By Fluid Current Patents (Class 266/182)
  • Patent number: 4919396
    Abstract: An apparatus for smelting meltable substances, particularly ore concentrates. A transfer element joins the cyclone discharge to the furnace and is arranged between the melting cyclone and the furnace. In this way, the fitting, particularly the re-fitting of an open-hearth furnace with a melting cyclone can be significantly simplified; or, on the other hand, the melting cyclone can be very easily dismantled for the purpose of repair or can be replaced by another melting cyclone in a relatively short time, namely without a significant interruption of furnace operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Fritsch, Friedrich Megerle
  • Patent number: 4915731
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a metal from an ore by kinetic metallurgy as distinct from the usual static blast furnace approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Belton Y. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4880605
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for reacting a powder with a gas comprising a shroud consisting of a first section having a peripheral cylindrical wall with inner surface and outer surface. Inner surface defines a cavity which serves as reaction chamber in which powder and gas react. First section is detatchably mounted at top end to exit nozzle of high temperature source. First section has powder inlet opening(s) extending through peripheral wall from outer surface to inner surface, thereby connecting the outside with reaction chamber through which powder enters the chamber. Powder inlet opening(s) are positioned sufficiently close to exit nozzle to allow powder to melt and react with gas in the molten state. Second section forms cylindrical jacket skirting lower part of first section at a point below powder inlet openings. Jacket has outer peripheral wall, inner wall one and same with peripheral wall of first section, and top and bottom ring plates forming top and bottom walls respectively of second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Nelson E. Kopatz, Philip E. Stermer, Lori S. Pruyne
  • Patent number: 4871147
    Abstract: An apparatus is described which serves for a pyrometallurgical processing of fine-grained solids suspended in high-oxygen gases, comprising a generally horizontally extending cylindrical vessel and a combustion shaft, which communicates with and vertically opens into the vessel which is provided with a gas outlet opening and with an opening for discharging molten material. An almost complete separation of the molten particles is effected in that the mouth of the combustion shaft tangentially opens into the vessel at the entrance of a spiral-shaped entrance passage, which opens into a discharge slot, which is formed in the shell of the vessel and which in the lower portion of the shell of the substantially cylindrical vessel extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Norddeutsche Affinerie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Edgar Muschelknautz, Ernst Becker, Adalbert Bartsch, Lars Kersten, Georg Gospos, Gerhard Berndt
  • Patent number: 4832539
    Abstract: A pneumatic transport and distribution system for passing gas-entrained particles to a distributor which then distributes the particles through a plurality of distributor outlets. At least a portion of inlet conduit extending vertically to the distributor is of square or other non-circular inner cross-section for prevention of "spiralling" of the particles as they emanate from the distributor inlet into the distributor to thereby improve the flow distribution of the particles from the distributor outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: William C. Wolfe, George H. Weidman
  • Patent number: 4759532
    Abstract: In the environment of a blast furnace having a tuyere protruding inwardly from its inner wall and fed by a blow pipe, a lance extends through a side wall of the blow pipe for injecting coal-water or coal-tar mixtures or any other highly-loaded coal slurry through a central conduit surrounded by an outer conduit for air under pressure that cools the lance and atomizes the fuel carried by the inner conduit. The inner conduit terminates no farther into the blow pipe than the inner wall of the blow pipe, so that the hot air passing through the blow pipe does not heat the inner conduit and clog it. The outer conduit terminates on the axis of the blow pipe at about the connection between the tuyere and the blow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Nuova Italsider SpA
    Inventor: Duilio Illuminati
  • Patent number: 4689076
    Abstract: A method of operating a metallurgical furnace, and a furnace apparatus capable of using this method, in which coal is pulverized in a pulverizer vessel by interparticle collisions in at least one stream of gaseous medium, to produce ultrafine pulverized coal and feeding a mixture of the ultrafine pulverized coal and gaseous medium directly and continuously from the pulverizer vessel to the metallurgical furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: James Howden & Company Limited
