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.

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 Al2O3ratio 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: 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 multiple hearth furnace includes a gas cooling system for its central shaft and its rabble arms. This gas cooling system includes within the shaft an annular main distribution channel for supplying a cooling gas to the rabble arms and a central exhaust channel for evacuating the cooling gas leaving the rabble arms. The gas cooling system further includes an annular main supply channel surrounding the annular main distribution channel and being outwardly delimited by an outer shell of the shaft. A cooling gas inlet is connected to the annular main supply channel. A cooling gas passage between the annular main supply channel and the annular main distribution channel is spaced from the cooling gas inlet, so that cooling gas supplied to the cooling gas inlet has to flow through the annular main supply channel through several hearth chambers before it flows through the cooling gas passage into the annular main distribution channel.

Abstract: A rotary charging device (10) for a shaft furnace commonly comprises a rotary distribution means (12) for distributing charge material on a charging surface in the shaft furnace. A rotatable structure supports (16) the rotary distribution means and a stationary support (18) rotatably supports the rotatable structure. According to the invention, the charging device (10) is equipped with an inductive coupling device (30) including a stationary inductor (34) fixed to the stationary support and a rotary inductor (36) fixed to the rotatable structure. The stationary inductor (34) and the rotary inductor (36) are separated by a radial gap and configured as rotary transformer for achieving contact-less electric energy transfer from the stationary support (18) to the rotatable structure (16) by means of magnetic coupling trough the radial gap for powering an electric load arranged on the rotatable structure (16) and connected to said rotary inductor (36).

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the treatment of divided metal residues contaminated by one or more organic compounds, comprising: mixing, inside a chamber, of said metal residues with at least one calcium/magnesium compound capable of reacting exothermically with water; exothermic reaction of said 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 said metal residues during this exothermic reaction; oxidation of the organic compounds during said mixing, by bringing the metal residues contaminated by one or more organic compounds mixed with said 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 said treated product.

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 for distributing loose materials, arranged in a curtain of loose material tipped out from a means of conveying loose material includes a box with a top opening, at least one wall which extends transverse to the curtain of material inside the box to subdivide the box into at least two compartments, and at least two tipping-out means, one of the tipping-out means being associated with each of the compartments of the box, the tipping-out means being directed in such a way as to deflect the material received in the respective compartments into a distinct region of the hopper. The method for loading a hopper includes tipping loose material out in the form of a curtain of material over the hopper and splitting the curtain into at least two partial streams so as to deflect each of the partial streams towards a distinct region of the hopper.

Abstract: A cooling plate for an iron and steelmaking furnace includes a copper cooling plate body having at least one cooling duct for a cooling medium extending essentially parallel with the back of the cooling plate body. The cooling plate body further includes a preformed, externally accessible recess into which the cooling duct opens. A connection piece is utilized as a cooling medium connection on the back of the cooling plate body, while a formed piece fitted within the externally accessible recess forms a deflection surface for the cooling medium flowing from the connection piece into the cooling duct, or from the cooling duct into the connection piece.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a stave cooler for a metallurgical furnace including supplying a metal plate having an inward side for facing the inside of the furnace and an opposite outward side; supplying at least one coolant pipe; establishing a thermo-conductive contact between the coolant pipe and the metal plate; providing the coolant pipe with a flattened face and externally fixing the flattened face to the metal plate on the outward side for establishing the thermo-conductive contact.

Abstract: A method for protecting a tuyere assembly and a refractory lining of a furnace, and in particular a blast furnace, against damage caused by expansion of the refractory lining. This method includes providing a clearance between the tuyere assembly and a refractory lining portion below the tuyere assembly and monitoring this clearance by means of a displacement sensor.

Abstract: A charging device (10; 10?; 10?) for a shaft furnace comprises a distribution chute (20; 20?; 20?; 20??), which is supported rotatable about an essentially vertical axis of rotation (A), and a variable-speed drive (26) connected to the distribution chute. The variable-speed drive is configured to rotate the distribution chute for circumferential distribution of bulk material on a charging surface of the shaft furnace. According to the invention, the distribution chute comprises multiple chute sections (32, 34, 36, 38) that are interlinked by articulations so as to be capable of forming a curved channel for radial distribution of bulk material on the charging surface, the degree of curvature of said channel being variable in function of the speed of rotation (?) of the distribution chute.

Abstract: A cooling plate for an iron and steelmaking furnace includes a copper cooling plate body having at least one cooling duct for a cooling medium extending essentially parallel with the back of the cooling plate body. The cooling plate body further includes a preformed, externally accessible recess into which the cooling duct opens. A connection piece is utilized as a cooling medium connection on the back of the cooling plate body, while a formed piece fitted within the externally accessible recess forms a deflection surface for the cooling medium flowing from the connection piece into the cooling duct, or from the cooling duct into the connection piece.

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 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.