Abstract: A drying hopper for drying granular material includes a hopper casing defining a plenum chamber for granular material, and an upper part and a bottom part. The hopper also includes a material inlet for the granular material arranged in the upper part; a material outlet port at the bottom part; a component for introducing hot drying gas into the hopper casing; and a gas outlet arranged in the upper part. The component for introducing hot drying gas includes gas pipes arranged to extend substantially vertically in the upper part, each gas pipe having a gas outlet port at its lower end and being connected at its upper end to an annular gas duct having a gas inlet for receiving a flow of drying gas, the gas pipes being distributed on the annular gas duct.

Abstract: A drying hopper for drying granular material includes a hopper casing defining a plenum chamber for granular material, and an upper part and a bottom part. The hopper also includes a material inlet for the granular material arranged in the upper part; a material outlet port at the bottom part; a component for introducing hot drying gas into the hopper casing; and a gas outlet arranged in the upper part. The component for introducing hot drying gas includes gas pipes arranged to extend substantially vertically in the upper part, each gas pipe having a gas outlet port at its lower end and being connected at its upper end to an annular gas duct having a gas inlet for receiving a flow of drying gas, the gas pipes being distributed on the annular gas duct.

Abstract: An installation for distribution of granular or powder material via pneumatic transport comprising at least one dispensing hopper (3) for temporary storage of said granular or powder material, the dispensing hopper being suited to being, alternately, pressurized for emptying the dispensing hopper and depressurized to permit filling thereof, and a device for depressurizing said dispensing hopper. The depressurizing device comprises a depressurizing duct (12) connected to said dispensing hopper, a bag filter (11), having a maximum operating flow rate, connected to the depressurizing duct, and flow control means (15) for controlling the flow rate in said depressurizing duct through the bag filter. The bag filter (11) is suited to operating under pressure, and the flow control means (15) are located on the depressurizing duct (12) downstream of the bag filter (11) and are arranged to provide a flow rate which is at most equal to the maximum flow rate of the bag filter.

Abstract: A process for pressurizing bulk material in an apparatus for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper containing a bulk material, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas, lines to convey the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to one or more inlets of the lock hopper, a valve arrangement arranged in the lines, wherein the process is characterized in that said valve arrangement comprises at least two valves arranged in parallel, each valve being connected to a downstream Laval tuyere, and in that said valves are controlled to open in an operating sequence to provide pressurizing gas with an adjusted gas flow rate to the lock hopper.

Abstract: A method for producing a comminuted dry material from a coarse material, the method including: (a) providing a heated drying gas from a drying gas source; (b) providing the coarse material in a storage bin; (c) feeding the coarse material and the heated drying gas into a comminuting equipment; (d) comminuting and drying the coarse material within the comminuting equipment to obtain a comminuted dry material; (e) collecting a mixture of drying gas and comminuted dry material from the comminuting equipment and feeding the mixture to a separator to separate the comminuted dry material from the drying gas; and (f) recycling at least part of the drying gas from step (e) as a preconditioning gas and feeding the preconditioning gas into a lower part of the storage bin to precondition the coarse material.

Abstract: A method for producing a comminuted dry material from a coarse material, the method including: (a) providing a heated drying gas from a drying gas source; (b) providing the coarse material in a storage bin; (c) feeding the coarse material and the heated drying gas into a comminuting equipment; (d) comminuting and drying the coarse material within the comminuting equipment to obtain a comminuted dry material; (e) collecting a mixture of drying gas and comminuted dry material from the comminuting equipment and feeding the mixture to a separator to separate the comminuted dry material from the drying gas; and (0 recycling at least part of the drying gas from step (e) as a preconditioning gas and feeding the preconditioning gas into a lower part of the storage bin to precondition the coarse material.

Abstract: A process for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper (29) containing a bulk material, a source of pressurized gas, lines (22, 26, 28) to convey the pressurized gas from the source to one or more inlets (30) of the lock hopper, a valve arranged in the lines, wherein the opening position of said valve (34, 35) is controlled to provide pressurizing gas to the lock hopper at a preset constant gas volume flow rate.

Abstract: A process for pressurizing bulk material in an apparatus for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper containing a bulk material, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas, lines to convey the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to one or more inlets of the lock hopper, a valve arrangement arranged in the lines, wherein the process is characterized in that said valve arrangement comprises at least two valves arranged in parallel, each valve being connected to a downstream Laval tuyere, and in that said valves are controlled to open in an operating sequence to provide pressurizing gas with an adjusted gas flow rate to the lock hopper.

Abstract: Method for producing pulverized coal, the method comprising the steps of heating a drying gas, preferably an inert gas, in a hot gas generator (26) to a predefined temperature; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer (20); introducing raw coal into the pulverizer (20), the pulverizer (20) grinding the raw coal to pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer (20) and feeding the mixture to a filter (34), the filter (34) separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; and collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding part of the drying gas from the filter to a recirculation line (38) for returning at least part of the drying gas to the hot gas generator (26).

Abstract: A process for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper (29) containing a bulk material, a source of pressurized gas, lines (22, 26, 28) to convey the pressurized gas from the source to one or more inlets (30) of the lock hopper, a valve arranged in the lines, wherein the opening position of said valve (34, 35) is controlled to provide pressurizing gas to the lock hopper at a preset constant gas volume flow rate.

