Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum degassing plant including a tank; and connected by a first conduit thereto a filter; and at least one vacuum pump for placing the plant under vacuum and creating a gas stream from the tank to the filter. The plant further includes a dispenser suitable for being fed with powders previously separated by the filter, wherein an outlet of the dispenser is connected to said first conduit. An inlet of the dispenser may be connected by means of a second conduit to a container collecting powders of said filter for feeding the dispenser with these powders. The invention also concerns a process wherein cold inert powders are added to the gases removed from the tank prior to their filtration which derive at least partially from powders separated by the filtration.

Abstract: A cleaning plant for hot-rolled metal strips provided with a surface oxide layer, the plant comprising unwinding means for unwinding at least one coil of rolled strip and pickling means for pickling said rolled strip; wherein there are provided measuring means for measuring the thickness of the surface oxide layer, arranged between said unwinding means and said pickling means; and wherein gaseous hydrogen detection means are provided to detect the presence of gaseous hydrogen in fumes produced by said pickling means. A corresponding cleaning method is also claimed.

Abstract: Solid agglomerated product, usable as a charge material for an electric arc furnace, comprises at least one fraction of by-product deriving from a steel plant and which comprises a first part containing ferrous oxide FeO and a second part containing ferric oxide Fe2O3, a fraction of solid fuel (CR) containing a quantity of carbon and at least one inorganic binder to agglomerate a fraction of by-product and the fraction of solid fuel with each other and give the agglomerated product the required mechanical properties. The inorganic binder at least partly comprises slag.

Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous pickling plant (101) for the treatment of metal products (109) in the form of a strip or tube which includes a plurality of acid solution process tanks (102) each divided into a plurality of turbulence cells (114) and a recirculation system of the acid solution. The plant also includes, upstream of the plurality of process tanks (102), a device for heating (124; 126) the metal product (109), namely an induction heating (124) system and/or a tunnel with water sprays (126). A solution with only two pickling tanks (102) is also presented. Devices are described (135; 136; 138, 138a) to increase turbulence in the tanks and to accelerate pickling, e.g. by adding fresh acid (146) in the first tank. The invention also concerns a related pickling process. The invention optimizes the effect of the acid and reduces the residence time of the strip (109) in the plant.

Abstract: Coating composition to be applied externally to metal products, to protect said metal products from hot oxidation, and corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous pickling plant (101) for the treatment of metal products (109) in the form of a strip or tube which includes a plurality of acid solution process tanks (102) each divided into a plurality of turbulence cells (114) and a recirculation system of the acid solution. The plant also includes, upstream of the plurality of process tanks (102), a device for heating (124; 126) the metal product (109), namely an induction heating (124) system and/or a tunnel with water sprays (126). A solution with only two pickling tanks (102) is also presented. Devices are described (135; 136; 138, 138a) to increase turbulence in the tanks and to accelerate pickling, e.g. by adding fresh acid (146) in the first tank. The invention also concerns a related pickling process. The invention optimizes the effect of the acid and reduces the residence time of the strip (109) in the plant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for detecting water leaks in smelting furnaces (2; 4) or in metal or alloy treatment plants, comprising the following steps: (i) providing at least one smelting furnace (2; 4), or at least one metal or alloy treatment plant provided with a water cooling system (5) and being connected to a process fume exhaust system; (ii) mixing in the cooling water a tracer chemical which is volatile in the event of water leakage together with the exhaust gases and which is suitable to be detected by an analysis system of the exhaust gases; and (iii) detecting said tracer chemical contained in the exhaust gases by said analysis system comprised in said process fume exhaust plant, wherein said tracer chemical is deuterated water. The invention further refers to a Plant for the production of metals or alloys.

Abstract: Method to remove copper from a bath of molten metal material, by using a reactive additive to remove copper from a bath of molten metal material and applying a depression.

Abstract: A plant for cleaning rolled metal strips provided with a superficial layer of oxide, the plant comprising unwinding means for unwinding at least one coil of rolled strip and pickling means for pickling said rolled strip; wherein there are provided measuring means for measuring the thickness of the superficial layer of oxide, arranged between said unwinding means and said pickling means. A relating cleaning method is also claimed.

