Abstract: A shaft furnace for firing carbonate-containing material may include, in a flow direction of the material, a preheating zone, a firing zone, a cooling zone, and a material outlet for discharging the material from the shaft furnace. Burner lances project into the firing zone. At least one burner lance has a first penetration depth into the firing zone and at least one further burner lance has a second penetration depth into the firing zone that is greater than the first penetration depth. A primary air conduit may be configured to convey combustion air and may be connected to at least one burner lance. An oxygen conduit for conveying oxygen into the firing zone may be arranged such that oxygen flows from the oxygen conduit at least one burner lance having the second penetration depth.

Abstract: A groove inclined path for diagonally downwardly delivering hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets loaded through a loading port is provided in a storage hopper for storing the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets. The groove inclined path is defined by a plurality of groove-inclined-path members each having an inclined plate and side plates to define a groove structure, the groove-inclined-path members being vertically disposed so that flow directions of the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets become opposite. The vertically adjacent ones of the groove-inclined-path members are disposed so that the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets dropped from upper one of the groove-inclined-path members are brought into contact with the plate member of immediately lower one of the groove-inclined-path members to reverse a flow direction thereof, thereby reducing a flow speed of the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets.

Abstract: The method according to the invention for operating a PFR lime kiln having at least two shafts, which each have a preheating zone, a combustion zone and a cooling zone, and an overflow channel which connects the two shafts, substantially comprises the following method steps: the two shafts are operated alternately as a combustion shaft and exhaust gas shaft, combustion air and fuel are supplied to the combustion shaft, a corresponding flame length being formed, and the hot gases which are produced in the combustion shaft reach the exhaust gas shaft via the overflow channel, at least one parameter of the hot gases which is characteristic of the formation of the flame length being established by means of direct or indirect measurement in the region of the overflow channel and the ratio of fuel to combustion air being adjusted in accordance with this parameter in order to adjust a predetermined flame length.

Abstract: Furnace for producing calcium oxide, including a container which internally has a baking chamber provided with a central axis and with a calcination zone for the calcareous material, provided with burners, characterised in that it includes, at said calcination zone, at least a first group of said burners positioned, with the respective outlets, substantially at a same first distance (A) from said central axis and at least a second group of said burners positioned, with the respective outlets, substantially at a same second distance (B) from said axis, said first group of burners being overlapped to said second group of burners relative to the dropping direction of the calcareous material and said second distance (B) being less than said first distance (A).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for calcining solids or sludges in a multiple-deck furnace having a firing region, which has at least one upper heated hearth and at least one lower heated hearth, and having a cooling region, which is provided with one or more unheated hearths, material to be calcined passing first into the firing region and then into the cooling region. A portion of the material to be calcined is delivered to the at least one lower heated hearth and/or to the cooling region, bypassing the at least one upper heated hearth of the firing region.

Abstract: A method for burning lumpy combustion material, in particular limestone, dolomite and magnesite, in a regenerative shaft furnace comprising at least two shafts (1, 2) comprised of a preheating zone (A) as well as a combustion zone (B). The shafts are connected below a cooling zone (C) by a transfer channel (3). The combustion air is charged at the head of one shaft (1), heated by hot combustion material as it flows through the preheating zone (A), and brought into contact with fuel before it enters the combustion zone (B). The combustion zone (B) is flowed through by combustion gas produced in the combustion of the fuel. Cooling air is admitted at the lower end of the shaft (1) and, as it flows through the cooling zone (C), heated by hot combustion material exiting from the combustion zone.

Abstract: In a method for burning carbonate-containing material the latter moves as a result of gravity in counter-current to the cooling and combustion air through a shaft kiln. The fuel supply takes place by means of burning lances introduced into the granular burning material at right angles to the shaft wall. On limiting the grain size and the residence time as a result of this type of fuel supply it is possible to achieve high burning temperatures even suitable for hard burning without there being any sintering together of the granular burning material.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a particulate drying method and drying apparatus, which can disperse particulates in the drying apparatus, prolong the particulate residence time, and improve the drying conditions, while retaining the advantages of conventional flash dryers.