Abstract: An installation for distribution of granular or powder material via pneumatic transport comprising at least one dispensing hopper (3) for temporary storage of said granular or powder material, the dispensing hopper being suited to being, alternately, pressurized for emptying the dispensing hopper and depressurized to permit filling thereof, and a device for depressurizing said dispensing hopper. The depressurizing device comprises a depressurizing duct (12) connected to said dispensing hopper, a bag filter (11), having a maximum operating flow rate, connected to the depressurizing duct, and flow control means (15) for controlling the flow rate in said depressurizing duct through the bag filter. The bag filter (11) is suited to operating under pressure, and the flow control means (15) are located on the depressurizing duct (12) downstream of the bag filter (11) and are arranged to provide a flow rate which is at most equal to the maximum flow rate of the bag filter.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for generating cold-air blast from slag heat, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. providing hot, granulated slag, b. providing wet blast furnace gas, c. preheating the wet blast furnace gas, whereby preheated blast furnace gas is obtained, d. transferring heat from the hot, granulated slag to the preheated blast furnace gas, wherein hot blast furnace gas is obtained, e. expanding the hot blast furnace gas in a turbine, wherein energy is released and expanded blast furnace gas is obtained, f. using the released energy to drive a cold-air blast compressor for compressing the cold-air blast, wherein a shaft is driven by expansion of the hot blast furnace gas in a turbine, wherein said shaft drives the cold-air blast compressor and wherein the expanded blast furnace gas is used for preheating the wet blast furnace gas, whereby cold, expanded blast furnace gas is obtained.

Abstract: Method for producing pulverized coal, the method comprising the steps of heating a drying gas, preferably an inert gas, in a hot gas generator (26) to a predefined temperature; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer (20); introducing raw coal into the pulverizer (20), the pulverizer (20) grinding the raw coal to pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer (20) and feeding the mixture to a filter (34), the filter (34) separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; and collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding part of the drying gas from the filter to a recirculation line (38) for returning at least part of the drying gas to the hot gas generator (26).

Abstract: Method for producing pulverized coal, the method comprising the steps of heating a drying gas, preferably an inert gas, in a hot gas generator (26) to a predefined temperature; feeding the heated drying gas into a pulverizer (20); introducing raw coal into the pulverizer (20), the pulverizer (20) grinding the raw coal into pulverized coal; collecting a mixture of drying gas and pulverized coal from the pulverizer (20) and feeding the mixture to a filter (34), the filter (34) separating the dried pulverized coal from the drying gas; collecting the dried pulverized coal for further use and feeding the drying gas from the filter (34) to a recirculation line (38) for returning at least part of the drying gas to the hot gas generator (26); and determining an oxygen level in the drying gas, preferably in the recirculation line (38), and comparing the determined oxygen level to a predetermined oxygen level threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for injecting reducing agents into a shaft furnace in which the reducing agent is transported within a pneumatic delivery stream to the shaft furnace according to the flowing steps; a) dividing the delivery stream into a number of partial streams, b) transferring the individual partial streams through a heating unit, and c) heating the reducing agent within the individual partial streams inside of the heating device. A device for carrying out the inventive method comprises, for example, a delivery line in order to pneumatically deliver the reducing agent to the shaft furnace, and a number of heat exchange pipes which are integrated in the delivery line using a parallel connection, said connection relating to flow techniques, such that the pneumatic delivery stream is divided into a number of partial streams. The inventive device also comprises a heating unit for transmitting heat energy to the individual partial streams.

Abstract: A device in which a mixture of steam and contaminated air is first of all channelled into an upward stream and that the mixture subsequently flows as a downward stream in a vessel maintained at reduced pressure. The device further includes an arrangement for spraying an alkaline aqueous solution into the downward stream of the mixture of steam and contaminated air. The decontaminated uncondensed gases are thereby removed from the vessel by a forced and adjustable stream which creates and maintains a reduced pressure inside the vessel.

Abstract: A process for feeding a second stream of pulverulent materials into a pneumatic conveying line carrying a first controllable flow of pulverulent materials is presented. The second stream of pulverulent materials is fed at a controlled rate and the control of the first flow is rendered insensitive to disturbances caused by the feeding of the second stream by directly or indirectly controlling the first flow upstream of the injection point of the second stream.

Abstract: A method and device for removing solid residues from a gas purification installation are presented. After discharge of a batch of solid residues into a first closed vessel, the vessel is isolated with respect to the gas purification installation. At least one pressurized purge gas is then passed through this batch of solid residues, so as to create a static or fluidized bed of the solid residues. The purge gases are then removed in a controlled manner from the first closed vessel. The solid residues are removed into a transport pipe and are transported through the pipe in suspension in a pressurized gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating powdered coal in a solid-fuel injection installation. Such an installation comprises a powdered coal storage bunker, at least one lock connected to the circuit for pneumatically transporting the coal, at least one filtering screen connected between each lock and the bunker, a pressurized inert-gas source for pressurizing each lock and forming the pneumatically propelled flow of the coal and a circuit for pressure-equalizing and depressurizing each lock through a filter. According to the present invention, the major portion of the inert gas for depressurizing each lock is subjected to a filtering operation before being injected through the bottom of the storage bunker into the mass of coal and being discharged through a filter at the top of the bunker. The residual portion of the inert depressurizing gas is shunted directly towards the top of the storage bunker. The present invention also relates to a device for implementing the method.

Abstract: The method consists in forming in a single metering device a pneumatic mixture comprising the powdered substances and the propellent gas, in propelling this mixture through a common main 18 into a distributor 20 in which the mixture is split into secondary currents which are sent to each of the injection points respectively through secondary pipes 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, . . . 22.sub.n, in determining the flow rate in each of the secondary pipes 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, . . . 22.sub.n by the tuyere 28.sub.1, 28.sub.2, . . . 28.sub.n flow cross-sections and in influencing the transport conditions in each secondary pipe 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, . . . 22.sub.n by acting on the pressure P3 downstream from each tuyere 28.sub.1, 28.sub.2, . . . 28.sub.n in order to maintain this pressure at a determined value.The method is aimed more particularly at the injection of powdered coal into a blast furnace.