Abstract: A continuous concentrate feeding equipment of the present invention, which can supply the concentrate to a smelting furnace continuously when the concentrate is received, includes a pressure-adjusting tank that temporarily accumulates granular concentrate; a lift tank that receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank and discharges the concentrate to a smelting furnace; an air passage for introducing compressed air into the pressure-adjusting tank and the lift tank, respectively; and control means for controlling the compressed air, and the concentrate is continuously supplied from the lift tank to the smelting furnace even when the lift tank receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank by the control means.

Abstract: A method of fluxing or degassing a molten metal residing as a bath in a furnace. The bath of molten metal includes a bath surface height and the method provides at least one rotating impeller in the molten metal bath to initiate a flow of the molten metal. The flow in the molten metal results in elevating a portion of the molten metal above the bath surface height where at least one of a fluxing agent and an inert gas is introduced into the elevated portion of the molten metal.

Abstract: A steelmaking plant including a pressurized direct reduction reactor for continuous production of hot direct reduced iron with a batch-melting furnace and a standby cooler, all three being capable of being situated side-by-side, with such DRI being able to be alternatively fed to the furnace or to the cooler. The furnace is selectively charged through a diverter valve by a pneumatic transport system with the hot DRI being entrained in a carrier gas fed into a receiving bin (having an upper DRI/gas disengagement space and a lower DRI buffer portion). A pressurized charge of the DRI accumulated in such disengaging/buffer bin is periodically fed down into a dosing/depressurization bin which in turn depressurizes the DRI and feeds a batch of DRI down into the furnace. Upon sensing that the buffer portion is full, the DRI is then pneumatically diverted to the cooler, such as during furnace maintenance shut down.

Abstract: Methods for treating aluminum in a furnace. An aluminum charge is introduced into a furnace and melted with heat from at least one burner. The burner is supplied with at least one oxidizer and at least one fuel. The oxidizer is made up of at least 10% oxygen by volume. The concentration of a first gas is measured in the furnace atmosphere or in a flue gas exiting the furnace. The oxidation of the molten aluminum is then reduced by holding the flow rate of the oxidizer steady while varying the flow rate of the fuel, according to the concentration of a second gas in the furnace or in the flue gas exiting the furnace. The concentration of the second gas is determined by comparing the measured species concentration and the intrinsic concentration which would be present absent the aluminum charge.

Abstract: An oxygen fueled combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner, an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a predetermined purity, and a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel. The oxygen and the carbon based fuel are fed into the furnace in a stoichiometric proportion to one another to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to less than 5 percent over the stoichiometric proportion. The combustion of the carbon based fuel provides a flame temperature in excess of 4500° F. The exhaust gas stream from the furnace has substantially zero nitrogen-containing combustion produced gaseous compounds from the oxidizing agent and reduced green-house gases. Substantially less carbon based fuel is required than conventional combustion systems without a loss of energy output.

Abstract: An oxygen fueled combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner, an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a predetermined purity, and a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel. The oxygen and the carbon based fuel are fed into the furnace in a stoichiometric proportion to one another to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to less than 5 percent over the stoichiometric proportion. The combustion of the carbon based fuel provides a flame temperature in excess of 4500° F. The exhaust gas stream from the furnace has substantially zero nitrogen-containing combustion produced gaseous compounds from the oxidizing agent and reduced green-house gases. Substantially less carbon based fuel is required than conventional combustion systems without a loss of energy output.

Abstract: They purpose of the invention is to create a process which optimizes the reduction process with a given quality of ore.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming contaminated scrap metal, more particularly an improved reverberatory furnace designed for melting scrap. The amount of hydrocarbons volatilized from the melting of contaminated scrap is measured and the fumes are passed into the main hearth for burning. As the amount of fuel value contained within the fumes increases, the amount of fuel provided to the burner is proportionally reduced while the amount of oxygen is kept constant. This will ensure that the amount of fuel and the amount of oxygen present within the furnace is completely burned without excessive free oxygen or unburned fuel building up within the furnace or furnace exhaust. The burner will be operating under lean fuel conditions or under fuel rich conditions such that the flame temperature is lower than at stoichiometric firing, whereby the burners create reduced NOx.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of prereduced iron ore, Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), or the like, in an ironmaking plant wherein the reducing gas utilized in the chemical reduction of iron oxides is generated from natural gas within the reduction reactor system by reforming the hydrocarbons with such oxidants as water and oxygen inside the reduction reactor which under steady state conditions contains metallic iron which acts as a reformation catalyst. The amount of carbon in the DRI can be reliably controlled by modifying the relative amounts of water, carbon dioxide and oxygen in the composition of the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor. The amount of carbon in the DRI is controlled by the amount of water in the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor while the addition of oxygen provides the energy necessary for such DRI carburization.

