Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of uranium from a body of material is provided. The apparatus has at least one ultrasonic extractor, having a bottom and a top. The at least one ultrasonic extractor is configured to accept solids at the bottom and acid at the top, and has a mixing screw and at least one source of ultrasonic energy. The mixing screw is configured to transport the solids in a direction countercurrent to the acid in the at least one ultrasonic extractor; and the source of ultrasonic energy is configured to impart ultrasonic energy into the solids and the acid, as the solids and the acid traverse the at least one ultrasonic extractor countercurrently.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.

Abstract: In a method for the production of molten metal, oxygen, a reducing agent and iron reduced in a reduction reactor are introduced into a melt gasifier, the reducing agent is gasified with oxygen and reduced iron is melted by means of the heat which occurs, the cupola gas being used as at least a fraction of the reduction gas. Reacted top gas is drawn off from the reduction reactor. For increased efficiency in terms of energy and raw materials, there is in this case provision for at least part of the heat energy of the top gas and/or of the fraction of the reduction gas which is provided for use as cooling gas and as excess gas to be utilized for the indirect heating of at least one further gas used in the method. For this purpose, at least one heat exchanger in a line for top gas and/or the fraction of the reduction gas which is provided for use as cooling gas and as excess gas is provided, at least one further gas used in the method flowing through said heat exchanger.

Abstract: A disadvantage during the operation of a change converter unit (1) of an oxygen steel-making plant, wherein converters (4a) that have become unusable due to the wear and tear of the fireproof material are removed from the steel-making stand (2) for repair, and wherein a converter (4b) provided with fireproof material is added in exchange to the steel-making stand (2), is that the connection between the converter vessel and the carrier ring first must be separated, and then either a change carriage provided with a lifting device must be used, or the implementation is limited, or restricted, by the crane capacity when changing AOD converters in stainless steel plants.

Abstract: There is provided a method and an apparatus for treating return ores using plasma, capable of treating sintered return ores generated in a sintering process in a steel maker or return ores (iron ores) employed in other ironmaking process such as FINEX. The method of treating return ores using plasma includes: providing return ores sorted out by a sorting process; and bonding the return ores by fusing and agglomerating the return ores using plasma. Also, an apparatus for treating return ores using plasma includes a plasma heating device used to fuse and agglomerate sorted return ores. The return ores of a predetermined grain size are fusion-bonded and agglomerated using a flame of a plasma heating device. Particularly, the return ores can be treated in a massive amount to enhance productivity of a fusion-bonding process of the return ores. Furthermore, a great amount of sintered return ores generated in the sintering process can be subjected to a fewer number of re-treatment processes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal, wherein the liquefied metal-containing slag is heated in at least one electric arc furnace (1, 2). In order provide an improved method for recovering especially copper from slags, the invention provides that the metal-containing slag is heated in a first furnace (1) constructed as an AC electric furnace or a DC electric furnace, and the melt is introduced from the first furnace (1) into a second furnace (2) which is constructed as a DC electric furnace. Further, the invention is directed to an arrangement for extracting a metal from a slag containing said metal.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for carbothermically producing aluminum are disclosed. The systems may include a reactor and an electrical supply. The reactor may include a plurality of side-entering electrodes and a top-entering electrode. The electrical supply may be operable to supply multiphase current to the side-entering electrodes and/or the top-entering electrodes. The electrodes may be in communication with a molten bath of the reactor, and the multiphase current supplied thereto may be passed through the bath to heat the reactor. The amount of current supplied to various electrode sets may be adjusted to facilitate tailored heating of the molten bath.

Abstract: A reduction retort (11) for use in a vacuum smelting reduction furnace, including: a reducing portion (12) made of silicon carbide-based material; a condenser (13) disposed at one end of the reducing portion; an inlet closure (14) hermetically-connected to the condenser (13); and an outlet closure (15) disposed at the other end of the reducing portion (12), wherein the reduction retort (11) is disposed at an angle in the reduction furnace, with the end of the reduction retort (11) with the condenser (1 3) facing upward and the end of the reduction retort (11) with the outlet closure (15) facing downward. The reduction retort can save discharging time of spent residue, increase material load, enhance output, and improve heat utilization rate. The invention has a significantly prolonged service life in comparison to the conventional reduction retort made of nickel-chrome-steel alloy.

