Abstract: A gas injection lance and an apparatus employing the lance for producing ferrous metal are provided. The lance has an elongated flow duct made of inner and outer concentric carbon steel tubes, a cooling water supply and return, and exterior surface which is designed to hold a frozen layer of slag on the duct, a gas inlet at a rear end of the duct, a tip joining the concentric tubes at the forward end of the duct, a non-metallic or refractory lining for the duct, and swirl-imparting member or members located in the duct for imparting swirl in the gas flow through the forward end of the duct.

Abstract: An injection lance (26) for injecting hot gas into a vessel includes an elongate gas flow duct (31) which receives hot gas from a gas inlet structure (32) and an elongate central tubular structure (33) which extends within gas flow duct (31) from its rear end to its forward end. Adjacent the forward end of duct (31), central structure (33) carries a series of flow directing vanes (34) for imparting swirl to the hot gas flow exiting the duct. The wall of duct (31) downstream from gas inlet (32) is internally water cooled by flow of water through annular passages (43,44). The cooling water also flows through the interior of a duct tip (36) at the forward end of duct (31). The front end of central structure (33) which carries the swirl vanes (34) is internally water cooled by cooling water supplied forwardly through a central water flow passage (52) from a water inlet (53) at the rear of the lance through to a nose (35) of the central structure.

Abstract: An elongate metallurgical lance (27) for injecting solid particulate material into molten material held within a vessel (11) is disclosed. The lance includes a central core tube (31) through which to pass solid particulate material, an annular cooling jacket (32) surrounding the central core tube throughout a substantial part of its length, a coolant inlet means (52), and a coolant outlet means (53). An outer wall of a forward end section of the jacket is formed from a first material which has high heat transfer properties and can withstand external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow. An outer wall of a body section of the jacket is formed from a second material that maintains its structural properties when exposed to external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow, whereby the outer wall acts as a structural member that contributes to supporting the lance at these temperatures.

Abstract: A method of relining a vessel that is used to carry out a direct smelting process that produces molten metal under conditions requiring molten bath temperatures of at least 1000° C. is disclosed. The vessel is of the type that has a floor that is refractory lined, a side wall that is at least partially refractory lined, and a top wall, and at least two access openings to the interior of the vessel. The relining method includes the steps of cooling down the vessel, gaining access to the interior of the vessel via the access openings, relining the vessel, and re-starting operation of the process in a period of time of 21 or less days.

Abstract: A gas injection lance and an apparatus employing the lance for producing ferrous metal are provided. The lance has an elongated flow duct made of inner and outer concentric carbon steel tubes, a cooling water supply and return, and exterior surface which is designed to hold a frozen layer of slag on the duct, a gas inlet at a rear end of the duct, a tip joining the concentric tubes at the forward end of the duct, a non-metallic or refractory lining for the duct, and swirl-imparting member or members located in the duct for imparting swirl in the gas flow through the forward end of the duct.

Abstract: An injection lance (26) for injecting hot gas into a vessel includes an elongate gas flow duct (31) which receives hot gas from a gas inlet structure (32) and an elongate central tubular structure (33) which extends within gas flow duct (31) from its rear end to its forward end. Adjacent the forward end of duct (31), central structure (33) carries a series of flow directing vanes (34) for imparting swirl to the hot gas flow exiting the duct. The wall of duct (31) downstream from gas inlet (32) is internally water cooled by flow of water through annular passages (43,44). The cooling water also flows through the interior of a duct tip (36) at the forward end of duct (31).

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel comprises a lance 26 having a gas flow duct 31 extending longitudinally from a rear end to a forward end (36) from which to discharge gas from the duct. An elongate body 38 disposed within the forward end of the duct is fitted with flow directing vanes 39 to impart swirl to the discharging gas. The tip 44 is internally cooled by water supplied and returned through supply and return passages 52, 56. Cooling water is also passed through internal cooling passages 66, 75, 76, 87 within vanes 39 and central body 38 via water supply and return passage 60 within the duct.

Abstract: A metallurgical lance 27 for injecting solid particulate material into a smelting vessel comprising a central core tube 31 through which to deliver the solids material and an annular cooling jacket 32 surrounding the central core tube. Jacket 32 includes a long hollow annular structure 41 formed by outer and inner tubes 42, 43 interconnected by a front end connector 44. An elongate tubular structure 45 is disposed within the hollow annular structure 41 so to divide the interior of structure 41 into an inner annular water flow passage 46 and an outer annular water flow passage 47. Tubular structure 45 has a forward end piece 49 which fits within front end connector 44 of structure 41 to form an annular end flow passage 51 which interconnects the forward ends of water flow passage 46, 47.

Abstract: An elongate metallurgical lance (27) for injecting solid particulate material into molten material held within a vessel (11) is disclosed. The lance includes a central core tube (31) through which to pass solid particulate material, an annular cooling jacket (32) surrounding the central core tube throughout a substantial part of its length, a coolant inlet means (52), and a coolant outlet means (53). An outer wall of a forward end section of the jacket is formed from a first material which has high heat transfer properties and can withstand external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow. An outer wall of a body section of the jacket is formed from a second material that maintains its structural properties when exposed to external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow, whereby the outer wall acts as a structural member that contributes to supporting the lance at these temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel comprises a lance 26 having a gas flow duct 31 extending longitudinally from a rear end to a forward end (36) from which to discharge gas from the duct. An elongate body 38 disposed within the forward end of the duct is fitted with flow directing vanes 39 to impart swirl to the discharging gas. The tip 44 is internally cooled by water supplied and returned through supply and return passages 52, 56. Cooling water is also passed through internal cooling passages 66, 75, 76, 87 within vanes 39 and central body 38 via water supply and return passage 60 within the duct.

Abstract: A method of relining a vessel that is used to carry out a direct smelting process that produces molten metal under conditions requiring molten bath temperatures of at least 1000° C. is disclosed. The vessel is of the type that has a floor that is refractory lined, a side wall that is at least partially refractory lined, and a top wall, and at least two access openings to the interior of the vessel. The relining method includes the steps of cooling down the vessel, gaining access to the interior of the vessel via the access openings, relining the vessel, and re-starting operation of the process in a period of time of 21 or less days.

Abstract: A metallurgical lance 27 for injecting solid particulate material into a smelting vessel comprising a control core tube 31 through which to deliver the solids material and an annular cooling jacket 32 surrounding the control core tube. Jacket 32 includes a long hollow annular structure 41 formed by outer and inner tubes 42, 43 interconnected by a front end connector 44. An elongate tubular structure 45 is disposed within the hollow annular structure 41 so to divide the interior of structure 41 into an inner annular water flow passage 46 and an outer annular water flow passage 47. Cooling water. Tubular structure 45 has a forward end piece 49 which fits within front end connector 44 of structure 41 to form an annular end flow passage 51 which interconnects the forward ends of water flow passage 46, 47.