    Inventors: James Cooper, Robert K. Watson
  • Patent number: 4666132
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pyrometallurgical treatment of fine grained solids such as non-ferrous metal ore concentrates with an oxygen-containing gas wherein the solids are mixed with the gas to form a suspension which is blown through a nozzle into a reaction chamber such as a vertical melting cyclone. In the reaction chamber, the solids are brought to reaction and melted. The invention is concerned with injecting a particle stream through the reaction zone as a focused open jet having mass flow velocity of greater than 50 kg/m.sup.2 .multidot.sec and having a linear speed of more than 35 m/sec. The particle stream is ignited by the hot combustion gases thereof or by a pilot flame. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the particle stream is directed along a horizontal secant of the chamber to the opposite wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Melcher, Friedrich Megerle, Wolfgang Wuth
  • Patent number: 4568065
    Abstract: The invention concerns a means for separating molten particles from the exhaust gases of metallurgical furnaces and for returning them to the furnace space (3). As taught by the invention, a molten dust cyclone has been provided substantially within the furnace space (3) or in its immediate vicinity, this cyclone comprising a vertical cylindrical chamber (4), a passage (8) leading from the furnace space (3) tangentially to chamber (4), an exit aperture (5) in the upper part of the chamber for removing the gas and a tap aperture (6) in the lower part of the chamber for returning to the furnace space (3) the solid and molten material that has separated from the gas.The invention furthermore concerns a way recover lead from the exhaust gases of a metallurgical furnace by regulating the oxygen partial pressure in the exhaust gases to be in the range of about 10.sup.-16 to 10.sup.-10 atmospheres at temperature 1250.degree.-1450.degree. K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oy
    Inventor: Timo T. Talonen
  • Patent number: 4527776
    Abstract: A method for controlling substantially equal distribution of particulates from a multi-outlet distributor in a conveying system conveying a supply of particulates to at least a first receiver is disclosed wherein a relationship between the velocity of the moving particles and the internal diameter and the heighth above a cone in the distributor is utilized to control distributor deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Armco, Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Scheel
  • Patent number: 4490171
    Abstract: A method for injecting a pulverized fuel into a blast furnace uses a pulverulent fuel injecting burner which is protruded into a blow pipe through a wall thereof near the tuyere of a blast furnace. The burner injects a pulverized fuel into the blast furnace along with a hot blast of air at a temperature higher than 950.degree. C. flowing through the blow pipe. The tip end of the burner is located at a distance L between 100 and 350 mm upstream from the boundary between the tuyere of the blast furnace and the blow pipe. According to one embodiment, the tip of the furnace is tapered by an angle .theta..ltoreq.1400L.sup.2 -1290L+295. According to a second embodiment, the inner diameter B.sub.1 of the blow pipe, and the inner and outer diameters of the burner tip (d and D) are selected such that 0.1.ltoreq.(D/Bi).ltoreq.0.25 and 0.6.ltoreq.(d/D).ltoreq.0.8. According to a third embodiment, the burner tip is removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Limited
    Inventors: Tomio Suzuki, Setsuo Tamura, Kozo Tanaka, Ryoichi Hirose, Hiroyuki Komatsu, Shinichi Tamada, Taketsugu Kasai, Keisuke Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 4478394
    Abstract: Lead in separated from a sulfidic concentrate by feeding a finely-divided concentrate, a silicate-high slagging agent, and air or oxygen-enriched air into the upper section of a suspension reaction shaft of a flash-smelting furnace in order to form a suspension and to oxidize the lead to lead oxide, by removing the gases via a riser pipe of the furnace and by discharging melt from a lower furnace of the flash-smelting furnace for further treatment. The slagging agent is fed at such a rate that substantially all of the melt is of the slag type and that all of the melt withdrawn from the lower furnace is directed to a reduction stage in order to reduce the lead silicate and to separate it as raw lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oy
    Inventors: Olavi A. Aaltonen, Rolf E. Malmstrom, Esko O. Nermes, Tapio K. Tuominen
  • Patent number: 4422624
