Abstract: Computer system, computer-implemented method and computer program product are provided for training a reinforcement learning model to provide operating instructions for thermal control of a blast furnace, where a domain adaptation machine learning model generates a first domain invariant dataset from historical operating data obtained as multivariate time series and reflecting thermal states of respective blast furnaces of multiple domains, a transient model of a generic blast furnace process is used to generate artificial operating data as multivariate time series reflecting a thermal state of a generic blast furnace for a particular thermal control action, a generative deep learning network generates a second domain invariant dataset by transferring the features learned from the historical operating data 21 to the artificial operating data, where the reinforcement learning model determines a reward for the particular thermal control action in view of a given objective function by processing the combined fir

Abstract: A shaft furnace charging device and cooling system includes a suspension rotor with a charge distributor and stationary housing. The cooling system includes an annular swivel joint arranged coaxially on an axis, connecting stationary and rotary circuit portions. The swivel joint includes forward connections for receiving cooling fluid from the stationary circuit portion and supplying cooling fluid to the rotary circuit portion; return connections for receiving cooling fluid from the rotary circuit portion; and returning cooling fluid to the stationary circuit portion. The swivel joint includes a partition dividing the annular volume into cavities wherein an internal cavity is partially surrounded by an external cavity, and the forward connections are coupled via one of the cavities and the return connections are coupled via the other of the cavities. The swivel joint includes leakage-permitting communication between the external and internal cavities through annular clearances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blast furnace plant (1, 1a-1c) with a blast furnace (2) and a charging device (3) for the blast furnace (2). In order to provide an economical way of providing clean gas to the charging device, the invention provides that the blast furnace plant (1, 1a-1c) further comprises: at least one nozzle (6) for introducing a clean gas into said charging device (3); a cleaning device (7) which is connected for receiving gas from the blast furnace (2) and arranged for removing dust from the gas; at least one compressor (9) arranged for receiving gas from the cleaning device (7), compressing the gas and feeding the gas to the at least one nozzle (6); and at least one turbine (8) connected for receiving and being driven by gas from the blast furnace (2), the at least one turbine being mechanically coupled to drive the at least one compressor (9).

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a stationary housing (16) for mounting on the throat (12) of the shaft furnace and a suspension rotor (22) supported therein so that it can rotate about a substantially vertical axis (A), said suspension rotor (22) and stationary housing (16) cooperating to delimit an annular chamber forming the main casing (36) of said rotary charging device. A charge distributor (28) is pivotally suspended to the suspension rotor (22).

Abstract: A blast furnace installation includes a blast furnace and a chute transmission gearbox; the blast furnace having a top cone with a top cone ring arranged thereon for receiving a connection flange of the chute transmission gearbox. The connection flange is directly fixed onto the top cone ring by fixing means for establishing a firm connection between the top cone ring and the connection flange. According to an aspect of the present invention, the connection flange is fixed to the top cone ring in three separated fixation regions (30, 30?, 30?), each fixation region including one or more fixing means. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the blast furnace installation also includes a flexible sealing element arranged around the perimeter of the connection between the top cone ring and the chute transmission gearbox.

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace comprising: a stationary housing (16) and a suspension rotor (22) that is supported so that it can rotate about a substantially vertical axis (A), a charge distributor (28) being pivotally suspended to the suspension rotor (22). Rotary drive means are provided for rotating the suspension rotor about its axis (A) and tilting drive means for pivoting the charge distributor (28) about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis (B), independently from said rotary drive means. The tilting drive means are mounted onto the suspension rotor (22) and rotate therewith; they comprise: an electric tilting motor (MB) is installed inside the main casing (36) and having a substantially horizontal output shaft (52); a tilting input gear (54) driven by the tilting motor output shaft; and a tilting output gear (56) rotationally integral with a suspension arm (34) of said chute distributor (28), said tilting input gear meshing with said tilting output gear.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charging device equipped with a cooling system, the charging device including a suspension rotor with a charge distributor and a stationary housing supporting the suspension rotor so that the rotor can rotate about an axis; the cooling system including a stationary circuit portion, a rotary circuit portion arranged on the suspension rotor, and an annular swivel joint arranged coaxially on the axis and connecting the stationary circuit portion with the rotary circuit portion, the annular swivel joint including an annular fixed part mounted on the stationary housing and an annular rotary part mounted on the suspension rotor, the fixed part and the rotary part having mating configurations that allow relative rotation and including an annular trough that defines an annular volume, via which the circuit portions are in fluidal communication; wherein the annular swivel joint includes: a stationary forward connection for receiving cooling fluid from the stationary circuit portion; a rotary forward co