Abstract: A needle valve is disclosed for controlling the quantity of a halide vapor to be injected into a liquid metal. The needle valve may seat in a supersonic nozzle from which the halide vapor exits. Various products made with the apparatus of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A plant for the continuous manufacture of steel includes a direct reduction furnace for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) and a stationary electric arc furnace for melting the DRI. The electric arc furnace has a plurality of electrodes for melting the DRI. Heat for melting the charge material is preferably provided by open arcs between the electrodes and the metal bath. The slag preferably has low basicity to reduce the rate of refractory erosion, and preferably contains about 8 to 20% by weight MgO, about 7 to 30% by weight FeO and has a basicity of about 1.5 to 2.0. Preferably, the direct reduction furnace is a shaft furnace and is located above the electric arc furnace so that the direct reduced iron can be fed to the electric arc furnace by gravity through inclined conduits.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapour at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: As a pretreatment of a manufacturing process of sintered ore, a sintering material including iron ore, a SiO2-containing material, a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is projected as a additional coating auxiliary raw material into the drum mixer with a additional coating conveyor disposed in proximity to an exhaust outlet of the drum mixer. Preferably, a sintering material excepting a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is charged from a charge inlet of the drum mixer to granulate and in a region disposed on a downstream side, an additional coating auxiliary raw material including a limestone base powdery material and a solid fuel type powdery material is added, and thereby until reaching the exhaust outlet, the additional coating auxiliary raw material is deposited and formed on a exterior coating portion of the sintering material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for smelting titanium metal by the thermal reduction of titanium oxide (TiO2) to titanium metal (Ti); a mixed salt of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium oxide (CaO) contained in a reaction vessel is heated to form a molten salt which constitutes a reaction region, the molten salt in the reaction region is electrolyzed thereby converting the molten salt into a strongly reducing molten salt containing monovalent calcium ions (Ca+) and/or calcium (Ca), titanium oxide is supplied to the strongly reducing molten salt and the titanium oxide is reduced and the resulting titanium metal is deoxidized by the monovalent calcium ions and/or calcium. The method and the apparatus make it feasible to produce commercially titanium metal suitable for a variety of applications from titanium oxide.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for a metal solvent extraction plant comprising: A) an extraction section for extracting metal ions from an aqueous leach solution containing the metal ions with an organic solvent solution containing at least one metal extraction reagent, wherein the extraction section consists of three countercurrent extraction stages; and B) a stripping section consisting of one stripping stage for stripping the metal ions from the metal extraction reagent.

Abstract: A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.

Abstract: A method and systems are provided for extracting heavy metal from glass waste. Glass is initially crushed to a diameter size of about 2 millimeters. The glass is then added to a tank having a solution of water and acid, where the acid removes metal from the surface of the glass particles. The solution is then separated from the glass particles. In some embodiments, the glass particles are also rinsed with water and the rinsed water is treated to remove any residual contaminates. In more embodiments, the solution can be reused for a number of iterations that treat glass waste in order to extract heavy metal from the glass waste.

Abstract: A method and systems are provided for extracting heavy metal from glass waste. Glass is initially crushed to a diameter size between about 10 nanometers and about 2 millimeters. The glass is then added to a tank having a solution of water and acid, where the acid removes metal from the surface of the glass particles. In some embodiments, the solution and glass particles are elevated to a configurable temperature above ambient temperature and circulated for a configurable period of time. The solution is then separated from the glass particles. In some embodiments, the glass particles are then rinsed while in transit to a final destination or in a separate rinsing tank.

Abstract: In a process for the thermal treatment of the precusor material of a catalytically active material in a rotary tube furnace through which a gas stream flows, at least a proportion of the gas stream flowing through the rotary tube furnace is circulated, and the associated rotary tube furnace apparatus and tube-bundle reactors for the partial gas-phase oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid are loaded with catalysts whose catalytically active material is obtainable by the process for the thermal treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for the preparation of salt melts, and mixtures thereof, by means of a stirred reactor and a tubular reactor, in which the starting materials are melted and brought to reaction, and the reaction products are subsequently passed through columns or towers for purification.