Abstract: In a vacuum heat treating oven operating with hydrogen under pressure as the cooling medium, especially for the quenching of greatly heated metal workpieces (5), a method is provided for the automatic control of the progress of the process and for monitoring safety of operation. The housing (4) of the heat treating oven is for this purpose connected to gas inlet lines (9 and 10), one for the admission of the cooling gas and one for the admission of the flushing gas (H.sub.2 and N.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling samples of hot rolled steel sections. A programmable controller directs a predetermined sequence of air and cooling water sprays against the sample while held in a closed container. The controlled cooling of the sample prevents dimensional distortion of the sample so that accurate measurements of the finished hot rolled steel section can be determined.

Abstract: A powderized material supply system comprises a plurality of reservoir tanks, each containing a different type of powder, and is associated with a metering means for metering the material into an individual supply line. Each individual supply line is associated with a carrier fluid source which supplies, carrier fluid at a controlled pressure for transferring the metered material with the carrier fluid. The individual material suppply lines, each associated with the corresponding reservoir tank, are connected to a post-mixing chamber into which the metered materials are introduced. The post-mixing chamber is connected to a mixture supply line. Each metering means can be controlled for metering a controlled amount of the material in its associated reservoir tank, independently of others. The powderized material supply system is applicable in various industrial or laboratory level processes which require supply of a plurality of powder state fluid material at a variable rate.

Abstract: A method of producing a hot, carburized metallized iron product in a generally vertical shaft furnace having an upper reducing zone in which iron oxide reacts with a gaseous reductant, and a lower carbon control and product discharge zone, including: establishing a gravitationally descending iron oxide burden in the furnace; reacting hot gaseous gaseous reductant with the descending burden to form a metallized iron product and a reacted top gas; and injecting a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting of hot reformed reducing gas and cool natural gas to the product discharge section of the shaft furnace; whereby the carbon content of the metallized iron pellet product is controlled by mixing the reformed gas and natural gas in the proper ratio to balance the endothermic and exothermic reactions within the discharge zone of the furnace.

Abstract: A blast furnace, especially for the production of hot metal for the steel industry and operated with a normal charge above the tuyere blast zone, has its hot metal production increased at least temporarily by a lateral injection of metal oxides into the zone. A supply of the thermal energy requirements for the smelting reduction of these metal oxides by electrically operated plasma torches, and the compensation of a overoxygenation resulting from the oxygen contribution of these metal oxides by the introduction of nitrogen.

Abstract: A method of producing a hot, carburized metallized iron product in a generally vertical shaft furnace having an upper reducing zone in which iron oxide reacts with a gaseous reductant, and a lower carbon control and product discharge zone, including: establishing a gravitationally descending iron oxide burden in the furnace; reacting hot gaseous reductant with the descending burden to form a metallized iron product and a reacted top gas; and injecting a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting of hot reformed endothermic gas and cool natural gas to the product discharge section of the shaft furnace; whereby the carbon content of the metallized iron pellet product is controlled by mixing the endothermic gas and natural gas in the proper ratio to balance the endothermic and exothermic reactions within the discharge zone of the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pneumatic feeding of additives along pipes from an additive silo to converters. The additive is allowed to flow into a dispatching device, a scale or a similar device in it stopping the entrance of the additive when the desired quantity of additive has arrived in the dispatching device. The dispatching device is pressurized thereafter by means of compressed air, by means of which the quantity of additive is fed via a pipe into the converters.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a regulated atmosphere in a heat treating furnace. In the preferred embodiment, liquid methanol is heated sufficiently to cause it to dissociate into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, i.e. the combustible components. These dissociated combustible components are then mixed with a relatively inert gas such as nitrogen. This mixture of combustibles and non-combustibles forms the atmosphere for the furnace. The proportion of one or more combustibles in the mixture is measured, and the flow of the inert gas into the mixer is regulated so as to maintain precisely the desired ratio of combustibles to non-combustibles in the furnace atmosphere. The invention includes various mechanisms for preventing unsafe temperature and pressure conditions, and for insuring that unwanted byproducts of dissociated methanol are not created.

Abstract: A method and means for improved control of the process for directly reducing materials containing iron oxides in a rotary kiln using a solid carbonaceous reducing agent, such as coal, introduced from the charge feed and discharge ends of the kiln, as the source of both fuel and reductant, and oxygen-containing gas introduced along the kiln length, is disclosed wherein the portion of the reducing agent fed at the discharge end is injected in the form of two or more streams through the discharge end of the kiln onto the charge bed in such manner as to permit close and efficient control of the process, particularly when carried out in larger kilns.

