Patents by Inventor Leopold Werner Kepplinger

Leopold Werner Kepplinger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6379420
    Abstract: In a method for producing a hot CO- and H2-containing reducing gas serving for the reduction of fine-grained metal ore, in particular iron ore, the reducing gas is formed in a gasification zone by a gasification of carbon carriers, in particular coal, taking place under the supply of oxygen and subsequently is cooled down to a reducing-gas temperature favorable to the reduction process. In order to produce a thermodynamically more stable reducing gas, the reducing gas by the addition of H2O and/or CO2—in order to prevent the Boudouard and heterogeneous water-gas reaction and a resultant heating of the reducing gas—is converted to a reducing gas that is thermodynamically more stable at the reducing-gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Wurm, Herbert Mizelli, Walter Rainer Kastner, Günther Brunnbauer
  • Patent number: 6336954
    Abstract: A process for the direct reduction of particulate iron-oxide-containing material by fluidization. A synthesis gas is introduced as a reducing gas into several fluidized bed zones consecutively arranged in series for the reducing gas. The reducing gas is conducted from one fluidized bed zone to another fluidized bed zone in counterflow to the particulate iron-oxide containing material. In order to reduce operating costs and, in particular, the energy demand, the temperature of the iron-oxide-containing material is adjusted in the first fluidized bed zone to be either below 400° C. (and, preferably, below 350° C.), or above 580° C. (and preferably about 650° C.), or to a temperature ranging from 400° C. to 580° C. If the temperature of the iron-oxide-containing material in the first fluidized bed zone is adjusted to be below 400° C., the temperature range in the following fluidized bed zone between 400° C. and 580° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Zeller, Konstantin Milionis, Johann Reidetschläger, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Zirngast, Johannes Schenk, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6277172
    Abstract: In a method of charging metal carriers which contain a portion of fines and are at least partially reduced and carbon carriers to a melter gasifier (10) in which a melt-down gasifying zone (11) is maintained, the metal carriers and the carbon carriers are fed into the melter gasifier (10) above the level of the melt-down gasifying zone (11) and descend to the melt-down gasifying zone (11) and travel through the same forming a metal melt and producing a reducing gas by coal gasification. In order to prevent a partial discharge of the metal carriers from the melter gasifier (10) during the charging of the same and to be able to achieve uniform distribution of the carbon carriers and the metal carriers, both the carbon carriers and the metal carriers are introduced into the melter gasifier centrally above the melt-down gasifying zone (11), preferably gravitationally, with a central strand (32) of metal carriers being formed which is peripherally surrounded by a jacket strand (37) formed by the carbon carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignees: Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 6273933
    Abstract: According to a process for injecting metal-oxide-containing fine particles into a reducing gas, a central material stream formed by the fine particles and a carrier gas is introduced into the reducing gas and at least one gas stream formed by a secondary gas is directed against the material stream to ensure an optimum contact of the fine particles with the reducing gas, the gas stream atomizing the material stream and the fine particles being evenly distributed within the reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignees: Voest - Alphini Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co. LTD, Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Michael Nagl, Franz Hauzenberger, Bernhard Rinner, Felix Wallner, Peter Brandl, Udo Gennari, Johannes Schenk
  • Patent number: 6235083
    Abstract: A method for producing a hot CO- and H2-containing reducing gas utilized for the reduction of lumpy metal ore, in particular iron ore, which comprises forming the reducing gas in a gasification zone by the gasification of carbon carriers, in particular coal, taking place in the presence of a supply of oxygen and subsequently cooling the reducing gas down to a reducing-gas temperature favorable to the reduction process, wherein H2O and/or CO2 is added to a reducing gas which has been subjectged to a cooling operation that does not effect an addition of H2O/CO2 in order to prevent the Boudouard and heterogeneous water-gas reaction and a resultant heating of the reducing gas, wherein the reducing gas is converted to a reducing gas that is thermodynamically more stable at the reducing-gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH.
