower stages, and adjusting the temperature of the exhaust gases of the multistage furnace to at least 500.degree. C. and that of the treated sludge at the output of the multistage furnace to a temperature ranging between 700.degree. C. and 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cooling plate (10) for a metallurgical furnace comprising the steps of providing a slab (11) of metallic material, the slab (11) having a front face (14), an opposite rear face (16) and four side edges; and providing the slab (11) with at least one cooling channel (30) by drilling at least one blind borehole (40) into the slab (11), wherein the blind borehole (40) is drilled from a first edge (22) towards an opposite second edge (24). In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the further steps of deforming the slab (11) in such a way that a first edge region (46) of the slab (11) is at least partially bent towards the rear face (16) of the slab (11); and machining excess material from the front and rear faces (14, 16) of the slab (11) to produce a cooling plate (10) having a panel-like body (12) wherein an opening to the cooling channel (30) is located in the rear face (16).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a gap-filler insert (20) for use with cooling plates (12, 12?) for a metallurgical furnace, the cooling plates (12, 12?) having a front face (14, 14?) directed towards the interior of the furnace, an opposite rear face (16, 16?) directed towards a furnace wall (10) of the furnace and four edge faces (18, 18?). In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the gap-filler insert (20) comprises a metal front plate (24) with a front side (24) facing the interior of the furnace and anchoring means (28, 28?, 30, 30?, 32, 34) for mounting the front plate (24) between two neighboring cooling plates (12, 12?) in such a way that the front plate (24) extends between the edge faces (18, 18?) of both cooling plates (12, 12?), and that the front side (26) of the front plate (24) is flush with the front faces (14, 14?) of both cooling plates (12, 12?).

Abstract: A charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a distribution chute for bulk material and a drive mechanism for the distribution chute. The distribution chute has a trough-shaped main part with an open impact section and an outlet section. The main part provides a sliding channel between the impact section and the outlet section. The drive mechanism for the distribution chute is capable of rotating the distribution chute about an essentially vertical axis and pivoting the distribution chute about an essentially horizontal axis so as to allow distribution of bulk material on a charging surface of the shaft furnace. According to the present invention, the distribution chute comprises a circumferentially closed funnel portion which tapers in the direction of flow and is arranged downstream of the impact section and with its outlet at the downstream end of said trough-shaped main part.

Abstract: 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.

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: The present invention proposes a charge distribution apparatus for a furnace comprising a charge distribution chute and a drive mechanism (12) with a first rotary drive shaft (14) for rotating the charge distribution chute and a second rotary drive shaft (16) for changing the angle of inclination of the charge distribution chute. The first and second drive shafts (14, 16) are coupled to respective first and second motors (18, 22) via a planetary gear mechanism (20) for driving the first and second drive shafts (14, 16).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a weighing system of a blast furnace top hopper and a corresponding weighing system are disclosed. The method comprises the step of using at least one actuator for exerting a vertical net force with a certain magnitude onto the hopper, so as to simulate a certain weight of charge material in the hopper; and the step of determining the magnitude of the vertical net force. According to the invention, the method further comprises the step of determining the magnitude of a pressure exerting a lifting force onto said hopper and the step of using the determined magnitude of the vertical net force and the determined magnitude of the pressure to establish calibration data for the weighing system.

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: A coke oven piping system (10) comprises a pipe assembly for conveying coke oven gases (14) from a coke oven to a collecting main (16); and flow control means comprising a flow orifice (22) in the pipe assembly with an associated obturating member (20), the obturating member being axially moveable between an open position at a certain distance from the flow orifice to a closed position in which it substantially obstructs the flow orifice (22). At least one throttling opening (28) is arranged so as to offer, towards the end of the closing stroke of the obturating member (20), an opening area for the gases to the collecting main (16) that depends on the axial position of the obturating member (20).

Abstract: 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 oxidising medium at elevated temperature in order to obtain a desulfurised residue, carburising reduction/smelting of the desulfurised residue in a reducing medium, liquid phase extraction of carburised melt and slag, vapour phase extraction of the non-ferrous metals, followed by oxidation and recovery thereof in solid form.

Abstract: A coke oven offtake piping system including a pipe assembly for conveying coke oven gases from a coke oven to a collecting main, at least one spraying nozzle in pipe assembly, and a discharge section with a discharge pipe having a discharge orifice, where 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.

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 inventive multi-level furnace comprises a furnace wall delimiting a cylindrical space having a vertical axis, a plurality of beds defining the levels inside said cylindrical space and at least one scraping arm which is provided with a wall scraper and associated with the bed in such a way that it is rotatable about the vertical axis of the furnace. During scraping arm rotation, said wall scraper defines a scraped area on the internal surface of the furnace wall which comprises a plurality of wall cavities forming a row of access openings in the scraped area, thereby making it possible to avoid the formation of a hardened crust adhered to the internal surface of the furnace wall and to develop braking shocks in the scraping arm.