Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing sponge iron from iron-oxide-containing material in lump form by direct reduction in a reduction shaft using a reducing gas, wherein the entire reducing gas is introduced by means of a number of reducing gas distribution ducts in a star-like arrangement or arranged parallel to one another, preferably into the lower quarter of the reduction shaft, and evenly distributed over the entire cross-section of the reduction shaft.

Abstract: A quadrilateral assembly in an electric arc furnace wall for providing one or more coherent jets into the furnace and for providing preferably a plurality of post combustion oxidant streams into the furnace, preferably for forming a post combustion oxidant sheet.

Abstract: An improved hearth section for a shaft furnace may comprise a plurality of splines mounted to the side wall of the hearth section in spaced-apart circumferential positions so that each of the splines extends radially inward from the side-wall and into the interior of the hearth section. The floor of the hearth section may include a plurality of stand-offs positioned in generally spaced-apart relation and that extend upward from the floor and into the interior of the hearth section.

Abstract: First and second feed streams are injected into a molten bath, thereby creating first and second jets. The first and second jets combine to form a substantially planar, or fan jet, region within the molten bath. The first and second feed streams can include a variety of materials, such as oxidant, reducing agents, or waste materials, such as organic waste. In addition, the feed streams can include distinct reactants that are combined in the fan jet region for reaction with each other or with one or more components of the molten bath.

Abstract: An introducing means for introducing particulate material into a molten metal, molten alloy or molten ceramic stream, or spray of droplets formed therefrom is disclosed. The introducing means has an annular introducing chamber defining an opening through which the stream may be teemed. The chamber includes an inlet, and an outlet positioned about the opening. The outlet allows particulate material to exit from the introducing chamber at a plurality of positions about the opening so that, in use, the particulate material is introduced substantially uniformly about the stream or spray. The particulate material is preferably supplied by means of a hopper, a screw feeder for feeding material to the hopper to a mixing chamber, and a transport gas for transporting the particulate material from the mixing chamber to the introducing chamber.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for and a method of efficiently melting aluminum and aluminum alloys substantially completely by convection is disclosed. The vertical shaft furnace has a generally cylindrical cross-section with a refractory liner and a cast refractory hearth having a concave, generally conical shape. A plurality of downwardly inclined burners are provided in the walls of the furnace arranged in such a way as to prevent the high velocity burner flame from blowing the aluminum material to be melted across the furnace and into burners on the opposite furnace wall.

Abstract: A rotary batch preheating kiln feeding batch materials to a batch liquefying vessel is separated from the liquefying vessel by a transition section including duct means to direct exhaust gas from the liquefying vessel to the interior of the rotary kiln at a location spaced from the discharge location of the kiln. The transition section also shields the rotary kiln from radiant heat from the liquefaction vessel.

Abstract: A cupola system for production of gray iron employs otherwise wasted heat to preheat fuel, pig iron, flux and compressed air fed into a melting furnace, by diversion of melting furnace exhaust-gases through a preheating furnace containing feeding conduits for the fuel, pig iron and flux, and for the compressed air; the preheating furnace is laterally inclined downwardly from a point of exhaust to a chimney, to the melting furnace; the diverting means includes a closed, downwardly concave reflecting top over the melting furnace, and the preheating furnace has a concave roof; an important provision of the invention is employment of a maximum number of conventional size and shape tuyeres in a radial array in the melting furnace.

Abstract: A cupola comprises a shaft with burners located at the bottom part around the periphery thereof, the burners having nozzle ducts. The cupola further comprises a hearth and a refractory bed. The total outlet cross-sectional area (.SIGMA.f) of the nozzle ducts is equal to 0.02-0.18 of the shaft cross-sectional area (F) in the plane of location of the nozzle ducts.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved high velocity dual fuel burner and a method for firing a vertical shaft metal melting furnace with gaseous or liquid fuel in which the burner nozzle is adapted to mix and ignite both types of fuels alternately or in combination by means of three concentric nozzles including a central oil spraying nozzle, an intermediate nozzle to supply natural gas and an outermost nozzle to supply combustion air.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and an apparatus for improving the efficiency of conventional vertical shaft metal melting and refining furnaces by novel refractory arrangements to form a multiple level hearth which will support pieces of metal that have reached the hearth without being melted. With this invention there is even and complete distribution and diffusion of heat around and through these unmelted pieces of metal to effect their rapid melting. Thus unmelted pieces of metal cannot block burners or clog tapping outlets of vertical shaft furnaces, and undue restriction to the flow of molten metal in and from these furnaces is substantially avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for melting pig-iron comprising a cupola furnace, a combustion chamber burning the waste gases leaving this cupola furnace. This installation comprises furthermore a heat exchanger between the flue gases leaving this combustion chamber and a thermodynamic fluid driving at least one rotary machine coupled to at least one electric generator, a superheating furnace for the pig-iron in the liquid state disposed between the cupola furnace and a casting station.

Abstract: A charge is admitted into a shaft furnace so as to form a charge column therein. The lower end of the column is melted with a flame and the charge moves downwardly by gravity as melting proceeds. The flame is generated by admitting one or more streams of oxygen and one or more streams of fuel into the furnace. A stream of oxygen and a stream of fuel are admitted into the furnace as a pair and in such a manner that the respective oxygen stream is surrounded by the respective fuel stream. This procedure provides the result that the fuel entering the furnace withdraws so much heat from the surroundings that water-cooling of the burners may be eliminated. Moreover, the withdrawal of heat from the surroundings serves to cool the furnace wall in the regions of the burners sufficiently for molten material flowing on the furnace wall in these regions to solidify. Consequently, protuberances are formed on the furnace wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for automatically deslagging a cupola furnace and to an improved cupola furnace using this process.According to the invention the bottom of the crucible is permanently connected to atmosphere via a siphon sill whose level is determined so that the interface between pig iron and slag is sometimes above and sometimes below this sill. The side wall of the cupola furnace has on the one hand a taphole for the pig iron opening into the crucible level with the hearth and which can be sealed with a plug and on the other air blowing tuyeres in the upper part of the crucible, as well as a siphon linked with the crucible for the supply thereof by means of a passage whose lower edge is adjacent to the bottom of the crucible and whose upper sill extends below the maximum permitted pig iron level determined by the siphon outflow, whereby the maximum permitted slag level is located below the nozzles.

Abstract: An improved cupola furnace waste gas recuperative system and method for collecting waste furnace gases, cleaning them for the purpose of safely burning same either in a recuperator-heat exchanger for preheating incoming furnace blast air or for other heating purposes. The improvement consists of a method and means to control the pressure inside of the gas take-off chamber of an open, top charged, cupola furnace for the purposes of preventing gases from escaping through the charging hopper, preventing the indraft of excessive amounts of air, preventing explosive combustion and flashback of the waste gas and maintaining cleaning efficiency at any gas flow rate. Means include the controlled recirculation of a variable portion of the waste gas through part of the gas cleaning system and control of the furnace top gas pressure as a function of the incoming cupola furnace blast air.