Abstract: A plant for recovering and treating residues from crushing scrap is provided. The plant includes a first plant part and a second plant part. The first plant part is provided with crushing and separation means configured to extract ferrous materials, non-ferrous metals and plastic materials from the residues from crushing. The separation means are provided with a granulator system configured to reduce, in dry mode and without pre-screening stages, the residues from crushing into a stream of granular material. The second plant part is provided with means to treat and size the plastic materials configured to transform the plastic materials into additive material to be used, in particular, in iron and steel plants such as blast furnaces, electric arc furnaces or suchlike. The means to treat and size the plastic materials includes a dry system for cutting and/or grinding the plastic materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron using a pre-treated make-up gas as a reducing agent in a direct reduced iron reactor are provided. The method involves pre-treating a stream of make-up gas containing heavy hydrocarbons by subjecting the stream to low temperature adiabatic reforming at a temperature between 300° C. and 600° C., prior to using the stream of make-up gas as a reducing agent for producing direct reduced iron. The method also involves adjusting the humidity content of the stream of make-up gas after the low temperature adiabatic reforming by bypassing the stream to selectively split it into a first part of the stream of make-up gas and a second part of the stream of make-up gas, subjecting the first part to water separation, and then mixing the first part with the second part to obtain a reducing stream to be sent to direct reduced iron production.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron using a pre-treated make-up gas as a reducing agent in a direct reduced iron reactor are provided. The method involves pre-treating a stream of make-up gas containing heavy hydrocarbons by subjecting the stream to low temperature adiabatic reforming at a temperature between 300° C. and 600° C., prior to using the stream of make-up gas as a reducing agent for producing direct reduced iron. The method also involves adjusting the humidity content of the stream of make-up gas after the low temperature adiabatic reforming by bypassing the stream to selectively split it into a first part of the stream of make-up gas and a second part of the stream of make-up gas, subjecting the first part to water separation, and then mixing the first part with the second part to obtain a reducing stream to be sent to direct reduced iron production.

Abstract: A plant for cleaning rolled metal strips provided with a superficial layer of oxide, the plant comprising unwinding means for unwinding at least one coil of rolled strip and pickling means for pickling said rolled strip; wherein there are provided measuring means for measuring the thickness of the superficial layer of oxide, arranged between said unwinding means and said pickling means. A relating cleaning method is also claimed.

Abstract: A plant for recovering and treating residues from crushing scrap is provided. The plant includes a first plant part and a second plant part. The first plant part is provided with crushing and separation means configured to extract ferrous materials, non-ferrous metals and plastic materials from the residues from crushing. The separation means are provided with a granulator system configured to reduce, in dry mode and without pre-screening stages, the residues from crushing into a stream of granular material. The second plant part is provided with means to treat and size the plastic materials configured to transform the plastic materials into additive material to be used, in particular, in iron and steel plants such as blast furnaces, electric arc furnaces or suchlike. The means to treat and size the plastic materials includes a dry system for cutting and/or grinding the plastic materials.

Abstract: A continuous annealing and pickling process of flat cold-rolled products, such as stainless steel strips, to obtain a high surface quality product at high production rates and with a low environmental impact. It comprises the following steps: heating, up to a temperature comprised in the range 650-1050° C., in an atmosphere with an oxygen content comprised in the range from 0.5 to 12%; heating for a time comprised from 10 to 200 sec up to a temperature comprised in the range from 650 to 1200° C. in presence of oxidizing agents and/or inert agents; cooling down to temperatures comprised in the range from 650° C. to ambient temperature in presence of oxidizing agents and/or inert agents; thermochemical or electrolytic descaling and finally possible pickling and/or passivation, by means of the use of pickling baths consisting of mineral acid solutions.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.

Abstract: A continuous annealing and pickling process of flat cold-rolled products, such as stainless steel strips, to obtain a high surface quality product at high production rates and with a low environmental impact. It comprises the following steps: heating, up to a temperature comprised in the range 650-1050° C., in an atmosphere with an oxygen content comprised in the range from 0.5 to 12%; heating for a time comprised from 10 to 200 sec up to a temperature comprised in the range from 650 to 1200° C. in presence of oxidizing agents and/or inert agents; cooling down to temperatures comprised in the range from 650° C. to ambient tempera in presence of oxidizing agents and/or inert agents; thermochemical or electrolytic descaling and finally possible pickling and/or passivation, by means of the use of pickling baths consisting of mineral acid solutions.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products from the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products from the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.