Means For Introducing Fluent Into Vessel, E.g., Tuyere Patents (Class 266/265)
  • Patent number: 11369986
    Abstract: A refractory-lined equipment includes a vessel defining an interior at least partially lined with a refractory material, and a nozzle assembly coupled to the vessel and extending into the interior. The nozzle assembly includes an outer sleeve fixed to the sidewall and extending through an aperture defined in the sidewall, the outer sleeve defining a central passageway, and a nozzle cartridge assembly positionable within the central passageway and including an inner sleeve, a refractory lining disposed about the inner sleeve, and a nozzle positioned within the inner sleeve. The nozzle cartridge assembly is removably coupled to the outer sleeve external to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Patrick L. Yoder, Christopher J. Fowler, Aaron M. Schlett, Laura E. Johnsen
  • Patent number: 10443940
    Abstract: A raw material supply process that supplies a raw material into a flash smelting furnace and supplies a first gas contributing to a reaction of the raw material into the flash smelting furnace, includes: a raw material passage that is provided out of a lance through which the first gas passes, the raw material passing through the raw material passage; and an adjuster that adjusts a distribution of the raw material by blowing a second gas to the raw material passing through the raw material passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PAN PACIFIC COPPER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Motomura, Eiji Tojima, Tomoya Kawasaki, Yutaka Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9028743
    Abstract: There is provided a bustle pipe arrangement of a shaft furnace, in particular for feeding hot gas into the shaft furnace such as e.g. a blast furnace, wherein the bustle pipe arrangement comprises a circumferential bustle pipe arranged along the outer casing of the shaft furnace, at a certain distance therefrom. The arrangement further comprises a plurality of first support arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second support arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being separate from the second level. The first and second support arms are configured to support the circumferential bustle pipe. First blow channels are arranged through the first support arms for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe to the interior of the shaft furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Paul Wurth Refractory & Engineering GmbH, Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Lionel Hausemer, Manfred Moller, Paul Tockert, Rudolf Hebel
  • Publication number: 20150091224
    Abstract: A raw material supply apparatus that supplies a raw material into a flash smelting furnace and supplies a first gas contributing to a reaction of the raw material into the flash smelting furnace, includes: a raw material passage that is provided out of a lance through which the first gas passes, the raw material passing through the raw material passage; and an adjuster that adjusts a distribution of the raw material by blowing a second gas to the raw material passing through the raw material passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: PAN PACIFIC COPPER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya MOTOMURA, Eiji TOJIMA, Tomoya KAWASAKI, Yutaka YASUDA
  • Patent number: 8926895
    Abstract: A post-combustion lance for directing a gas at least partially therethrough. The post-combustion lance includes a body extending between an upstream end and a downstream end of the lance, the body including upper and lower portions and a post-combustion distributor mounted therebetween. The lance also includes an internal support assembly for supporting the body, the internal support assembly including an internal tube positioned inside the body and at least partially engaged with the lower portion, and at least partially engaged with the upper portion of the body, so that the internal support assembly supports the body both upstream and downstream relative to the distributor. The lance also includes a lower o-ring gland positioned downstream relative to the internal support assembly and an upper o-ring gland positioned upstream relative to the lower o-ring gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: A.H. Tallman Bronze Company, Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. Strelbisky, Kerry J. Legeard, Goran Dimitrijevik
  • Patent number: 8889061
    Abstract: A concentrate burner of a suspension smelting or suspension converting furnace includes a reaction gas feed, a powdery solid matter feed and a concentrate distributor. An arrangement for feeding powdery solid matter to the concentrate burner includes a first powdery solid matter discharge pipe for feeding powdery solid matter into the powdery solid matter feed of the concentrate burner. The first powdery solid matter discharge pipe is provided with a first partition, which divides solid matter, for dividing the first powdery solid matter discharge pipe into two essentially similar discharge pipe parts. The powdery solid matter feed of the concentrate burner comprise an annular concentrate discharge channel that surrounds the concentrate distributor of the concentrate burner. Each discharge pipe part of the first powdery solid matter discharge pipe is at least partly divided into two discharge pipe portions by a second partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Jussi Sipilä, Peter Björklund, Kaarle Peltoniemi, Lauri P. Pesonen
  • Patent number: 8883070
