Abstract: A water-cooled lance is supported above the mouth of a steel-making vessel for vertical reciprocating movement and includes a slurry pipe which is rotatably positioned to spray repair material against the inner lining of the vessel, or to place a new lining on the interior of the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing pyro-metallurgical processes, such as those involved in the reaction melting of fine grained solids or for the after-treatment of melts wherein an exothermically reacting solids/gas mixture is conducted through an acceleration jet as a heterogenous stream and is blown onto a melt contained in the furnace. The jet stream is ignited immediately upon discharge from the jet and a sharply focused or highly concentrated particle stream having a high surface power density (high mass flow velocity) and a high temperature is impacted against the melt. This results in the melt being subjected to localized intensive movement and is simultaneously heated. The method is suitable for the reaction melting of sulfidic or oxidic non-ferrous metal concentrates as well as for the reduction and/or depletion of non-ferrous metal containing slags, and for the reduction of metal melts.

Abstract: A boron-treated steel comprises a carbon steel, or a low alloy steel containing 0.15 to 0.85% C, 0.15 to 2.0% Si, 0.3 to 1.5% Mn, not more than 1.0% Cr, not more than 0.020% of P and S each, and unavoidable quantities of Al and Ti not exceeding 0.008% and 0.010%, respectively, and further contains 6 to 30 ppm of acid-soluble boron. The steel produced is less likely to develop cracks and can be produced at substantially reduced costs.

Abstract: A method of charging relatively large briquettes of metal scrap to a melting system at a substantially constant feed rate is disclosed. The method comprises providing a pumping bay, a charging and melting bay, and a molten metal furnace from which molten metal is recirculated from the furnace through the pumping bay to the charging and melting bay. The briquettes are transferred onto a first conveyor adapted to store and convey a controlled weight of briquettes to a second conveyor. The briquettes are conveyed from the first conveyor to a second conveyor mounted on load cells which intermittently stops the first conveyor to maintain a controlled weight in the second conveyor. The briquettes are transferred from the second conveyor to a third conveyor where they are aligned and accumulated. The briquettes are then discharged individually at a substantially constant rate into the melting bay.

Abstract: A recirculating system for ingestion of metal scrap into a molten melting media is disclosed. The system comprises a heating bay containing the molten melting media and a scrap charging bay having upper and lower portions wherein metal scrap is charged into the upper portions of the bay and ingested into the melting media, the scrap charging bay connected to the heating bay to permit molten melting media to be circulated from the heating bay through the scrap charging bay and back to the heating bay. An impeller is positioned in the scrap charging bay for purposes of ingesting the metal scrap into the molten melting media. The impeller has a base member and a top member provided with an opening therein and having an annular flange thereon extending beyond the periphery of the base member substantially transversely to the impeller rotation axis, the impeller having blades positioned between the base member and the top member, the blades extending in a generally radial direction.

Abstract: A rotatable furnace for treatment of metallic scrap is fed metallic scrap comprising at least two metallic components having different incipient melting temperatures. The furnace is heated to a temperature at least equal to the lowest incipient melting temperature of the metallic components but less than the incipient melting temperatures of other components in the scrap while rotating the furnace to agitate the scrap. The combination of heating to the incipient melting temperature and agitating the scrap serves to fragment the metallic component having the lowest incipent melting temperature. The scrap is then removed from the furnace, and the scrap is segregated by particle size. Fines representing dirt and other impurities may also be separated therefrom.

Abstract: A composite pellet for use as feed for a carbothermic alumina reduction furnace is disclosed. A carbonaceous core is surrounded by substantially carbon-free alumina shell. The resulting pellet has increased thermal and electrical stability in the reduction furnace.

Abstract: A method for forming a directional and controlled suspension spray of a pulverous material and a reaction gas is intended for use in metallurgical processes and plants. In flash smelting, reaction gases are fed into a cylindrical vertical reaction chamber centrally through the top of the reaction chamber. The blasting in is via a specific blast-in member, into which the gases are usually directed horizontally for reasons of space use. This results in that the flow in the reaction chamber is asymmetrical. This disadvantage can be eliminated by means of a method according to the present invention.

Abstract: Low grade ores, such as low-grade manganese ore, are reduced in an electric smelting furnace having two melting zones divided by a barrier. The ore and a small quantity of carbon are melted in the first zone at a temperature sufficient to reduce the iron oxide contained in the ore to molten iron, leaving molten layers of ore and slag which are richer in manganese than the starting material. The melt and slag are allowed to flow over the barrier to the second zone where a second charge of ore and a greater amount of carbon are deposited. Electrode melting in the second zone is carried out at a higher temperature to reduce the manganese and remaining iron therein to form a high-grade ferromanganese product. The molten products are tapped from the furnace in the respective zones. The method of the present invention may be used with other ores such as low grade chromium ore and the method may also be used for the production of silicomanganese.

Abstract: A method for injecting a pulverized fuel into a blast furnace uses a pulverulent fuel injecting burner which is protruded into a blow pipe through a wall thereof near the tuyere of a blast furnace. The burner injects a pulverized fuel into the blast furnace along with a hot blast of air at a temperature higher than 950.degree. C. flowing through the blow pipe. The tip end of the burner is located at a distance L between 100 and 350 mm upstream from the boundary between the tuyere of the blast furnace and the blow pipe. According to one embodiment, the tip of the furnace is tapered by an angle .theta..ltoreq.1400L.sup.2 -1290L+295. According to a second embodiment, the inner diameter B.sub.1 of the blow pipe, and the inner and outer diameters of the burner tip (d and D) are selected such that 0.1.ltoreq.(D/Bi).ltoreq.0.25 and 0.6.ltoreq.(d/D).ltoreq.0.8. According to a third embodiment, the burner tip is removable.