Abstract: A regenerative shaft kiln having at least two vertical shafts and a plurality of lances for introducing fuel into the kiln, with one or more sensor provided proximate a plurality of the lances, each of the sensors producing a first output signal having a magnitude and corresponding to a physical parameter of the kiln adjacent the sensor. Observation of the operating conditions of individual lances enables adjustments to the fuel feed via individual lances to avoid equipment damage and to improve kiln performance.

Abstract: Feed apparatus for treating and feeding lumpy or granular material to a smelting furnace, which apparatus contains a plurality of silos or sub-silos in which said material is contacted with a gas. The silo or sub-silo contains a cone-shaped gas distributor located in the middle of the bottom portion of the silo. The gas distribution cone has a number of gas nozzles, preferably between 100 and 500 gas nozzles.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: A preheating apparatus for particulate material includes a plurality of vertical chambers, a temperature sensor within each chamber and a particulate discharge mechanism. Each chamber is segregated from an adjacent chamber by a vertical wall and includes a material inlet for receiving particulate material, a material outlet for discharging particulate material, a gas inlet for receiving a gas, and a gas outlet for exhausting gas. The temperature sensor is located within a chamber so as to sense temperature of the gas being exhausted from each chamber. A particulate discharge mechanism discharges particulate material within each chamber through the material outlet, with a flow rate adjusted as a function of temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor. A method for preheating particulate material includes sensing temperature of the gas existing each chamber and adjusting a flow rate of the particulate material through each chamber as a function of sensed temperature of each chamber.

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: This invention relates to a a vertical shaft kiln (VSK) useful for manufacturing cement and other allied products, which comprises a rotary nodule feeder for feeding the raw materials, fitted above the kiln bed for uniform distribution of nodules of the raw materials, an air blower being placed at the base of the kiln for feeding air through a duct to a common air header having a plurality of outlet air ducts, the air duct being connected to an air cone placed inside an armoured shell of the VSK, the said air cone being provided with a grate assembly having a plurality of peripheral air slots, the air duct being connected to an air box placed above the said armoured shell, the said air box having perforations on the inside vertical wall, the air duct being connected to an air header having air entry nozzles placed in such a manner so as to supply air just below the sintering zone of the VSK, the air duct being connected to the chimney of the VSK, the said chimney being provided with a butterfly valve below th

Abstract: A shaft furnace for reduction of oxides includes a shaft member having an oxide inlet and defining a pre-heating and pre-reducing zone downstream of the oxide inlet, a reducing zone downstream of the pre-heating and pre-reducing zone a transition zone downstream of the reducing zone, and a discharge zone downstream of the transition zone; and a gas reforming zone associated with the shaft member for reforming a methane-containing gas into a reformed gas and for introducing the reformed gas into the reducing zone whereby oxides in the reducing zone are reduced by the reformed gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of burners of a cupola. The method includes the steps of separately supplying air and fuel to each burner of the cupola, measuring the flow rates of air and fuel supplied to each burner, controlling either the flow rate of air or flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner as a function of a desired heat energy output of the burners and controlling the other of the flow rate supplied to each burner as a function of the measured flow rate of air or fuel supplied to each burner and a preselected ratio of flow rate of air supplied to each burner and of flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner.

Abstract: Carbothermally reduce a metal oxide to its corresponding metal nitride or metal carbide powder in a vertical gravity flow reactor by adding precursor pellets containing the metal oxide, a thermally decomposed binder material and carbon or a source of carbon directly to a heated reaction zone within the reactor. The pellets form a pellet bed, the top of which must be maintained within the heated reaction zone. The binder material is a blend of wheat and corn starches, optionally in conjunction with another binder such as melamine. The binder material thermally decomposes to a carbonaceous residue which functions both as an additional source of carbon and as a binder for the precursor pellets. The reactor may be modified by adding an internal vent line to remove volatile materials from the heated reaction zone before they have an opportunity to condense on internal reactor surfaces.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.