Abstract: An apparatus for leaching zinc concentrates which comprises: a pressure vessel for charging therein a solution containing at least free sulfuric acid and iron ions, a stirrer which is disposed in the pressure vessel, an oxygen gas supply pipe that extends into the pressure vessel from the outside of the pressure vessel, the oxygen gas supply pipe having an oxygen gas inlet port which opens below the stirrer, and a discharge pipe through which an iron-containing, acidic solution or a slurry that results from the reaction of said solution containing at least free sulfuric acid and iron ions is discharged to the outside of the pressure vessel, the discharge pipe having a drain port which is open in a lower part of said pressure vessel.

Abstract: A direct smelting vessel which is adapted to contain a molten bath of metal and slag is disclosed. The vessel includes an off-gas duct that has: (a) a first section which has a relatively slight upward inclination to the horizontal from an inlet end of the first section; and (b) a second section which extends upwardly from an upper end of the first section at a relatively steep inclination to the horizontal.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for iron-making/steel-making using a modified rotary hearth furnace, that is a finisher-hearth-melter (FHM) furnace. In the method the refractory surface of the hearth is coated with carbonaceous hearth conditioners and refractory compounds, where onto said hearth is charged with pre-reduced metallized iron. The pre-reduced metallized iron is leveled, then heated until molten, and then reacted with the carbon and reducing gas burner gases until any residual iron oxide is converted to iron having a low sulfur content. Nascent slag separates from the molted iron forming carburized iron nuggets. The nuggets are cooled, and then the iron nuggets and the hearth conditioners, including the refractory compounds, are discharged onto a screen, which separate the iron nuggets from the hearth conditioner.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring the temperature in pelletizing furnaces basically comprised of a plurality of temperature detectors (1, 2) disposed at fixed sites on the grate car (10) that follow the latter along the furnace and inform continuously and instantaneously the actual burning temperature of the product at the detected site through data collectors and measuring units; said data collectors being enclosed in housings (20) which also are attached to the grate car (10) in order to follow the latter while it moves through the interior of the furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for sublimation refining which gives a high-purity product in high yield while preventing corrosion of the apparatus, contamination of the product and change in quality of the product and to an apparatus useful for the method. The apparatus of this invention for sublimation refining comprises a heat generating unit made of a material generating heat by electromagnetic induction, sublimating unit A and collecting units B and C, respectively independently controllable in temperature by electromagnetic induction heating and the inner surface or the inner tube of the sublimating or collecting unit is made of a material like metal and ceramic inert to sublimable substances.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for the production of molten metal by self reduction of agglomerates of metal oxide or of prereduced metal, which may be iron. The apparatus includes a plurality of connected cells of identical size and construction. Each apparatus is connected to equipment for supplying the agglomerates for reduction or melting and refining within a reduction chamber or melting chamber, respectively, of each cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing liquid pig iron, including an iron oxide reducing furnace, a melting furnace positioned to receive and melt iron oxides reduced in the reducing furnace, a pig iron discharge device associated with the melting furnace, a slag discharge device associated with the melting furnace, at least one supply pipe connecting the reducing furnace and the melting furnace such that a mixture of metallized iron from the reducing furnace may be transferred to the melting furnace under gravity, and at least one discharge pipe connected to discharge combustion gases from the melting furnace to the reducing furnace, wherein the at least one supply pipe is provided with a plurality of regulating flap valves configured to allow sufficiently large accumulation of a mass of the mixture of metallized iron and to pour the mixture of metallized iron from a certain height such that the mixture of metallized iron being poured penetrates the pig iron in a molten phase forcefully.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging feed material through an opening into a furnace has a fixed structure and a moveable door. The moveable door together with the fixed structure defines the opening. The moveable door is mounted for movement toward and away from the fixed structure to widen and narrow the opening. The moveable door is biased toward the fixed structure. The moveable door and the fixed structure create a V-shaped downwardly pointing channel to direct the feed material being fed through the opening by gravity.

Abstract: Device for the direct reduction of iron oxides of the type with a gravitational load, comprising a reactor defining, in its upper part, at least a zone inside which the reduction reaction occurs, means (14, 15) to introduce the load through a mouth (12) of the reactor, means (18, 17, 19) to introduce a current of gas into at least one section of the reactor in correspondence with the reduction zone, outlet means (13) of the reduced material from the bottom of the reactor, and means (20) to discharge the exhaust fumes, said reactor (10) including at least a first upper zone (10a) of heating, pre-reduction and final reduction, with a taper diverging downwards, and a second lower zone (10b) of carburization and cooling, with a taper converging downwards.