    Abstract: A burner for smelting metal-bearing sulfide ores or concentrates by means of an oxygen-rich gas is disclosed. The oxygen-rich gas is introduced into a chamber so as to aspirate or eject the metal-bearing sulfide ore or concentrate. The oxygen-rich gas and sulfide concentrate are intimately admixed in a cylindrical mixing chamber and then jetted into the heated atmosphere of a smelting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: H. E. Dunham, David Arana, Terrell D. Jackson, Brent E. McEuen, John A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 4416673
    Abstract: Entrained particulate matter is separated from the pressurized gas released from an intermediate charge material storage hopper of a blast furnace charging installation, the hopper alternately being pressurized to the furnace pressure for release of charge materials into the furnace and the pressure being relieved to atmospheric to permit reloading, at a point upstream of the filters and/or silencers through which the pressurized gas is released to the ambient atmosphere. The separator comprises a series of perforated discs, which may be heated, associated with a collection chamber into which separated material will fall under the influence of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Kirchen, Marc Solvi, Clement Burton
  • Patent number: 4414022
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for smelting a sulfidic ore concentrate such as a copper concentrate in which the concentrate is smelted in an oxidizing atmosphere, the melt is after-treated with reducing gases from a plurality of lances which blow the reducing gases onto the melt in the form of concentrated streams of high kinetic energy and form a metal-rich phase and a slag phase. The improvement of the present invention is concerned with oxidizing the concentrate sufficiently to form an enriched metal matte containing more than 75% by weight metal at a throughput of more than 500 metric tons per day, the oxidizing being carried out in a smelting cyclone operating as a steam generator and at a sufficiently high temperature so that the heat transferred to the cyclone walls is at least 500,000 Kcal/sq. m. of cyclone wall/hr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Melcher
  • Patent number: 4392885
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a directioned and controlled suspension spray of a pulverous material and reaction gas in such a manner that the reaction gas directed along one, often horizontally approaching channel is divided into three or more partial channels by means of mainly radial partition walls. When necessary, guide blades or a venturi-like mixing and guide member is used. The reaction gas is deflected so as to have the desired direction, often vertically downwards so as to be parallel to the central axis of the reaction chamber, such as a flash-smelting furnace. The thus formed partial flows of reaction gas are often caused, furthermore, to discharge, divided further into two or more parts, as an annular flow encircling on each side the member for feeding pulverous material, situated in the middle of the flow, into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oy
    Inventors: Launo L. Lilja, Valto J. Makitalo
  • Patent number: 4389244
    Abstract: A method of supplying a pulverized fuel mixture to blast furnace tuyeres comprises batch loading the pulverized fuel mixture into a discharging chamber 8 being under gauge pressure, and subsequent continuous distributing thereof from this chamber, and transportation along pipelines 15 to the blast furnace tuyeres by means of gas. According to the invention, after distributing the pulverized fuel mixture from the discharging chamber 8, a supplementary gas is introduced into each pipeline 15, the total flow rate of said gas exceeding that of the main gas 3 to 10 times, and the product of the total flow rate of gas within each pipelines 15 by concentration of the fuel mixture therewithin being maintained equal for all the tuyeres 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Inventors: Stanislav L. Yaroshevsky, Leonid F. Lukyanchenko, Grigory N. Sidorenko, Evgeny N. Skladanovsky, Mikhail A. Zalevsky, Viktor I. Machikin, Jury G. Bannikov, Anatoly I. Ryabenko, Shamil T. Okazov, Vasily V. Stepanov, Evgeny A. Danilin, Anatoly A. Yarmal, Grigory E. Nekhaev, Jury I. Bat, Nikolai N. Popov, Alexei M. Kamardin, Valdimir P. Tereschenko, Romualda S. Stankevich
  • Patent number: 4359212
    Abstract: Apparatus for reducing finely divided iron oxide material, comprising a reactor containing a vertical upper reaction chamber connected downwardly to a narrower, vertical reaction chamber. A cyclone separator is connected to the upper reaction chamber for separating solid material and recycling it to the reactor so that a circulating fluidized bed can be maintained in the apparatus. In accordance with the invention, a recycling conduit is connected to the bottom of the lower reaction chamber. A tapping-off shaft for reduced material is also connected to the bottom of the lower reaction chamber. A reducing agent is supplied to the upper reaction chamber, and combustion air is supplied to the bottom of the upper reaction chamber. The apparatus also comprises means for preheating the iron oxide material with the exhaust gas from the reactor and for passing said preheated iron oxide into the lower reaction chamber. The apparatus also comprises means for stripping the exhaust gas from CO.sub.2 and H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags AB