Abstract: Annular swivel joint including an annular fixed part and an annular rotary part and having an annular trough that defines an annular volume, via which the circuits portions communicate, a stationary forward connection for receiving cooling fluid from the stationary circuit portion; a rotary forward connection for supplying cooling fluid to the rotary circuit portion; a rotary return connection for receiving cooling fluid from the rotary circuit portion; and a stationary return connection for returning cooling fluid to the stationary circuit portion; a partition dividing the annular volume into an annular external cavity and an annular internal cavity so that the forward connections are coupled via one of the external and internal cavities and the return connections are coupled via the other cavity, so that the internal cavity is at least partially surrounded by the external cavity.

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace comprising: a stationary housing (16) and a suspension rotor (22) that is supported so that it can rotate about a substantially vertical axis (A), a charge distributor (28) being pivotally suspended to the suspension rotor (22). Rotary drive means are provided for rotating the suspension rotor about its axis (A) and tilting drive means for pivoting the charge distributor (28) about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis (B), independently from said rotary drive means. The tilting drive means are mounted onto the suspension rotor (22) and rotate therewith; they comprise: an electric tilting motor (MB) is installed inside the main casing (36) and having a substantially horizontal output shaft (52); a tilting input gear (54) driven by the tilting motor output shaft; and a tilting output gear (56) rotationally integral with a suspension arm (34) of said chute distributor (28), said tilting input gear meshing with said tilting output gear.

Abstract: A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a stationary housing (16) for mounting on the throat (12) of the shaft furnace and a suspension rotor (22) supported therein so that it can rotate about a substantially vertical axis (A), said suspension rotor (22) and stationary housing (16) cooperating to delimit an annular chamber forming the main casing (36) of said rotary charging device. A charge distributor (28) is pivotally suspended to the suspension rotor (22).

Abstract: There is provided a bustle pipe arrangement of a shaft furnace, in particular for feeding hot gas into the shaft furnace such as e.g. a blast furnace, wherein the bustle pipe arrangement comprises a circumferential bustle pipe arranged along the outer casing of the shaft furnace, at a certain distance therefrom. The arrangement further comprises a plurality of first support arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second support arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being separate from the second level. The first and second support arms are configured to support the circumferential bustle pipe. First blow channels are arranged through the first support arms for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe to the interior of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: Tuyere stock arrangement of a blast furnace includes a tuyere body configured for installation in a shaft furnace wall. The tuyere body includes a front face facing an interior of the shaft furnace and an opposite rear face and a tuyere channel extending between the rear and front faces (24). The stock arrangement includes a blowpipe between the rear face and a hot blast air supply system, the blowpipe having a front portion connecting to the tuyere body and an opposite rear portion connecting to the hot blast air supply system. A fuel injection lance is arranged through the tuyere body and feeds fuel into the shaft furnace. A gas injection lance feeds an oxidizing gas to the shaft furnace and is arranged in the rear portion of the blowpipe to feed oxidizing gas into a central portion of a stream of hot blast air fed through the blowpipe.

Abstract: Tuyere stock arrangement (10) of a blast furnace comprising a tuyere (14) having a tuyere body (20) configured for installation in a blast furnace wall (12); the tuyere body (20) having an outer wall (22), a front face (24) and a rear face (26), the tuyere body (20) further having a tuyere channel (28) extending from the rear face (26) to the front face (24), the tuyere channel (28) forming an inner wall (30) in the tuyere body (20). The tuyere stock arrangement (10) further comprises a blowpipe (34) connected between the rear face (26) of the tuyere body (20) and a gas feeding device (38), the blowpipe (34) being configured and arranged so as to feed hot gas, generally hot blast air, from the gas feeding device (38) to the tuyere channel (28) for injection into the blast furnace.

Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for burning blast furnace off-gas from a bleeder valve. It comprises a bleeder valve (20) having a fixed hollow valve body (22) defining an outlet (26) and a valve seat and a movable obturator (24) that cooperates with the valve seat for closing the bleeder valve and releasing blast furnace off-gas through the outlet. The arrangement includes an apparatus for combustion of blast furnace off-gas released by the bleeder valve (20). This apparatus is characterized by an ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) that is arranged on or adjacent the valve body or the moveable obturator of the bleeder valve (20) itself. The ignition device (32, 38, 40, 42, 44) has its spatial ignition range located downstream the outlet in a region where blast furnace off-gas released through the outlet mixes with ambient air when the obturator is in an open position so as to allow open-air combustion of blast furnace off-gas released into ambient air at the location of the bleeder valve.

Abstract: A shaft furnace charge material distribution device includes a main housing, a distribution chute, a suspension rotor and an adjustment rotor, which are rotatable about a vertical axis. The chute is suspended to the suspension rotor to rotate therewith for circumferential distribution of charge material and is adjustable in orientation for radial distribution of charge material. A differential gear interconnects the suspension rotor and adjustment rotor and is configured to transmit to the adjustment rotor the same speed of rotation that is imparted to the suspension rotor by a main rotation drive unless an adjustment drive imparts differential rotation to the adjustment rotor. The device includes two gear casings arranged on the main housing and a shaft arrangement. The first gear encloses a gear mechanism connecting the main rotation drive to one output shaft. The second gear casing encloses the differential gear connecting the adjustment drive to another output shaft.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding a burden to a blast furnace (32), wherein the method comprises providing a charging device (38) having at least one material hopper (40), the material hopper (40) comprising a hopper chamber (42), a material inlet aperture for feeding a burden into the hopper chamber (40), and a material discharge aperture for feeding a burden from the hopper chamber (40) to the blast furnace (32); the material inlet aperture having an associated inlet seal valve 44) for opening and closing the material inlet aperture and the material discharge aperture having an associated material discharge valve (46) for opening and closing the material discharge aperture.

Abstract: A blast furnace installation includes a blast furnace and a chute transmission gearbox; the blast furnace having a top cone with a top cone ring arranged thereon for receiving a connection flange of the chute transmission gearbox. The connection flange is directly fixed onto the top cone ring by fixing means for establishing a firm connection between the top cone ring and the connection flange. According to an aspect of the present invention, the connection flange is fixed to the top cone ring in three separated fixation regions (30, 30?, 30?), each fixation region including one or more fixing means. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the blast furnace installation also includes a flexible sealing element arranged around the perimeter of the connection between the top cone ring and the chute transmission gearbox.

Abstract: There is provided a bustle pipe arrangement of a shaft furnace that comprises a circumferential bustle pipe arranged along the outer casing of the shaft furnace, the bustle pipe being arranged at a certain distance from the outer casing. The arrangement further comprises a plurality of first arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being different from the second level. First and second blow channels are respectively arranged through the first and second arms for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe to the interior of the shaft furnace.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding a burden to a blast furnace (32), wherein the method comprises providing a charging device (38) having at least one material hopper (40), the material hopper (40) comprising a hopper chamber (42), a material inlet aperture for feeding a burden into the hopper chamber (40), and a material discharge aperture for feeding a burden from the hopper chamber (40) to the blast furnace (32); the material inlet aperture having an associated inlet seal valve 44) for opening and closing the material inlet aperture and the material discharge aperture having an associated material discharge valve (46) for opening and closing the material discharge aperture.

Abstract: Tuyere stock arrangement of a blast furnace including a tuyere body configured for installation in a shaft furnace wall, the tuyere body including a front face facing an interior of the shaft furnace and an opposite rear face, a tuyere channel extending from the rear face to the front face the tuyere stock arrangement further including a blowpipe connected between the rear face of the tuyere body and a hot blast air supply system, the blowpipe having a front portion connecting to the tuyere body and an opposite rear portion connecting to the hot blast air supply system where a fuel injection lance is provided for feeding fuel into the shaft furnace and a gas injection lance is provided for feeding an oxidizing gas to the shaft furnace, the fuel injection lance being arranged through the tuyere body and according to an important aspect of the invention, the gas injection lance is arranged in the rear portion of the blowpipe, the gas injection lance being arranged in such a way as to feed the oxidizing gas into