Abstract: A particulate material drying apparatus and method including a pulse combustor and an associated combustion chamber. Fuel and combustion air are introduced to the combustion chamber whereby the combination of the pulse combustor and combustion chamber generates a pulsating flow of hot gases. A material feed introduction chamber receives the hot gases and material to be dried is delivered into the introduction chamber for contact therein with the flow of hot gases. A drying chamber is connected to the introduction chamber for receiving the mixture of material and hot gases exiting from the introduction chamber. The drying chamber comprises an enclosing wall, a porous inner wall spaced inwardly from the enclosing wall, and an annular space defined between the enclosing wall and the porous inner wall. Fluid under pressure is introduced to the annular space whereby the fluid passes through the porous inner wall and deters build-up of material on the inner surface of the porous inner wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for blowing preheated air into a shaft furnace, comprising several separate tubular elements, wherein an outer shielding made of steel and an inner lining made of cast refractory concrete are connected in pairs by a ball joint and a compensator. The ball joint includes a convex pivot which is integral with a first tubular element and which can pivot in a concave dish integral with a second tubular element. At least the convex pivot of the ball joint comprises a profiled refractory brick anchored in the inner refractory lining made of cast refractory concrete.

Abstract: The kiln operating according to the parallel-flow-regenerative process has two shafts (2, 3), which at the transition from the burning zone (14) to the cooling zone (15) have a widening forming an inner step (38) at which the combustion gases are transferred to the adjacent shaft (2, 3). This widened shaft area continues at least approximately cylindrically up to the bottom opening ( 35 ) of the shafts ( 2, 3 ) closed by a discharge device ( 34 ). This design of the shaft areas makes it possible, preferably together with an improved fuel distribution and charging device and in the case of satisfactory product quality, to burn limestone having particles in the size range 10 to 30 mm, which could hitherto not be burned in shaft kilns.

Abstract: A method and a combustion furnace are provided by means of which waste which is predominantly of organic nature can be burnt effectively and uniformly. The combustion furnace comprises two bottlenecks, one above the other, constituted by rocking grates. The upper rocking grate essentially serves to subject the solids to pre-combustion, namely to drying, degasifying, and partial gasifying, and to supply the material uniformly in doses to the fire bed which is located on the lower grate and in which complete gasification takes place. Rotational movements of both grates provide for uniform passage of the material through the shaft without the risk of burn-through occurring along the edges so that the entire combustion process becomes highly uniform.

Abstract: A device is proposed for cooling the distribution chute of an installation for charging a shaft furnace. This installation comprises a feed channel, a rotary collar and a rotary cage, a fixed outer housing, a distribution chute mounted in a pivoting manner in the rotary cage, a driving means so as to cause the collar and the cage to turn, as one about the vertical axis of the channel and two drive casings acting on suspension shafts of the chute so as to pivot about a horizontal axis. An annular tank for feeding with cooling fluid is secured to the upper edge of the rotary collar. The distribution chute comprises a circuit for cooling the lower surface of its body and is connected directly, through channels passing axially through the suspension shafts of the chute and rotary connectors to the annular tank.

Abstract: A device repairs worn depressed surfaces around a tap hole opening in a blast furnace plate. The device includes a preformed frusto-conical member made of a refractory material that is flexible and rapidly baked. A ferrule is formed of frangible material and encloses the refractory member therein. The ferrule is fastened to the nose of a tap hole gun which impacts against the depressed surface thereby causing destruction of the ferrule and allowing adhering deformation of the refractory material to fill the worn depressed surface of the plate--around the tap hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing pneumatically conveyed solid pulverulent material over an annular area of large diameter comprises an enclosure defining an annular chamber having a substantially vertical axis, a closed upper end and a lower end, an upper portion adjacent the closed upper end and a lower portion adjacent the lower end. A section defined by a plane extending perpendicularly to the axis has a constant area in the upper portion and an area decreasing progressively towards the lower end in the lower portion. An annular outlet opening or a series of annularly arranged outlet openings is defined by the lower end, and an inlet conduit for a flow of gaseous fluid for pneumatically conveying the solid pulverulent material into the chamber is connected to the upper chamber portion so that the gaseous fluid flow penetrates the chamber in an approximately radial direction.