Abstract: The device includes a chamber for holding a metal in the liquid state having a lower section that communicates with three channels which converge to form a single passage wherein two of the channels include inductor cores around which the channel forms an annular zone to contain the metal. In the presence of alternating currents of variable voltage and phase, the inductors can be energized separately or simultaneously to perform the heating, mixing and transferring operations within the channels.

Abstract: An improved method of melting metal scrap in a molten melting media is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of molten melting media in a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a generally cylindrical wall section. A supply of metal scrap is added to the housing and a supply of molten melting media is introduced to the upper portion of the housing. Melting of the metal scrap is initiated by ingesting it and molten melting media downwardly in the housing by action of an impeller positioned in the lower portion, the impeller having a flat ring member having an opening in the center thereof and having blades extending from said ring member to a substantially circular disc member. The scrap and melting media enters the opening in the ring member in an axial direction and is propelled therefrom in a radial direction by use of the blades.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the suppression of fume from a body of molten metal is described. The method involves the blanketing of the molten metal bath with a mixture of pressurized inert gas and finely divided or atomized particles of water. The inert gas may be argon, nitrogen or steam. Apparatus particularly adapted for performing the disclosed method is also described.

Abstract: A method and system of melting a charge of metal in a closed hearth wherein the metal has a first high thermal conductivity when solid, a second low thermal conductivity when liquid and a given melting temperature below about 1600.degree. F., such as aluminum. The method and system involves the use of a plurality of heaters having a total high heat capacity sufficient to melt the metal in a given time and sufficient to drastically increase the temperature of the metal when the metal is in the liquid state.

Abstract: The iron ores hematite, magnetite, limonite and siderite are reduced to iron by chemical reactions of the oxides in the ores with hydrocarbon gases in the absence of oxygen and oxygen compounds except carbon dioxide, in the input to the reaction chamber, other than the iron oxides. With certain ores and hydrocarbons the reactions are exothermic; other reactants require added heat. This method achieves the results of blast furnace techniques with more efficient utilization of fuel, lower cost fuel, lower cost of labor, an improved method of removing silica from the iron ores, and the use of readily available hydrocarbons in place of metallurgical coke which is often scarce.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for leaching copper from slags by the use of a device comprising at least two cells separated by partitions and connected to each other by means of through-holes provided at the bottom part of the partitions, a slag charging hole, a copper matte charging hole, a slag discharge hole, a copper matte discharge hole, and a heating appliance, said partitions being alternately higher and lower, the height of the through-holes through the higher partitions increasing toward the slag discharge holes. Said method includes reduction, sulphidization, and copper matte rinsing of the slag, the copper matte rinsing of the slag being accomplished by its successive movement from one cell into another through a copper matte layer in alternately downward and upwardly directed streams.

Abstract: Lead in separated from a sulfidic concentrate by feeding a finely-divided concentrate, a silicate-high slagging agent, and air or oxygen-enriched air into the upper section of a suspension reaction shaft of a flash-smelting furnace in order to form a suspension and to oxidize the lead to lead oxide, by removing the gases via a riser pipe of the furnace and by discharging melt from a lower furnace of the flash-smelting furnace for further treatment. The slagging agent is fed at such a rate that substantially all of the melt is of the slag type and that all of the melt withdrawn from the lower furnace is directed to a reduction stage in order to reduce the lead silicate and to separate it as raw lead.

Abstract: Molten pig iron flows from the hearth of a blast furnace down a runner positioned on the floor of a cast house and into ladles for receiving the iron. The runner is constructed by a plurality of precast refractory side blocks and an interconnecting base of compacted particulate refractory material to form a substantially U-shaped trough extending a preselected distance and along a preselected path from the hearth to one or more ladles for conveying the iron from the blast furnace. The trough has opposed upstanding side walls and a floor extending between the bottom of the side walls. The side walls are formed by individual side blocks positioned in abutting end to end relation on the cast house floor. The compacted base forming the trough floor extends between and interconnects with the side blocks. The adjacent ends of the side blocks are notched to form a joint for receiving castable refractory material which upon setting interlocks the ends of adjacent side blocks.

Abstract: An emission control system for controlling the emissions released from the pig iron and slag released from a blast furnace and through the troughs in a casthouse. The system comprises tap hole cover means for covering the first end of the main iron trough and for evacuating emissions from the pig iron and slag flowing through the first end of the main iron trough. The tap hole cover means in flow communication with scrubber means for cleaning emissions. Removable cover means for covering the second end of the main iron trough and for evacuating emissions from the pig iron and slag flowing through the second end of the main iron trough. The removable cover means in flow communication with scrubber means for cleaning emissions. Main iron runner cover means for covering the main iron runner to prevent the escape of emissions into the ambient air. Slag runner cover means for covering the slag runner to prevent the escape of emissions into the ambient air.

Abstract: A coal gas supply method converts a carbon carrier in a reactor into a coal gas by the addition of oxygen and feeds the coal gas to fuel consumers. To ensure a continuous fuel supply to the fuel consumers during the coal gasification process, a branch current of the coal gas produced is liquefied and stored. At the same time the oxygen stored in liquid form is drawn from a tank, evaporated and used in the reactor. If there is a breakdown in the coal gasification process, the stored quantity of coal gas is evaporated gradually and fed to the consumers. At the same time, oxygen drawn from an oxygen inlet pipe is liquefied and stored. Instead of coal gas, another fuel gas such as natural gas can also be used.