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Johann Wurm, Herbert Mizelli, Walter Rainer Kastner, Günther Brunnbauer
  • Patent number: 6210627
    Abstract: An arrangement for the dosed introduction of fine-particulate material into a reactor vessel comprises a fluidized bed sluice, into which a material supply means enters from above and into which a gas duct feeding a fluidization gas runs in the lower end region thereof and which includes an overflow tube for conveying on the fine-particulate material. In order to introduce the fine-particulate material into the reactor vessel at specific zones, a plurality of independently connectable fluidized bed sluices are provided outside of the reactor vessel, the fluidized bed sluices having overflow tubes which project into the interior of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, Incorporated Foundation
    Inventors: Udo Gennari, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner
  • Patent number: 6183534
    Abstract: In a plant for the production of pig iron and/or sponge iron, comprising at least one fluidized bed reactor adapted to receive fine ore, a reducing-gas feed duct leading to said fluidized bed reactor, an off gas discharge duct departing from the fluidized bed reactor and a discharge means, preferably a briquetting means, provided for the reduction product formed in the fluidized bed reactor, the off gas discharge duct of the fluidized bed reactor runs into a purification means, such as a scrubber, subsequently into a heating means and finally into the reducing gas feed duct of the fluidized bed reactor. To produce a product having a high quality standard at a minimum energy input, the heating means is constructed such that it comprises two stages including a heat exchanger as the heating means for the reducing gas and, connected serially therewith, a partial combustion means for the reducing gas with an oxygen feeding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alphine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Konstantin Milionis, Dieter Siuka, Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 6179896
    Abstract: In a method of producing molten pig iron (9) or steel pre-products from lump ore which in at least one reduction zone is reduced to partially and/or completely reduced sponge iron (4) in a shaft furnace, the sponge iron (4) is melted down in a melt-down gasifying zone (8) of a melter gasifier (1) under supply of carbon-containing material (2) and oxygen and while simultaneously forming a reducing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Felix Wallner, Johannes-Leopold Schenk
  • Patent number: 6167636
    Abstract: In a process for thermally utilizing wet spent grains (1), the wet spent grains (1) are mechanically predried in a first drying stage (2), thermally dried in a further drying stage (4) and finally thermally utilized by burning or gasification. In order to be able to realize a process of this kind economically, the mechanically dehydrated spent grains (15) in the further drying stage (4) are heated by the aid of a smoke gas occurring within the energy system of a brewery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Brau-Union {umlaut over (O)}sterreich Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Dieter Pelz, Gerald Zanker
  • Patent number: 6048381
    Abstract: In order to attain as low a final temperature as possible after as short a period of time as possible in a method of cooling hot briquetted sponge iron (3) under optimum utilization of the cooling medium, the hot briquetted sponge iron (3), in a first cooling step (11), is passed exclusively by a gaseous cooling medium while being gently cooled and subsequently, in a second cooling step (14), is sprayed with a liquid cooling medium, thus being intensively cooled to the final temperature desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH, Brifer International Ltd.
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Gerhard Cip, Anton Himmel, Karl-Heinz Zimmerbauer, Roland Sachsenhofer, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5997608
    Abstract: In a process for the production of molten pig iron or molten steel pre-products and sponge iron from charging materials consisting of iron ore and, if desired, fluxes, direct reduction of the charging materials to sponge iron is carried out in a fixed-bed reduction zone, the sponge iron is melted in a meltdown gasifying zone under supply of carbon carriers as well as an oxygen-containing gas and a CO- and H.sub.2 -containing reducing gas is produced which is fed to the reduction zone, is reacted there and is drawn off as an export gas, and the drawn-off export gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 elimination and for the production of sponge iron is along with part of the reducing gas formed in the meltdown gasifying zone as an at least largely CO.sub.2 free reducing gas conveyed to a further reduction zone for the direct reduction of iron ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Diehl, Gerald Rosenfellner, Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Konstantin Milionis, Dieter Siuka, Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 5989308
    Abstract: A plant for the production of pig iron and/or sponge iron includes a direct-reduction shaft furnace for lumpy iron ore, a melter gasifier, a feed duct for a reducing gas connecting the melter gasifier with the shaft furnace, a conveying duct for the reduction product formed in the shaft furnace connecting the shaft furnace with the melter gasifier, a top-gas discharge duct departing from the shaft furnace, feed ducts for oxygen-containing gases and carbon carriers running into the melter gasifier and a tap for pig iron and slag provided at the melting vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industriean-lagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold-Werner Kepplinger, Konstantin Milionis, Dieter Siuka, Horst Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 5873926
    Abstract: In a process for reducing particulate oxide-containing material using the whirl bed method, the oxide-containing material, by means of reducing gas flowing from bottom to top, is maintained in the whirl layer, thus being reduced. In order to avoid or considerably reduce operational interruptions of the reduction process caused by sticking or fouling, the clear tube speed (superficial velocity) of the reducing gas, exclusively above the whirl layer, is continuously lowered along the total free height of a space above the whirl layer while the formation of further whirl formations is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrienlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Siegfried Zeller, Karl-Heinz Zimmerbauer, Roy Hubert Whipp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5514203
    Abstract: In a process for producing an iron melt, iron ore is reduced to sponge iron in a direct reduction zone. The sponge iron is melted in a meltdown gasifying zone while supplying carbon-containing material under gasification of the carbon-containing material to reducing gas and under formation of a slag. The reducing gas is injected into the direct reduction zone, is reacted there and is drawn off as a top gas. The reducing gas and/or the top gas is subjected to gas scrubbing and the sludges separated during scrubbing are admixed with binder and coal dust and subsequently are agglomerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Deutsche Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Grunbacher, Leopold-Werner Kepplinger, Franz Reufer, Gunter Schrey
  • Patent number: 5127346
    Abstract: A burner for the combustion of fine-grained to dusty solid fuels incorporates a central internal tube for supplying the solid fuels and an annular gap surrounding the internal tube and delimited by a cooled external tube, for supplying oxygen or oxygen-containing gas. The annular gap ends externally by an exhaust port directed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner and peripherally surrounding the end of the central internal tube, or by a plurality of exhaust ports annularly disposed about the longitudinal axis of the burner. In order to ensure the complete combustion of the fine-grained to dusty fuels at a long service life of the burner, the inclination of the exhaust port(s) relative to the longitudinal axis of the burner is below 20.degree.. The exhaust port(s) is/are arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the burner and in the radial direction relative to the same at a distance of between 5 and 30 mm from the inner wall of the internal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Vooest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold-Werner Kepplinger, Wilhelm Schiffer, Rolf Hauk