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a molten metal containment structure including a refractory molten metal containment vessel having an external surface, and a metal casing for the vessel having an internal surface at least partially surrounding the external surface of the vessel at a distance therefrom forming a spacing between the vessel and the casing. The spacing includes an unobstructed upwardly extending gap that is vented to the exterior of the structure by upper and lower openings in the casing. A layer of insulating material is preferably positioned in the spacing between the internal surface of the casing and the external surface of the vessel, with the layer of insulating material being narrower than the spacing at least at upwardly extending sides of the casing, thereby forming the unobstructed gap. The vessel may be a metal conveying trough, a housing for a metal filter, a container for a metal degasser unit, a crucible, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Reeves, Jason D. Hymas, John Steven Tingey
  • Patent number: 8808616
    Abstract: There is provided a bustle pipe arrangement of a shaft furnace that comprises a circumferential bustle pipe arranged along the outer casing of the shaft furnace, the bustle pipe being arranged at a certain distance from the outer casing. The arrangement further comprises a plurality of first arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second arms connecting the bustle pipe to the outer casing of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being different from the second level. First and second blow channels are respectively arranged through the first and second arms for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe to the interior of the shaft furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Paul Wurth Refractory & Engineering GmbH, Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Lionel Hausemer, Manfred Moller, Paul Tockert, Rudolf Hebel
  • Patent number: 8790570
    Abstract: A movable device for injecting oxygen and other technical materials into an electric arc furnace includes a housing situated above a portion of a step of a crucible and equipped with a cooling coil, an injection lance of oxygen and other technical materials, a supporting and moving system of the lance between minimum and maximum range points of the liquid bath level contained therein, positioned in the housing, an opening situated in the housing and facing the inside of the crucible in which the lance is transferably guided, and a scraping member disposed between the opening and the lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tenova S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sivio Maria Reali, Giancarlo Cavallini, Mauro Grioni
  • Patent number: 8652397
    Abstract: Ultrasonic devices having an integrated gas delivery system are described, and these devices can be used to remove dissolved gasses and impurities from molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Patent number: 8652398
    Abstract: A burner assembly comprising a burner with a body and a burner throat extending downwardly from the burner body, a carriage located below the burner and provided with a cradle, a media box configured to pivotally mate with the cradle along a horizontal axis of the media box such that the media box is supported on the carriage at the axis and can rotate on the carriage about the axis, the media box having a port that connects with the burner throat but that separates from the burner throat when the media box is tilted about its axis, and media in the media box to serve as a heat sink, where the axis is horizontally offset from the media box's center of gravity, and the media box may be rotated about the horizontal axis to allow for ready engagement and disengagement between the media box and the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gillespie + Powers, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8652395
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for feeding pulverised coal into a blast furnace, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a tuyere stock (14) for blowing hot blast air from a bustle pipe (12) into a furnace hearth of a blast furnace through a tuyere (15) in an opening in the furnace wall (16); providing a pulverised coal injection lance (18) for feeding pulverised coal into the tuyere (15), the pulverised coal injection lance (18) comprising an inner pipe (20) for conveying pulverised coal and an outer pipe (22), coaxially arranged around the inner pipe (20), for conveying combustive gas, the inner pipe (20) forming a separation wall for separating the pulverised coal from the combustive gas, the pulverised coal injection lance (18) having a lance tip (24) arranged in the tuyere (15); allowing the pulverised coal and the combustive gas to form a mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas at the lance tip (24); burning the mixture of pulverised coal and combustive gas in the tuye
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Paul Goedert, Christian Lunkes, Pol Lemmer
  • Patent number: 8623270
    Abstract: A dual outlet injector is disclosed for use in a dual lance or dual port desulfurization station, whereby reagent from a given injector vessel may be injected into two separate supply pipes respectively corresponding to the dual lances or dual ports. The dual outlet injector enables a desulfurization station to be configured comprising only one supply vessel for powdered magnesium reagent and only one supply vessel for a carrier reagent such as powdered lime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ESM Group Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Waitlevertch, Larry J. Epps, Michael S. Ross