Abstract: A device is presented for injecting preheated air into a shaft furnace and comprises of a plurality of tubular elements provided with a refractory lining, which are connected to each other by a ball-and-socket articulation and an expansion joint. The ball-and-socket articulations comprise a convex ball portion formed in the refractory material of the adjacent segment. They comprise a protective shell made of refractory steel which extends around the convex part up to the base of the ball portion. The radius of curvature of each ball-and-socket articulation is in the range of magnitude of half the diameter of the tubular elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally reclaiming used foundry sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed furnace having a combustion chamber therein. A sand dispersion system supported within the combustion chamber disperses the free falling sand particles to expose the particles to a combustion supporting furnace environment. Disposed immediately below the furnace is a sand retention chamber in which the sand is accumulated. Heated air is introduced into the retention chamber to maintain the combustion supporting environment. Residual coatings remaining on the sand particles are thermally removed in the retention chamber.

Abstract: A process and device for introducing additives, in particular energy carriers, into a cupola or shaft furnace. The additive is carried with combustion air stream and introduced therewith in the furnace shaft, a depression being created at the point where the additive is fed into the combustion air stream, so that the additive is fed into the combustion air stream, so that the additive is aspirated by the combustion air into the combustion area of the furnace shaft.

Abstract: The device comprises an oblique portion connected by a gooseneck, a nozzle, atuyere and a ball-and-socket joint to the wall of the furnace, in which the oblique portion comprises a tapered tube flange-mounted by its upper part onto an upper connection piece forming part of a bustle pipe and the lower part of which dips axially into a lower connection piece integral with the gooseneck, a bellows expansion joint and tension rods ensuring the mechanical connection between the tapered tube and the lower connection piece. The lower connection piece and the tapered tube can move mutually in the axial direction and have means for limiting their radial mobility.

Abstract: A suspension shaft furnace and process for producing clinkers from discrete pellets of cement-forming batch materials, the furnace having a top vertical shaft section comprising a pellet-feeding and preheating zone, an intermediate fluidized bed section containing fuel inlet conduits for clinkering of the pellets in a fluidized bed, an air-permeable clinker-impermeable support for supporting the pellets as a fluidized bed, and a lower clinker-cooling section beneath the fluidized bed section. Clinker-discharge means permit the gravity flow of clinkers from the top of the fluidized bed down into a cooling zone in the cooling section. Air inlet means supply a combustion-supporting cooling gas up through the cooling zone, to cool the clinkers therein, and upstream through the fluidized bed section to support the combustion of fuel at the fuel inlet conduits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally reclaiming used foundry sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed furnace having a combustion chamber therein. A sand dispersion system supported within the combustion chamber disperses the free falling sand particles to expose the particles to a combustion supporting furnace environment. Disposed immediately below the furnace is a sand retention chamber in which the sand is accumulated. Heated air is introduced into the retention chamber to maintain the combustion supporting environment. Residual coatings remaining on the sand particles are thermally removed in the retention chamber.

Abstract: A process and device for introducing additives, in particular energy carriers, into a cupola or shaft furnace. The additive is carried with combustion air stream and introduced therewith in the furnace shaft, a depression being created at the point where the additive is fed into the combustion air stream, so that the additive is aspirated by the combustion air into the combustion area of the furnace shaft.

Abstract: Process and furnace for producing clinkered cement pellets from pellets of cement-forming batch materials without melting, fusion and agglomeration of said pellets. The furnace comprises an elongate vertical suspension shaft having top, intermediate and bottom portions. Pellets are fed at the top and heated to calcining temperatures before exiting the shaft into a pre-clinkering zone beyond the bottom. The pellets are heated to pre-clinkering temperatures and deposited on a porous pellet bed through which cooling air is forced to control the exothermic clinkering reaction and to regulate the speed at which the pellets migrate through the shaft.

Abstract: A shaft furnace with a steel outer shell and a refractory lining inside the shell, has a sealed tap hole structure comprising a steel sleeve fitted to the outer shell, a permanent lining inside the sleeve and a refractory sealing material within said permanent lining. To improve the gas-tightness of the tap hole structure, a metal closure plate having an opening at which the tap hole is to be formed, is located within the steel sleeve and has its periphery coupled gas-tightly to the sleeve. A metal closure sleeve is coupled gas-tightly to said closure plate around said opening thereof and extends outwardly from said closure plate. Means e.g. conductive bricks are provided for removing heat from the closure plate and the closure sleeve.

