Abstract: A process for the production of iron from ferrous raw materials, the process comprising conducting a production phase and a tapping phase, the production phase including feeding fuel to an iron bath contained in a converter, continuously feeding ferrous raw materials to the iron bath through a gas space above the iron bath, continuously blowing oxygenous gases onto the surface of the iron bath, reducing the ferrous raw materials with the fuel to produce reduced iron, afterburning reaction gases comprising CO and H.sub.2 emerging from the iron bath with oxidizing gases in the gas space to produce heat, and transferring the heat to the iron bath; and the tapping phase including removing 40% to 90% of the iron bath to produce a final bath which can then be used as an initial bath in a subsequent production phase.

Abstract: A reactor for introducing gas into a fluid comprises a mixing tank (12, 43) for the fluid and a partition means (13,45) for dividing the tank into at least two chambers (21, 89) and (23, 91). The reactor further comprises a first pump means (14, 47) located in one of the chambers for circulating the fluid downwards in one chamber and then upward in the other chamber and an aerator assembly (29, 49) for aerating a sidestream of the fluid and introducing the aerated fluid into the tank for mixing the aerated fluid with the circulating fluid in the tank. The aerator assembly comprises a bank of venturi aerators (38, 57) each having an aerator inlet; an aerator outlet; and a constriction intermediate the aerator inlet and the aerator outlet for creating a region of reduced pressure in the fluid, the constriction being elongate in a section transverse to the direction of flow of the fluid through the constriction; and a means for introducing the gas into the constriction to aerate the fluid.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprising an oxidising agent such as ammonium nitrate (AN), and a fuel material which may include a fuel oil (FO) and which also comprises a solid fuel such as rubber particles or polystyrene beads or flakes. The solid fuel is incorporated into the composition to provide for the controlled release of energy upon detonation of the explosive composition. It has been found that by substituting some or all of the liquid fuel oil with a slower burning solid fuel, the time during which the pressure builds up during detonation is lengthened. Thus a low shock energy explosive (LSEE) can be produced having reduced shock energy and increased heave energy compared to convention explosives, such as ANFO.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for intensifying the reactions in metallurgical reaction vessels containing a molten bath to which the reacting agents are fed below and above the bath surface, the gases emerging from the metal bath being afterburned in the space above the smelt by oxidizing gases injected into said gas space and the resulting heat being transferred to the molten bath, whereby fractions of the smelt in the form of drops, splashes and large particles of the smelt move on ballistic trajectories within the gas space of said metallurgical reaction vessel, being ejected from the smelt like a fountain through the amount of gas introduced via underbath tuyeres.

Abstract: A method of reducing metal oxides in a vessel containing a molten bath, the bath comprising a metal layer and a slag layer, wherein metal oxides and carbonaceous material are introduced into the bath, gas is injected into the slag layer to case the eruption of molten slag parts, droplets and/or streams into the gas space above the bath and oxygen-containing gas is injected into the gas space to case post-combustion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protecting the refractory lining of a metallurgical reaction vessel containing a smelt consisting of metal and slag, the reacting agents for the smelt being fed to the metal bath through introducing means disposed below and above the bath surface, and the gases escaping from the smelt being afterburned with oxidizing agents in the gas space, i.e. in the space above the still smelt, whereby gaseous reacting agents and/or gases acting inertly in the metal bath are fed to the smelt below the bath surface, and the total refractory lining surface in the gas space of the metallurgical reaction vessel is wetted by partial amounts of smelt in the form of drops, splashes, liquid portions rising or ejected eruptively and like a fountain and/or by wave or sloshing motion of the smelt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for smelting reduction of metal ores involving a combination process wherein the metal ores are partly reduced in one or more stages and then completely reduced to metal in a melt-down reactor. The combination process comprises at least three process units, and the melt-down reactor forms one process unit. The partial reduction of the metal ores is performed in at least two further process units. A different waste gas is produced in each of these at least three process units.

Abstract: A method of destroying organic waste in a bath of molten metal and slag contained in a vessel (3) is disclosed. The method comprises injecting organic waste into the bath to form a primary reaction zone (13) in which the organic waste is thermally cracked and the products of the thermal cracking which are not absorbed into the bath are released into the space above the surface of the bath. The method further comprises injecting an oxygen-containing gas toward the surface of the bath to form a secondary reaction zone (17) in the space above the surface of the bath in which the oxidizable materials in the products from the primary reaction zone (13) are completely oxidized and the heat released by such oxidation is transferred to the bath.

Abstract: A rock bolt load sensor assembly for use to determine the load on a nut screwed onto a bolt embedded in a rock face, the assembly comprising a plurality of spring washers arranged to be mounted on the bolt between the nut and a roof plate, and a sensor comprising an induction coil adapted to be, in use, placed around the washers, the sensor including an indicator coupled to the induction coil whereby in use, the spring washers define an air space which varies in dependence on the load on the bolt and the induction coil provides an electrical indication of variation of the air space and the indicator provides an indication of variation of the load on the bolt.