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: A method for constructing a support ring in a curved wall, in particular around an opening in a curved wall of a hot blast stove, where the method includes providing a plurality of standardized wedge-shaped bricks with side faces having tongue and groove profiles for cooperating with the side faces of the neighboring bricks, the thickness of the brick in the axial direction being in excess of the desired end thickness of the brick, and determining the intended location of each individual brick in the curved wall and determining, based on the intended location, the location of a front cut line and a rear cut line for shaping the front and rear faces of the brick, where the front and rear faces of the brick are then shaped in accordance with the above determined front and rear cut lines by a cutting tool.

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).

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: 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 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.

Abstract: 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 rin

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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: 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.