    Inventors: Erik A. Bengtsson, Per H. Collin, Sune N. Flink, Bjorn Widell
  • Patent number: 4358311
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for smelting an ore concentrate or the like wherein the concentrate is first melted in an oxidizing atmosphere and the smelt is aftertreated with reducing gases to recover the metal values. The improvement consists in positioning a plurality of rows of lances in a smelting reactor in the direction of molten metal flow, the spacing between the rows of lances being substantially greater than the spacing between individual lances in each row. The reducing gas is blown with a high kinetic energy through each lance to cause an area of toroidal bath movement to occur where the gases from each lance impinge against the moving smelt. The spacing between the rows of lances is sufficiently large so that a relatively quiescent zone exists between the areas of toroidal bath movement between each of the rows. The molten metal and a relatively metal-free slag are withdrawn separately from the furnace enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventors: Horst Weigel, Gerhard Melcher
  • Patent number: 4326702
    Abstract: A sprinkler burner and method for injecting solid particulate material and a gas into a reactor as a paraboloidal suspension. Means are provided to introduce the gas tangentially into an outer cylindroidal member, comprising a slot-like gas inlet in the cylindroidal member and a spiral shaped conduit communicating with the slot, such that the gas is directed around the periphery and downward between the outer cylindroidal member and an inner tubular member through which the solids are fed. The gas entrains the solids emitting from the inner tubular member and spreads the solids tangentially from the exhaust end of the outer cylindroidal member such that a paraboloidal suspension is formed within a reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventors: Paul E. Oueneau, Horst J. Richter, Reinhardt Schuhmann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4324390
    Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of steel by direct reduction of iron ore dust comprises a single reactor vessel and a tubular reduction dust extending into the vessel to a point closely adjacent to the bottom of the vessel. The reactor vessel is provided with a source of reducing gas containing a monoxide and a predominant amount of H.sub.2. Heating mechanisms for the reduction dust, the iron ore dust, the source of reducing gas and the vessel are provided. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for the recycling of heat and the components of the waste gases of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Mannesmann DeMag AG
    Inventor: Manfred Driemeyer
  • Patent number: 4210315
    Abstract: A suspension of a powdery substance and a reaction gas is formed by allowing the powdery substance to fall as an annular flow into a reaction space, feeding the reaction gas downwardly to encircle the annular flow of powdery substance, the kinetic energy of the annular flow of descending powdery substance being utilized towards its gradual spreading to the sides with the aid of a sliding surface disposed within the reaction space, so that the flow of powdery substance which has been spread to be laterally directed will meet the reaction gas flow substantially at right angles in the reaction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oy
    Inventors: Launo L. Lilja, Valto J. Makitalo
  • Patent number: 4180251
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering lead from worn out electric storage batteries in which finely divided dried battery mud is injected into a stream of air through the veni contracta of a venturi in an air conduit. A reducing gas and oxygen are successively introduced into the stream through apertures in the walls of the conduit communicating with annular chambers in fuel and oxygen manifolds surrounding the conduit in sufficient quantities to maintain a stable reducing flame. The droplets of metallic lead and slag which fall from the reducing flame are collected in a refractory lined chamber and separated in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Dravo Corporation
    Inventor: Louis H. Jaquay
  • Patent number: 4162784
    Abstract: The pressurization and depressurization of a container, and specifically a feed hopper for materials to be delivered to the interior of a blast furnace, is accomplished with the aid of pressure equalization devices which each include a valve and a wear and sound reducing mechanism immediately downstream of the valve. The wear and sound reduction mechanism subdivides the stream of gas, which may contain entrained particulate matter, into a plurality of jets which are caused to follow a zig-zag trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: S.A. des Anciens Etablissements Paul Wurth