  • Patent number: 8568654
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Patent number: 8557174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of:—subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and—extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorizing Zn and Pb; characterized in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ Mg ? O ] 3 > 3.5 ; ? ? 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Maurits Van Camp, Jonathan Aerts, Benedict Janssens, Sven Santen
  • Publication number: 20130106034
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for injecting gas into a metallurgical vessel, comprising a blowing head (5) having a feed line (5b) for delivering gas, in particular oxygen, to the blowing head (5), and at least one Laval nozzle (1) disposed on the blowing head (5), said nozzle having an inlet section (2) which conveys the gas and an outlet section (3), wherein the gas is delivered to the inlet section (2) via the feed line (5b) and leaves the outlet section (3) at supersonic speed, wherein the Laval nozzle (1) comprises at least one first nozzle part (2, 3) and a second nozzle part (7), wherein the nozzle parts (2, 3, 7) are adjustable relative to one another by changing the geometry of the Laval nozzle (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Odenthal, Jochen Schlueter, Herbert Olivier
  • Publication number: 20130020745
    Abstract: An automatic continuous feeding device of a metallurgical furnace includes an outer barrel and a plurality of inner barrels. The outer barrel includes an accommodation space having an out-feed channel communicated to a reduction furnace. An out-feed gate is disposed on the out-feed channel of the outer barrel. The inner barrels utilized to receive a material are disposed in the accommodation space of the outer barrel. Each of the inner barrels includes an in-feed opening and an out-feed opening, wherein the in-feed opening passing through the outer barrel to communicate to an exterior is enclosed by an openable cover enclosing mechanism, and an inner-barrel lower cover is disposed on each of the out-feed openings. The accommodation space of the outer barrel can be kept at an environmental temperature and pressure equal to that of the reduction furnace, to perform multiple feeding operations in an environment with constant temperature and pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: WEN YUAN CHANG
  • Patent number: 8317897
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for supersonically injecting oxygen into a furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, in which the total oxygen required for the furnace operation is injected with the aid of two distinct circuits, i.e., the first circuit comprising at least one supersonic oxygen injecting nozzle and a second circuit which comprises additionally oxygen injecting means and is connected to the first circuit by pressure-sensitive means, such as a discharging device (or upstream pressure adjuster), in such a way that a stable pressure is obtained in the first circuit upon the attainment of the maximum flowrate thereof, wherein the first circuit can consists of several supersonic nozzle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Philippe Beaudoin
  • Patent number: 8287803
    Abstract: A novel blaster nozzle used for assisting in the pneumatic removal of cloggings and cakings during the transport of particulate matter through an enclosure housing is set such that it can be removed and replaced from outside the enclosure housing. The blaster nozzle includes a nozzle head having an orifice for the conduction of high-pressure fluid, wherein the nozzle head is composed of a refractory concrete having from about 4-20% by volume metal fibers therein. The blaster nozzle also includes a flange member connected to the nozzle head and a connection tube extends from the flange member for connecting the blaster nozzle to an air cannon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Wahl Refractory Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: M. David Moore
  • Patent number: 8277721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the melt. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel-making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture burner/lance provides a flame for heating the melt, a lance device for injecting oxygen into the furnace, or both. To access the melt, the furnace aperture burner/lance is disengaged, access is provided to the melt through the furnace aperture, and the furnace aperture burner/lance is reengaged when the access is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Process Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery Shver
  • Patent number: 8268233
    Abstract: A cooling system comprises serpentine cooling fluid passages cast into a work piece with carefully controlled turning radii and profiles. Individual interdigitated baffles are contoured in the plane of coolant flow to have walls that thicken and then round off at their distal ends. The outside radii at these turns is similarly rounded and controlled such that the coolant flow will not be swirled into eddies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Allan J. MacRae
  • Publication number: 20120211929