Abstract: A device for producing sponge iron from iron oxide lumps consists of a reduction shaft in which a hot dust laden reducing gas is delivered. The gas is produced in a gas generator by means of partial oxidation of solid carbon carriers and passes into the lower end of the reduction zone via lateral reduction gas inlets. The iron oxide lumps are fed to the upper area of the reduction shaft and are radially fed as sponge iron to the lower end of said reduction shaft via delivery organs. The delivery organs are arranged in such a manner that the sponge iron is conveyed only radially outwardly.

Abstract: A direct smelting process for producing metals from metalliferous feed material is disclosed. The process includes forming a molten bath having a metal layer and a slag layer on the metal layer and smelting injected metalliferous feed material in the metal layer. The process also includes generating an upward gas flow from the metal layer which entrains molten material that is in the metal layer and carries the molten material into the slay layer and forms a region of turbulence at least at the interface of the slag layer and the metal layer. The process also includes injecting a gas into the slag layer via a plurality of lances/tuyeres and generating turbulence in an upper region of the slag layer and projecting splashes, droplets and streams of molten material from the slag layer into a top space of the vessel that is above the slag layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing reduced iron dries agglomerates, pelletized from a powdery mixture of an iron oxide powder and a reducing agent, in a drying chamber, preheats the dried agglomerates in a preheating chamber, and then reduces the preheated agglomerates in a high temperature atmosphere of a reducing furnace. In the preheating chamber, an off-gas from the reducing furnace is convected to preheat the dried agglomerates. A decrease in the fuel cost, and downsizing of the equipment can be achieved by effective use of the sensible heat of the off-gas discharged from the reducing furnace. Moreover, a downsized, simplified system for treatment of the off-gas is realized by decreasing the amount of the off-gas.

Abstract: Arrangement for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, with a reduction vessel in which the metal-oxide-bearing material is reduced in counterflow with reduction gas and which is provided with an inlet for metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet for reduction gas, an outlet for off-gas and an outlet for reduced material, a vessel for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is connected with the reduction vessel by means of a line and a first supply line for a sealing gas which serves to seal the reduction vessel against the vessel, which first supply line is provided at the connecting line between the vessel and the reduction vessel, characterized in that at least one additional supply line for a sealing gas is provided at the connecting line, which additional supply line is located between the first supply line and the vessel.

Abstract: A simple and reliable silver recovery system including a series of silver recovery processing containers through which solution flows by gravity to a waste container. The reservoir container holding a silver-rich solution is positioned above the processing containers. The outlet of the reservoir container is positioned above the outlet of the first processing container so that when the first processing container is full, fluid flows from the first processing container to a second processing container. The fluid flow is metered by a pinch clamp provided in the conduit between the reservoir container and the first processing container. Steel wool may be used as the silver recovery medium. An inlet manifold insures unobstructed inlet flow and distributes that flow within the processing container. A polymer filter may be positioned above the steel wool to capture large particulate matter and prevent clogging of the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reduction vessel (1) for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, by means of a reduction gas flowing countercurrently to the metal-oxide-bearing material, which reduction vessel (1) is provided with an inlet (5) for the metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet (6) for the reduction gas, an outlet (7) for off-gas and an outlet (8) for reduced material, downstream of which outlet (8) a lower sealing leg (9) is connected, a supply line (10) for a first sealing gas being provided at the lower sealing leg (9) in order to seal the reduction vessel (1) against the environment, characterized in that at least one additional supply line (12) for an additional sealing gas is provided at the lower sealing leg (9), the additional supply line (12) being located downstream of the supply line (10) for the first sealing gas, seen in the direction of flow of the reduced material (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A device adapted for attachment to a thermal processing furnace, the device includes a housing having first and second openings with a chamber located therebetween, the second opening is operatively connected to a thermal processing furnace and in communication with the thermal processing furnace for receiving a thermal process generating gas stream containing combustibles from the thermal processing furnace, a gas supply assembly located within the chamber for supplying a heated oxygen-containing gas at a temperature and velocity sufficient to mix the combustibles and the oxygen-containing gas to oxidize the combustibles into harmless byproducts.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for its use for a continuous production on an alkali metal, preferably sodium metal, by a reduction of the metal hydroxide with methane or natural gas as a reductant.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for smelting iron ore in which iron ore is preheated and partly reduced within a first reaction zone and then further reduced in a second reaction zone. The first reaction zone can be a shaft reduction furnace and the second reaction zone can be a melter gasifier. An auxiliary third reaction zone partially oxidizes a carbonaceous material to produce char for the third reaction zone. A reducing gas produced by partial oxidation of the char is used to effect the partial reduction conducted within the first reaction zone. Volatile substances contained within a heating gas produced by the partial oxidation within the auxiliary third reaction zone is further oxidized and used to preheat the iron ore within the first reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic powders a chlorination step for continuously producing chloride gas of metal by reacting metal with chlorine gas, and a reduction step for continuously reducing the metallic chloride gas by reacting the metallic chloride gas produced in the chlorination step with reducing gas. Regulating the feed rate of the chlorine gas can control the feed rate of the metallic chloride gas, whereby the particle diameters of produced metal powders can be stably controlled. Thus, the invention can make the particle diameters stable and arbitrarily control the diameters in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention is an integrated process and apparatus for supplying at least a portion of the reducing gas feedstock to a reduction reactor, such as a reactor for the direct reduction of iron, wherein the reducing gas contacts a feed material at a mean operating gas pressure and effects reduction of the feed material to provide a reduced product. The integrated process includes gasifying a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a partial oxidation reaction to produce a synthesis gas which comprises hydrogen, and carbon monoxide at a pressure substantially greater than the mean operating gas pressure in the reduction reactor. The synthesis gas is expanded to lower its pressure to substantially the mean operating gas pressure in the DRI reduction reactor to thereby form the reducing gas feedstock at the pressure conditions used for the DRI reaction.