Abstract: An exothermic reactor has a refractory lining and a plurality of annular nozzles mounted in said lining. Each nozzle has an inner reactant gas passage and an annular shielding fluid passage surrounding said reactant gas passage. A reactant gas is supplied from a reactant gas manifold through reactant gas feed conduits to respective ones of said reactant gas passages. A shielding fluid is supplied from a shielding fluid manifold through shielding fluid feed conduits to respective ones of said shielding fluid passages. The pressure in said reactant gas manifold is sensed and the flow in each of said shielding fluid feed conduits is controlled in dependence on the conditions in said reactant gas manifold so as to prevent a pressure rise in each of said shielding fluid feed conduits above an upper limit. As long as said pressure is below said upper limit, a predetermined ratio is maintained between the flow rate in each of said shielding fluid feed conduits and the flow rate in said reactant fluid manifold.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the injection of powdered reagent into a pool of molten metal through a generally vertically disposed movable tubular lance includes lance manipulating means for imparting movement to the lance, convey gas control means operable in coordination with movement of the lance toward the pool of molten metal for initiating the flow of convey gas through the lance, common control means actuated in coordination with continued movement of the lance toward the pool of molten metal and effective to arrest downward movement of the lance and to initiate the flow of powdered reagent from a dispenser vessel through the lance and into the molten metal when the outlet end of the lance reaches a predetermined level, and measuring control means for sensing the injection of a predetermined quantity of powdered reagent into the molten metal for activating the common control means and thereby to cut off the flow of powdered reagent through the lance and to activate said lance manipulating mea

Abstract: This invention relates to the generation of an atmosphere for the heat treatment of metals, incorporating an alcohol of the methanol type that decomposes by cracking.A generating plant comprises a nitrogen circuit connected to a pressure source, an alcohol circuit connected to a pressurized tank containing the alcohol in the liquid phase and an injector arranged to feed the alcohol and nitrogen into the furnace in the form of a mist of alcohol within a jet of nitrogen.The invention is applicable in particular to the hardening, heating prior to quenching, and annealing of steels.

Abstract: An apparatus for the control of the carburizing of parts under vacuum in a acuum furnace, with which as a carbon carrier a hydrocarbon gas is introduced controlled in the furnace. A detector detects the occurrence of a soot mist formation. Upon the occurrence of the soot mist a feeder for the hydrocarbon addition is completely or partially interrupted. The detector cooperates with the feeder such that the hydrocarbon addition is again received when the soot mist formation has decayed.

Abstract: A plurality of regenerative hot blast stoves are operated under a staggered-parallel process wherein each stove is alternately operated under a fixed heating cycle wherein no cold blast is supplied to the stove and no hot blast issues therefrom and a fixed blasting cycle wherein cold blast is supplied to the stove and issues therefrom as hot blast. The initiation of the cycles of the stoves is staggered in time with respect to each other such that at any given time hot blast issues from more than one of the stoves but at different temperatures.

Abstract: Fine-grain fuel is delivered from pressure vessels with a vehicle gas as a fluidized flow into a reactor for gasification at an elevated pressure. A gaseous gasification agent is also fed into the reactor. A control system for the fine-grain fuel and gasification agent includes detectors to provide an electrical signal which varies during feeding of fuel from the pressure vessels into the reactor. Controllers produce a fuel rate control signal corresponding to a comparison between the electrical signal from the detectors and a predetermined reference value corresponding to the desired fuel supply rate. Control valves respond to the fuel rate control signal to adjust the supply of vehicle gas to transfer fuel from the pressure vessels into the reactor.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for supplying the refining gas and protective media utilized in the refining process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,549 issued Dec. 19, 1972, including valves provided in the supply lines for preventing malfunctioning of the process.

Abstract: A control system maintains a predetermined volumetric ratio between fine-particle fuel and a gasification agent which are fed separately into a reactor wherein the fuel is gasified under pressure. The control system includes a first measuring means responsive to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the fine-particle fuel in a fuel-feed line for producing a fuel-feed signal corresponding to the volumetric amount of fuel conducted by the line. A vehicle gas-feed signal is produced by a second measuring means in response to the volumetric amount of vehicle gas conducted by a line into the fuel-feed line for admixture with the fuel therein. Computing means is responsive to the fuel-feed signal and the vehicle gas-feed signal to produce a control signal according the expression:U.sub.1 . (U.sub.2 - U.sub.v)for all values of U.sub.2 greater than U.sub.v where U.sub.1 corresponds to the reciprocal of the fuel-feed signal, U.sub.2 corresponds to the vehicle gas-feed signal and U.sub.

Abstract: The roasting temperature of ore, such as sulfide concentrate, is controlled by feeding water and air under pressure to at least one spray nozzle located relative to a roasting zone containing the ore, means being employed for selectively varying the ratio of water and air fed to the nozzle in accordance with the temperature to be desired and maintained in the roasting zone.