    Abstract: A post-combustion lance for directing a gas at least partially therethrough. The post-combustion lance includes a body extending between an upstream end and a downstream end of the lance, the body including upper and lower portions and a post-combustion distributor mounted therebetween. The lance also includes an internal support assembly for supporting the body, the internal support assembly including an internal tube positioned inside the body and at least partially engaged with the lower portion, and at least partially engaged with the upper portion of the body, so that the internal support assembly supports the body both upstream and downstream relative to the distributor. The lance also includes a lower o-ring gland positioned downstream relative to the internal support assembly and an upper o-ring gland positioned upstream relative to the lower o-ring gland.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Strelbisky, Kerry J. Legeard, Goran Dimitrijevik
  • Patent number: 8236235
    Abstract: A nozzle for introducing pressurized fluids into an industrial vessel is releasably attachable to and detachable from a mounting member securedly attached to an exterior surface of the vessel. The mounting member is attached, via extension piping, to a source of pressurized gas, such as the exhaust valve of an air cannon. Both the nozzle and the mounting member include respective mating collars which engage each other in a twist lock manner. Additional securing members are provided to securely retain the nozzle and mounting member in twist lock engagement. Removal of the nozzle is performed by releasing the securing members, twisting the nozzle from inside of the vessel to unlock it from the mounting member, and uncoupling the nozzle from the mounting member. Installation of a replacement nozzle is performed by performing the foregoing steps in the reverse order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Martin Engineering Company
    Inventors: Travis J. Miller, Bradley E. Pronschinske, Michael J. Masterson, Martin A. Yepsen
  • Patent number: 8187527
    Abstract: A modular air fluidized sand bed for the heat treatment of metal products is disclosed. This technology provides for the heat-treatment of steels, particularly long products, and other alloys and shapes using fluidized-sand heat transfer media. The technology directs gas burners into U-tube assemblies suspended in the media. The fluidizing agent is hot exhaust gas recovered from the U-tubes. Blended exhaust gases and cool air can maintain fluidizing gas, plenum and retort temperatures at nearly the same temperature as the sand. Constant volume and pressure of fluidizing gas maximizes heat transfer between sand and product. For extreme heating applications, a thermally insulated cover held in direct contact with the hot fluidized sand improves energy efficiency. A sand return system returns sand lost from the bed exit to entrance. The modular air fluidized sand bed includes a fluidization pressure and volume that are altered independent of a fluidization media temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Wilson Tyl
  • Publication number: 20120074622
    Abstract: A movable device for injecting oxygen and other technical materials into an electric arc furnace comprising a housing (16) situated above a portion of a step (13) of a crucible (11) and equipped with a cooling coil (15), an injection lance (20) of oxygen and other technical materials, supporting (23, 26) and moving means (21, 22, 24) of the lance between minimum and maximum range points of the liquid bath level contained therein, positioned in the housing (16), an opening (27) situated in the housing and facing the inside of the crucible in which the lance is transferably guided, scraping means (28) being envisaged between the opening (27) and the lance (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: TENOVA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sivio Maria Reali, Giancarlo Cavallini, Mauro Grioni
  • Patent number: 8124005
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Bogdan Vuletic
  • Publication number: 20110290075
    Abstract: An injector insert pipe is arranged in the gas channel of a nozzle for injecting oxygen-containing gas into a pig iron production unit, wherein an interspace which surrounds the pipe is present over the entire pipe length between the wall of the gas channel and the pipe outer wall . The pipe extends at least as far as the nozzle end face which contains the mouth of the gas channel. The pipe space is connected to an oxygen-containing gas feed line, and the interspace is connected to a protective gas supply line. In a process, oxygen-containing gas is fed into the pipe space, which after it has flowed through the pipe, enters the production unit at an entry velocity, and the interspace is simultaneously flowed through by a gas which exits into the production unit at an exit velocity, wherein the entry velocity is greater than the exit velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Georg Aichinger, Franz Berner, Stefan Lechner, Marinko Lekic-Ninic, Jan-Friedemann Plaul, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Martin Schmidt, Thomas Söntgen, Bogdan Vuletic, Kurt Wieder, Johann Wurm
  • Publication number: 20110272868
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a bustle pipe arrangement (10) of a shaft furnace, in particular for feeding hot gas into the shaft furnace such as e.g. a blast furnace, wherein the bustle pipe arrangement (10) comprises a circumferential bustle pipe (12) arranged along the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace, at a certain distance therefrom. The arrangement (10) further comprises a plurality of first support arms (22) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a first level; and a plurality of second support arms (24) connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the outer casing (14) of the shaft furnace on a second level, the first level being separate from the second level. The first and second support arms (22, 24) are configured to support the circumferential bustle pipe (12). First blow channels (26) are arranged through the first support arms (22) for fluidly connecting the bustle pipe (12) to the interior of the shaft furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: PAUL WURTH REFRACTORY & ENGINEERING GMBH, PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Simoes, Lionel Hausemer, Manfred Moller, Paul Tockert, Rudolf Hebel