Abstract: The apparatus herein comprises a kettle for calcining particulate material and a surrounding furnace having a porous wall to pass heat of combustion into the kettle at one side and to permit evacuation of the products of combustion from an opposite side, and a control system to cycle the combustion and the evacuation of products of combustion between the opposite sides so that the side being evacuated becomes a heat sink to return the heat so retained therein upon the combustion cycle whereby the furnace structure is kept to a desirable level of temperature while the material in the kettle is at a significant higher temperature.

Abstract: The device is composed of several separate elements consisting of at least one central tubular element connected, on one side, by means of a first ball-and-socket joint and a first compensator to a first connector supplying preheated air and on the opposite side, by means of a second ball-and-socket joint and a second compensator to a second connector. In order to reduce the length of the device, the second joint is oriented in the opposite direction to the said first joint, its center of curvature being located on the axis of the said second connector on the inside of the latter.

Abstract: Process and furnace for producing clinkered cement pellets from pellets of cement-forming batch materials without melting, fusion and agglomeration of said pellets. The furnace comprises an elongate vertical suspension shaft having top, intermediate and bottom portions. Pellets are fed at the top and heated to calcining temperatures before exiting the shaft into a pre-clinkering zone beyond the bottom. The pellets are heated to pre-clinkering temperatures and deposited on a porous pellet bed through which cooling air is forced to control the exothermic clinkering reaction and to regulate the speed at which the pellets migrate through the shaft.

Abstract: A retorting apparatus including a vertical kiln and a plurality of tubes for delivering rock to the top of the kiln and removal of processed rock from the bottom of the kiln so that the rock descends through the kiln as a moving bed. Distributors are provided for delivering gas to the kiln to effect heating of the rock and to disturb the rock particles during their descent. The distributors are constructed and disposed to deliver gas uniformly to the kiln and to withstand and overcome adverse conditions resulting from heat and from the descending rock. The rock delivery tubes are geometrically sized, spaced and positioned so as to deliver the shale uniformly into the kiln and form symmetrically disposed generally vertical paths, or "rock chimneys", through the descending shale which offer least resistance to upward flow of gas. When retorting oil shale, a delineated collection chamber near the top of the kiln collects gas and entrained oil mist rising through the kiln.

Abstract: An annular, vertical shaft kiln comprising a cascading process path with varying cross sectional area, in which the coarse charge particulants tend to follow the longer path near the walls as does the gas being injected into the mid-region of the kiln, while the fine particulants tend to take the straighter, shorter path near the middle, thus resulting in an even calcination of varying diameters of charge particulants. The briquetted fuel which may be made of hazardous waste, is heated slowly to safely destroy such wastes in the processing. Because of the limited range of the ratio of the smallest to the largest diameter of the charge particulants, the charge particulants are sorted through wire mesh screens into bins according to diameter. The kiln's computer then receives data on the process at various points along the path and controls the process by regulating the charge particulants injection, the rate of the fuel injection and/or the speed of the air injection.

Abstract: The device is composed of several tubular elements equipped with an inner refractory lining and connected, on one side, to the wall of the furnace by means of a downpipe, an elbow, a tuyere and a nozzle and, on the other side, to a main circular pipeline arranged round the furnace and fed with preheated air. Cooling coils are embedded in the mass of refractory lining and are fed with cooling air circulating through the coils in the same direction as the preheated air. The outlet of the coils opens into the inner conduit conveying the preheated air.