Abstract: A process for the recycling of scrap metal, such as copper wire, comprises the steps of combining the scrap metal with a concentrate of a metal similar to the scrap metal in a pressure vessel (10) and subjecting the metal concentrate to pressure oxidation along with the scrap metal. In one example the scrap metal comprises copper wire and the metal concentrate comprises a copper matte. An apparatus (16) for feeding the scrap metal to the autoclave (10), without interrupting the operation of the autoclave (10) is also provided.

Abstract: A method for purifying iron carbide begins by feeding ore to a reaction chamber. A mixture of iron, iron oxides, gangue, and iron carbides is extracted from the reaction chamber. The temperature of the mixture is then adjusted to a range of 400.degree.-500.degree. C. The mixture, at the adjusted temperature, is subjecting to a first magnetic field for separating the mixture into a magnetic fraction including iron and iron oxides from a non-magnetic fraction including gangue and iron carbides. This is followed by a cooling of the non-magnetic fraction of gangue and iron carbides below the Curie temperature of iron carbide. The gangue and iron carbides are subjecting to a second magnetic field for separating the iron carbides, that become magnetic, from the gangue that remains non-magnetic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to be used in producing easily volatile metals from their sulfides. The method employs two closely connected furnaces, a reduction furnace and a converter, which are operated at normal pressure, so that the material transfer therebetween is arranged to be carried out continuously at normal pressure through the channels provided in between the furnaces. As a result of chemical reactions taking place in the furnaces, the hydrostatic pressure in the furnaces changes, and the circulations caused by these changes through the channels at the same time bring about recycling of the sulfide matte needed in the process from the reduction furnace to the converter and the recycling of the molten metal from the converter to the reduction furnace.

Abstract: The invention provides an autoclave configuration for pressure leaching lateritic ores at elevated temperatures. The autoclave configuration includes at least one primary autoclave. The primary autoclave includes a slurry inlet port for receiving slurries of lateritic ore from a lateritic slurry supply, an acid inlet port for receiving leaching acids, an agitation means for agitating the slurries of lateritic ore, and an outlet port for removing partially leached slurries of lateritic ore. A multi-compartment autoclave follows the primary autoclave. The multi-compartment autoclave is divided into at least two chambers connected in series. The chambers contain a means for agitating the partially leached slurries and divider walls for separating the chambers. An inlet port is connected to the first of the chambers for receipt of the partially leached slurries. An outlet port is connected to the last of the series of chambers for removal of the finally leached slurries.