  • Patent number: 8003043
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the molten metal melt in a furnace. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture plug is reciprocated through a furnace aperture, the furnace aperture plug is retracted from the furnace aperture, access is provided to the molten metal melt in the furnace, and the furnace aperture plug is reinserted into the furnace aperture when the access is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Process Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery Shver
  • Patent number: 7976774
    Abstract: A composite sparger for use in elevated temperature and corrosive environments. The composite sparger is formed from a substrate tube with a thermally conductive interlayer on its surfaces exposed to the reactor environment. The thermally conductive interlayer is protected with a corrosion resistant layer. The corrosion resistant layer protects the interlayer from the corrosive environment of the reactor vessel and the interlayer material conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer. The interlayer material and corrosion resistant material may be selected so as to provide for sufficient thermal conduction to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Fraser, Murray Pearson
  • Patent number: 7968047
    Abstract: A novel blaster nozzle (10) used for assisting in the pneumatic removal of cloggings and cakings during the transport of particulate matter through an enclosure housing is set such that it can be removed and replaced from outside the enclosure housing. The blaster nozzle includes a nozzle head (12) having an orifice for the conduction of high-pressure fluid, wherein the nozzle head is composed of a refractory concrete having from about 4-20% by volume metal fibers therein. The blaster nozzle also includes a flange member (14) connected to the nozzle head and a connection tube (18) extends from the flange member for connecting the blaster nozzle to an air cannon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Wahl Refractory Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: M. David Moore
  • Patent number: 7968048
    Abstract: A composite sparger for use in elevated temperature and corrosive environments. The composite sparger is formed from a thermally conductive non-combustible metal substrate. The surfaces of the conductive non-combustible metal exposed to the reactor environment are protected with a corrosion resistant layer. The corrosion resistant layer protects the substrate material from the corrosive environment of the reactor vessel and the substrate material conducts heat away from the corrosion resistant layer to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant layer. The substrate material and corrosion resistant material may be selected so as to provide for sufficient thermal conduction to prevent combustion of the corrosion resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Fraser, Murray Scott Pearson
  • Publication number: 20110140318
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a molten metal containment structure including a refractory molten metal containment vessel having an external surface, and a metal casing for the vessel having an internal surface at least partially surrounding the external surface of the vessel at a distance therefrom forming a spacing between the vessel and the casing. The spacing includes an unobstructed upwardly extending gap that is vented to the exterior of the structure by upper and lower openings in the casing. A layer of insulating material is preferably positioned in the spacing between the internal surface of the casing and the external surface of the vessel, with the layer of insulating material being narrower than the spacing at least at upwardly extending sides of the casing, thereby forming the unobstructed gap. The vessel may be a metal conveying trough, a housing for a metal filter, a container for a metal degasser unit, a crucible, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Eric W. Reeves, Jason D. Hymas, John Steven Tingey
  • Publication number: 20110140321
    Abstract: The invention relates to producing and processing liquid metal in metallurgy. The inventive tuyer device comprises a well block with a built-in shell, coaxial metal pipes arranged inside the shell, a central working channel and an annular channel encompassing the working channel on the side of a device introducible into the liquid metal, wherein the channels are separately connected to ducts for supplying gas media to the metal and the coaxial metal pipes consist of two interconnected sections of different diameters, the second section having the larger diameter, being connected to the ducts for separately supplying gas media to the working channels of the first section, being provided with an extra pipe and having the annular channels only, the gaps of which are in the form of capillaries for the liquid metal, the internal section of the central pipe being closed on both ends and filled with a refractory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Edgar Schumacher, Viktor Nikolaevich Hloponin, Renata Franzky, Ewald Antonovich Schumacher, Sagadat Schumacher, Andrei Vasilyevich Yudin, Alexander Kasymovich Farmanov
  • Publication number: 20110140317