    Inventors: Edouard Legille, Rene N. Mahr, Carlo Heinz
  • Patent number: 4153426
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for producing synthetic gas by using a blast furnace as a gasifier. The furnace is charged in a conventional manner with particles of solid carbonaceous material such as normal, low grade or undersized coke together with slag-producing material, such as limestone, silica and/or basic oxygen furnace and/or open hearth furnace slag. Fluent fuel such as pulverized coal mixed with oxygen-containing gas and with lime if desired is injected into pre-ignition chambers near the hearth line of the furnace. The fluent fuel is ignited and partially gasified in the pre-ignition chambers, creating a hot reducing gas that enters the furnace raceway and passes upwardly into and through the body of charge material in the furnace stack. At the resulting high temperatures ash from the fluent fuel liguifies within the system to provide a liquid slag. Under a controlled high temperature reducing atmosphere, the liquid lime removes essentially all sulfur from the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Arthur G. McKee & Company
    Inventor: Reginald Wintrell
  • Patent number: 4147535
    Abstract: A suspension of a powdery substance and a reaction gas is formed by allowing the powdery substance to fall as an annular flow into a reaction space, feeding the reaction gas downwardly to encircle the annular flow of powdery substance, the kinetic energy of the annular flow of descending powdery substance being utilized towards its gradual spreading to the sides with the aid of a sliding surface disposed within the reaction space, so that the flow of powdery substance which has been spread to be laterally directed will meet the reaction gas flow substantially at right angles in the reaction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oy
    Inventors: Launo L. Lilja, Valto J. Makitalo
  • Patent number: 4072504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing metal from metal oxides, especially iron from iron oxides by a pre-reduction as well as final reduction wherein the pre-reduced oxidic material as well as optional slag formers and optional recirculated gas are injected at the bottom through tuyeres or the like by means of a carrier gas, inert or reducing of a reactor resembling a shaft furnace filled with solid reducing agent during simultaneous supplying of energy, e.g. in the form of oxygen gas and hydrocarbon, the oxidic material being blown against a pillar of solid reducing agent at such a level that essentially all injected solid material is retained (e.g. by galling) on the lower end of the pillar to bring the oxidic material to instantaneous final reduction, melting and possible alloying of the reduced metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Svenska Kullagerfabriken
    Inventors: Orn G. Perdahl, Sven O. Santen
  • Patent number: 4056262
    Abstract: Use of a shaft kiln in continuous smelting and refining of cement copper is made possible with a mix preheater, a refined gas preheater, an air preheater, an air mix feeder and forehearths for cement oxidation and reduction, and wherein oxidation is achieved by injecting oxidant gases and reduction by injecting preheated petroleum gas, subsequent to having placed a layer of charcoal on the smelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Compania de Acero del Pacifico S.A.
    Inventors: Douglas Pollock, Omar Sobarzo, Rolando Urquizar, Carlos Vilches, Jaime Bolanos
  • Patent number: 4049247
    Abstract: An equipment for the continuous, pneumatic introduction of finely divided materials, in particular coal dust, into several consumption sites, in particular into the tuyeres of blast-furnaces is characterized by combining systems partly known in such manner, that a plurality of double-story vessels is preceded by a distribution system comprising a supply bin with metering conveyor scale and distribution bin. A pressure-resistant bucket-wheel distributor is mounted underneath every pressure-vessel, the buckets of said distributor is multiply subdivided transversely to the axis, and a pressure-pan provided with conveyor-gas hook-up and subdivided into mini-chambers corresponding to the bucket-wheel distributor is mounted underneath each bucket-wheel distributor, the conveyor lines to the consumption sites being connected to the pressure-pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignees: Claudius Peters AG, MAXPETERS Gesellschaft fur Verfahrenstechnik mbH
    Inventors: Walter Stamer, Frithjof Eichinger
  • Patent number: 4027920
    Abstract: An improved distributor having a central inlet for receiving a stream of gas entrained particles to be divided into a plurality of effluent streams and including an open-ended standpipe disposed therein to maintain the central orientation of the incoming stream thereby attaining a pattern of recirculation which induces a steady flow and uniform distribution of the effluent streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Jerald Meeker Wennerstrom