Abstract: There is proposed a novel method for manufacturing high-purity metallic chromium that can eliminate the problems of reduced heating capability of the furnace, contamination of produced metallic chromium and other disadvantages related to the operation of the furnace. According to the invention, one or more than one of easily sulfidable metals selected from Sn, Ni and Cu are added to crude metallic chromium containing impurities and the mixture is loaded into a vacuum furnace equipped with heating elements of graphite and heated to 1,200.degree. to 1,500.degree. C. in an atmosphere with reduced pressure of between 0.1 and 5 torr.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming rare-earth magnets and magnet precursors of fine particle sized metal alloy powders with a high degree of metal to metal intimacy and homogeneity in the particle to particle metal composition. Salts of the desired metals which may include or be selected from zirconium, samarium, iron, cobalt, copper, neodymium and boron with nitric acid in a water based solution are atomized through a nozzle, which may be ultrasonic, into fine mist droplets form metal oxide particles which condense through a heated, atmospheric environment furnace. The furnace temperature is in a range of 600.degree. to 1150.degree. C. and causes decompositon of the metal salts along with their oxidation, driving off the liquid and nitrogen components along with other carrier materials. A very fine sized powder, typically micron dimension size powder of metal oxides, in which each particle represents a homogeneous proportion of the desired metal components, is collected in the bottom of the furnace.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of metal Zr by means of molten Mg in a reactor 1 having a hearth plate 3, comprising separating the magnesium chloride formed in the reduction reaction from the metal Zr formed. The process is characterized by separating the magnesium chloride formed by tapping off towards the bottom of the reactor 1 by means of a chimney 6 whose bottom end portion 5 is fixed to an orifice 4 in the hearth plate 3 and whose transverse open top end 7 is above the portion of the metallic mass Zr, Mg which borders the chimney 6 at the end of the reduction reaction. The invention also concerns the corresponding apparatus for the production of metal zirconium. The invention provides a simplification in the operation of separating the MgCl.sub.2 formed and possibly, by virtue of a particular structure of the chimney according to the invention, gives an improvement in the operation of extracting the sponge cake produced.

Abstract: This is a process for producing high quality zirconium or hafnium sponge. It is especially useful for producing the very high purity zirconium which may be used to line the inner surface zirconium of Zircaloy tubing for nuclear fuel rods. The process uses a combination reduction-distillation vessel which is directly fed with zirconium or hafnium tetrachloride from a molten salt sublimer. A precharge of magnesium chloride is used to prevent reduction of metal outside the inner liner, and thereby facilitate removal of the inner liner after reduction and distillation. The agitator for the molten salt sublimer preferably utilizes a molten metal seal around the agitator shaft.

Abstract: A system for providing thermal and chemical energies for the production of pelletized iron ore concentrates while allowing a reduction of a portion of the material in process. The material in process is introduced as ore fines, pelletized and fired in an indurator to produce feedstock for reduction by further processing. A portion of the material in process is diverted to a reduction plant. The reduction plant provides thermal and chemical energies for the indurator. In a preferred embodiment, a low temperature plasma generator is employed, either as the reduction plant or to provide thermal and chemical energies for reduction. When a distinct reduction plant is employed, top gases from such plant may be supplied to the indurator to provide thermal and chemical energies therefor and to the plasma generator for recarburization thereof. The material in process may be diverted as ore fines or as fired or unfired pelletized ore concentrates.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for producing purified refractory metal from a chloride thereof, comprising: a conversion/evaporation chamber, defined by a first substantially cylindrical vessel means and a first detachable top thereover, said top comprising therewithin an axially extending cell with an opening at a bottom thereof, a cavity with a flanged outlet to serve as a path for effluent vapor, further, a gas jacket and a water jacket arranged close to said cell and cavity for temperature control, and a valve arranged in the cavity for regulation of vapor flow, a tube so arranged as to movable vertically and to extend along the axis of the top for feeding the chloride to magnesium as fused and held in said chamber, a closure arranged around and movable together with said tube for regulating the opening of the cell, a furnace means which surrounds to heat said chamber, a condensation chamber, defined by a second substantially cylindrical vessel means and a second detachable top thereover, said top having a cav

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for heating, melting and production of gaseous fuel include supplying air, coal, steam into a melt. The melt contains elements readily oxidized by air. These elements produce oxides readily reduced by carbon. The overall results of the reactions of elements oxidation and reduction consist in the production of CO containing gas and evolving heat. The heat evolved is extracted from the melt by submergence of solid to be heated into the melt, by injection of heated gases into molten slag, by heat exchange between the wall confining the melt and gas, liquid or solid to be heated, or by conversion of steam into H.sub.2 and CO.