    Abstract: A smelt spout area of a recovery boiler. A bank of smelt spouts is connected to a lower part of the boiler for directing smelt from the boiler to a dissolving tank. A working area is in front of the bank of smelt spouts. A shielding wall is located in front of the bank of smelt spouts and arranged movable in relation to the bank of smelt spouts to separate the bank of smelt spouts from the working area and persons working on the working area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: METSO POWER OY
    Inventors: Kari HAAGA, Hannu Koskela, Ari Saarela
  • Publication number: 20110127703
    Abstract: A jet of gas injected from a lance is fluidically deviated with a gas flowing in either the same or opposite direction as the jet of gas. The gas used to fluidically deviate the jet is the same as or different from the gas in the jet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Vivek GAUTAM, Michael G.K. GRANT, Taekyu KANG, Nicolas DOCQUIER, Farrukh ALVI, Ryan B. ADELMAN
  • Publication number: 20110127702
    Abstract: A jet of gas injected from a lance is fluidically deviated with a gas flowing in either the same or opposite direction as the jet of gas. The gas used to fluidically deviate the jet is the same as or different from the gas in the jet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Vivek GAUTAM, Nicolas DOCQUIER, Michael G.K. GRANT, Farrukh ALVI, Taekyu KANG
  • Publication number: 20110109024
    Abstract: An apparatus for insertion and extraction of a fuel injection lance into and out of a tuyere stock (1) of a shaft furnace, in particular of a blast furnace, is proposed, the tuyere stock includes a lance sheath that defines an insertion/extraction axis and is mounted in coaxial extension of a lance channel through which an injection lance can be inserted into the tuyere stock where the proposed apparatus includes a linear guide, a carriage and a mounting support, the carriage is movably supported by the linear guide and cooperates with a connecting device for connecting an injection lance to the carriage such that the injection lance can be moved axially along a translation axis by the carriagee, where the linear guide includes a mechanism for linearly moving the carriage along a guide axis and a first coupling half for mounting the linear guide to the mounting support attached to the tuyere stock, the mounting support having a second coupling half cooperating with the first coupling half of the linear guide
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventors: Ben Muller, Paul Goedert, Christian Lunkes, Patrick Hutmacher
  • Publication number: 20110101576
    Abstract: A tuyere for manufacturing molten iron is provided. The tuyere includes i) an oxygen injection opening that is configured to inject oxygen therethrough, and ii) a sealing gas injection opening that is located to be spaced apart from the oxygen injection opening and is configured to inject a sealing gas surrounding the oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: POSCO
    Inventors: Il-Hyun Cho, Do-Seung Kim, Jin-Chan Bae
  • Patent number: 7897100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the continuous production of steel using metal charge material (8) that is preheated in an upper part of a melting vessel (2), is then melted in a lower part (9) of the melting vessel l(2) with fossil fuels (23) and the molten material (16) is continuously discharged into a treatment vessel (3) in which the desired steel quality is adjusted while gases (22) are introduced into the melting vessel (2) from the exterior to afterburn the melting exhaust gases (13). The aim of the invention is to improve the aforementioned afterburn step while at the same time reducing oxidation of the iron-containing charge materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Monheim, Wolfgang Reichelt, Walter Weischedel
  • Publication number: 20100327498
    Abstract: A taphole structure of a melting furnace includes: a sleeve made of a fire-resistant brick, which is disposed inside a tapping hole provided in a furnace wall brick; and a ramming material which fills a gap between the sleeve and the tapping hole for fixing the sleeve. In addition, a repair method of the taphole which has expanded due to wear of a first ramming material during tapping, includes: forming a dismantled surface having a straight line shape by dismantling and removing a worn portion of the first ramming material in a straight line from an outer surface side toward an inner surface side of a furnace wall; and then filling a second ramming material into a gap between the dismantled surface having the straight line shape and a first sleeve for sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Yasunari Matsumura, Kohji Taoka
  • Publication number: 20100320653
    Abstract: A tuyere structure of a melting furnace includes: a tuyere main body which is covered on an outer periphery thereof with a ring member baked in advance, and is disposed in a hole portion provided in a tuyere brick; and a ramming material which fills a periphery of the ring member so as to fix the ring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Yasunari Matsumura, Kohji Taoka
  • Patent number: 7837928
