Abstract: A molten metal inclusion sensor intended for "continuous" use in the testing of steel, i.e. a useful life of at least about 30 minutes, comprises a probe which is detachably connected to a water-cooled support member (35). The probe comprises a tube (30) of heat resistant material, preferably silica, having an inner electrode (31) mounted on its interior wall and an outer electrode (32) mounted on its exterior wall, the molten metal entering the tube interior through an orifice (33) upon its immersion in the molten metal, whereupon the flow of metal with entrained inclusions is monitored by measuring the voltage between the electrodes (31, 32). The electrodes (31, 32) are preferably of graphite and are shaped to fit closely against the walls of the part of the tube (30) that is immersed in the metal and are of a material that retains enough mechanical strength to support the tube (30) as the metal is pumped into and out of interior, the metal remaining hot enough for this pumping to occur.

Abstract: A molten metal inclusion sensor comprises a single use disposable probe which is detachably connected to a support member. The probe may comprise a tube of heat resistant material having an inner electrode mounted on its interior wall and an outer electrode mounted on its exterior wall, the molten metal entering the tube interior through an orifice in its wall past a jet-preventer insert upon its immersion in the molten metal, whereupon the flow of metal with entrained inclusions is monitored by measuring the voltage between the electrodes. Alternatively the tube may be of electrically-conductive heat-resistant material and constitute the inner electrode. The flow may be assisted by a reduced pressure established within the tube, or may be slowed by a positive pressure to maintain the Reynolds number of the flow below 2000.

Abstract: A process including an apparatus for use therein for gasifying a carbonaceous material by means of blowing said carbonaceous material onto a high temperature molten iron bath through a top-blowing lance of the non-immersion type is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying a solid carbonaceous material such as coal is disclosed in which powdery coal is top-blown together with oxygen gas and steam onto a molten metal bath through a non-immersing multihole lance, said powdery coal is blown separately from the oxygen gas and steam, and the steam is commingled with the oxygen gas within the lance before they are injected out of the lance.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a lance structure for use with a top-blown converter. The lance structure is constructed to include a cylindrical sheath having a bottom wall and a flux supply tube disposed at the center of the sheath and defining a passage for carrying slag-forming flux in a powdered form. Further inclusive are a plurality of oxygen supply tubes which are arranged in the sheath and around the flux supply tube and which define oxygen supply passages. From the oxygen supply tubes, there lead a corresponding number of Laval nozzles which have their exits opened in the sheath bottom so that the oxygen gas supplied through the oxygen supply passages may be blown in the form of supersonic jets to penetrate into the molten iron contained in the converter. The flux supply tube is formed with ports which are opened into the Laval nozzles just upstream of the exits thereof to feed the flux together with a carrier gas to the supersonic oxygen jets so that the carrier gas flows may merge into the oxygen jets.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a process for producing an alloy of low phosphorus content by means of a furnace equipped with a lance for injection. The process is characterized by producing an alloy of low phosphorus content and at the same time by gasifying the carbonaceous material.The process comprises the steps of:forming a bath of molten metal by pouring a molten metal in the furnace, said molten metal containing not more than 0.040% of phosphorus;injecting by means of said lance into said bath of molten metal a carbonaceous material together with a gasifying agent to gasify the carbonaceous material with the heat of the bath of molten metal and to increase the carbon content of the bath of molten metal, said carbonaceous material containing not more than 0.035% of phosphorus;adding to said bath of molten metal an alloying element to react with the molten metal thereby forming an alloy; andrecovering the formed gas and, at the same time, obtaining the alloy of low phosphorus content.

Abstract: A process for refining high-Cr steel, e.g. 13% Cr steel and 18% Cr steel, is disclosed. The process comprises preparing molten iron in a top-and-bottom blowing converter, heating the molten iron to a predetermined temperature, effecting the decarburization of the thus prepared molten iron by blowing oxygen gas through a top lance against the surface of the molten iron to provide a molten steel while, as bottom-blown gas, initially introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the molten steel then changing to an inert gas when the carbon content of said molten steel is reduced to a predetermined level so as to suppress the oxidation of chromium, and tapping the resulting molten steel out of the converter after adjusting the steel composition.

Abstract: A process for producing an ultra-low phosphorus steel containing 0.010% or less of phosphorus is disclosed, which comprises charging a desiliconized pig iron into a top- and bottom-blowing oxygen converter, introducing a slag-forming agent in a powdered form onto the molten iron together with the top-blowing oxygen and introducing a bottom-blowing gas selected from the group consisting of an inert gas, nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide gas and mixtures thereof during the oxygen top-blowing or during both the oxygen top-blowing and the subsequent tapping.

Abstract: In a process for the gasification of solid carbonaceous material such as coal, powdered coal is top-blown onto a molten iron bath stored in a furnace through a non-submerged lance toward a hot spot formed by means of a jet of oxygen and steam top-blown through a non-submerged lance, coal being blown by means of a carrier gas, and flux is optionally added into the furnace by the lump or blown toward the hot spot, thereby the coal being gasified. The ratio L/L.sub.o of the depression depth L of the molten iron bath to the molten iron bath depth L.sub.o is maintained from 0.05 to 0.15, and the blowing velocity of the solid carbonaceous material is maintained from 50 to 300 m/sec so as to suppress the forming of an adhered mass in the furnace. A stirring gas is blown through a bottom nozzle to stir the molten iron bath.