Abstract: A shaft kiln installation is used to burn pellets of solid materials containing volatile and/or solid fuels and at the same time to calcinate minerals. For this purpose, the installation uses in the heating, degassing (1,04) and combustion zones (1,06) a co-current flow of combustion gas. The installation has at least one first upper section (1,04;1,06) for carrying out the above-mentioned process steps. If necessary, a third counter-current cooling section (1,10) for the combustion material and a second, midddle section (1.08) that acts as a neutral zone, may be added. The heat content of the combustion gas and cooling air may be used for heating the combustion air.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal decomposition of a fluid toxic substance contained in a gas comprises a cylindrical main combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber arranged thereabove. An inlet opening leads into the main combustion chamber at an angle to introduce a stream of the gas containing the toxic substance into the main combustion chamber with an angular momentum, a burner is arranged to direct a flame into the main combustion chamber above the inlet opening for subjecting the gas containing the toxic substance to combustion, and an annular gas stream retaining device is arranged above the burner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process and to an installation for performing the process for calcining limestone for producing lime of different qualities, while being able to entirely or at least substantially do without conventional energy carriers such as coal, oil and natural gas. Instead waste energy carriers of different origins are used. According to the process the waste energy substances are firstly gasified in a suitable gasifier, which is constructed as a shaft reactor or fluidized bed reactor and at elevated temperature, the dust being then removed from the lean gas produced and subsequently passed into the combustion chambers of the gasification reactor where burning takes place. The pollutants in the waste energy carriers are destroyed or rendered harmless by the high temperature of approximately 1600.degree. C. in the gasification reactor. Dust and harmful components are then deposited in the coke filling or in the dust catchers.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing 1 accommodating inner and outer tubes 2 and 4, respectively, arranged concentrically relative to each other. Lower ends of the tubes 2 and 4 are connected by a flange 15 to a disk-type feeder 14 the flange and feeder having holes 13 and 21 through which the interior of a heating chamber 9 confined between the outer wall of the outer tube 4 and inner wall of the housing 1 communicates with interior 17 of the inner tube 2 and with the interior of the drying chamber 6 confined between the outer wall of the inner tube 2 and inner wall of the outer tube 4. Communicating with the drying chamber 6 are a charging hopper 7 and a discharging means 8 occupying the bottom part of the apparatus. Disposed in the wall of the housing 1 between the flange 15 and worm 5 of the outer tube 4 is a furnace 11 having a burner 12 and communicating with the interior of the heating chamber 9. In addition, the heating chamber 9 communicates with an exhaust pipe 10 of a suction means.

Abstract: An improved charging process for an enclosure for melting materials such as blast furnace slags or basaltic glasses. The supply of combustive gas is carried out nonuniformly in order to create a gas circulation velocity gradient in the section of the cupola corresponding to the level of the tap hole, with the lowest circulation velocities meeting in the vicinity of the tap hole.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the density of particulate material flowing from a kiln. The apparatus includes a sampling probe actuatable to divert a sample flow of material from material falling from a kiln. This sample flow on cascading through the apparatus is processed by screening to obtain a flow of sized material having a particle size within a predetermined range. The sized material is collected in a container which collects a measured volume of material. The material in this container is electronically weighed and recorded.

Abstract: A preheater for cullet is disclosed, in which hot gas coming from a hot supply duct can be passed through the cullet while yielding heat to the latter and can be carried away through a hot gas exhaust duct. The cullet is guided between guiding walls forming a cullet shaft and permitting gas entry as well as gas exit. Means are provided for repeatedly moving at least one of the guiding walls (23, 24,25,26) laterally relative to another guiding wall (23-26) so as to change the spacing between them.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging a shaft furnace for calcining and sintering material in lump form, such as limestone, dolomite, magnesite or the like, with granular bulk material, with a charging silo arranged above the furnace shaft having a substantially circular cross-section with a substantially homogeneously mixed bulk material and a charging bunker outlet for supplying the bulk material onto the surface of the bulk material column to be covered in the furnace shaft in a distribution controllable over the shaft diameter, characterized by a substantially circular plate arranged in spaced manner below the charging bunker outlet and whose diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the furnace shaft and larger than the diameter of the opening of the charging bunker outlet and a rotary ring box or the like concentric to the plate and to which is fitted a plurality of strippers which penetrate the sloping bulk material in the plate and with each of the strippers is associated in fixed manner one of the guide chu

Abstract: An apparatus for gas/solids exchange has a column having a plurality of vertically spaced grates on which the granular solids can form beds to be traversed by the gas. Each grate is provided in a grate plane by a plurality of fixed grate bars interdigitated with movable grate bars forming a planar unit which can be displaced by a controller out of the grate plane to allow the granular solids on the respective grate to trickle downwardly uniformly over the cross section of the column onto the next lower grate.