    Abstract: A tuyere assembly for directing air and one or more fluid hydrocarbons into a cavity in a blast furnace. The tuyere assembly includes a blowpipe portion with a conduit defining a bore through which the air is directed. The tuyere assembly also includes a tuyere with a chamber defined by one or more walls thereof, the chamber being in fluid communication with the cavity of the blast furnace, and the chamber of the tuyere and the bore of the blowpipe portion form an internal cavity of the tuyere assembly. Also, the tuyere assembly includes one or more injector subassemblies having one or more outlet ends, each outlet end being adapted for directing the hydrocarbon into the internal cavity for combustion thereof to provide a flame substantially having a preselected flame configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: U.S. Steel Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Frank W. Harrison, Lawrence A. Drebert
  • Patent number: 7704444
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing characteristics of a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient testing of metal temperature and composition of molten metal during the melt cycle of the metal. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace probe is reciprocated through a furnace probe plug aperture, the furnace probe is retracted from the furnace probe plug aperture, a furnace probe is inserted through the furnace probe plug aperture, the furnace probe is retracted from the aperture, and the furnace probe aperture plug is inserted into the furnace probe plug aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Process Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery G. Shver
  • Patent number: 7704445
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the molten metal melt in a furnace. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture plug is reciprocated through a furnace aperture, the furnace aperture plug is retracted from the furnace aperture, access is provided to the molten metal melt in the furnace, and the furnace aperture plug is reinserted into the furnace aperture when the access is concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Process Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Valery G. Shver
  • Publication number: 20100059148
    Abstract: A modular air fluidized sand bed for the heat treatment of metal products is disclosed. This technology provides for the heat-treatment of steels, particularly long products, and other alloys and shapes using fluidized-sand heat transfer media. The technology directs gas burners into U-tube assemblies suspended in the media. The fluidizing agent is hot exhaust gas recovered from the U-tubes. Blended exhaust gases and cool air can maintain fluidizing gas, plenum and retort temperatures at nearly the same temperature as the sand. Constant volume and pressure of fluidizing gas maximizes heat transfer between sand and product. For extreme heating applications, a thermally insulated cover held in direct contact with the hot fluidized sand improves energy efficiency. A sand return system returns sand lost from the bed exit to entrance. The modular air fluidized sand bed includes a fluidization pressure and volume that are altered independent of a fluidization media temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Wilson Tyl
  • Patent number: 7638088
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing metal products, in which a metal-containing charge material is melted in a melting unit, and a working gas, in particular an at least partially reducing working gas, is additionally produced in the melting unit. The working gas produced is extracted and if appropriate after cleaning, is used as a carrier gas, at least in part for—preferably pneumatic—transport of an at least partially reduced metal-containing material in the form of fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH & Co, Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology Incorporated Foundation
    Inventor: Michael Nagl
  • Patent number: 7611663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial furnace for smelting metals, in particular nonferrous metals, and the respective nozzle element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Andritz Maerz GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Zulehner, Hans Rinnhofer
  • Publication number: 20090229416
    Abstract: A method of refining molten metal in a vessel by the reaction of oxygen with impurities in the molten metal comprises the steps of: a) ejecting at least one primary jet of oxygen from a lance positioned above the molten metal into the molten metal to react with impurities therein and to form a layer of molten slag; b) continuing to eject the primary jet of oxygen from the lance and thereby causing the primary bet of oxygen to pass through the slag layer into the molten metal; c) ejecting a plurality of secondary jets of oxygen from the lance, the secondary jet of oxygen travelling for a distance separately from the primary jet of oxygen; and d) entraining the secondary jets of oxygen into the primary jet of oxygen upstream of the entry of the primary jet of oxygen into the molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew M. Cameron, Michael James Strelbisky, Andrew Peter Richardson, John Batham, Mark Alan Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7550109
    Abstract: A double chamber single directional spiral tuyere for blast furnaces is disclosed. The tuyere includes a body unit, a spiral unit and a cover unit, with a body chamber having a body nose passage and a body main passage defined in the body unit, and a nose chamber having first, second, third and fourth spiral passages defined in both the spiral unit and the cover unit. The tuyere further includes a tunnel, which is formed in the spiral unit and the cover unit and connects a cooling water inlet to the first spiral passage. Thus, efficient circulation of cooling water and maximum cooling performance can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Seoul Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae-Yang Lee