Abstract: A process and an apparatus for reducing charge materials containing iron ore or for producing pig iron or liquid primary steel products in a smelting unit are provided, the charge materials being at least partially reduced in at least one reduction unit by means of a reducing gas and optionally at least some of the at least partially reduced charge materials being melted in a smelting unit while supplying coal or coke and gas containing oxygen, while simultaneously forming the reducing gas, and the reducing gas or a reducing gas generated externally being supplied to the reduction unit. In the event of an interruption in the production of pig iron or primary steel products, the at least one reduction unit is emptied and the at least partially reduced charge materials are introduced into at least one vessel and kept under a non-oxidizing shielding gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An improved brass alloy providing improved ability for machining is detailed that is free of lead and is at the same time environmental friendly. The alloy comprises added alloying elements in an amount that is identified through an iterative process during manufacturing of the alloy.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing an energetic metastable nano-composite material. Under pre-selected milling conditions a mixture of powdered components are reactively milled. These components will spontaneously react at a known duration of the pre-selected milling conditions. The milling is stopped at a time at which the components have been compositionally homogenized to produce nanocomposite powder, but prior to said known duration, and thereby before the spontaneous reaction occurs. The milled powder is recovered as a highly reactive nanostructured composite for subsequent use by controllably initiating destabilization thereof.

Abstract: Method for controlling a smelting reduction process, in particular a cyclone converter furnace process for producing pig iron, characterized in that one: measures the carbon fraction C in the off-gas in the form of CO and Co2O; measures the hydrogen fraction H2 in the off-gas in the form of H2 and H2O; determines the C/H2 ratio in the off-gas; compares the C/H2 ratio thus determined in the off-gas against the C/H2 ratio prevailing for the coal being supplied, and adjusts the coal supply based on the difference found in the C/H2 ratios in the off-gas and the coal being supplied.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a batch of scrap material, subsequent to processing of the batch, to determine the content of precious metal present in the batch prior to processing of the batch, includes introducing a predetermined amount of a tracer into the batch, prior to processing, processing the batch and the tracer into a homogenous mixture, assaying a sample portion of the homogenous mixture to assess the amount of tracer in the sample portion, and to assess the amount of precious metal in the sample portion, and ascertaining the content of the precious metal in the batch prior to processing of the batch by applying to the assayed amount of the precious metal a ratio between the predetermined amount of tracer introduced into the batch prior to processing and the assessed amount of tracer in the sample portion.

Abstract: A rapid analysis device for analyzing nonmetallic inclusions in steel by a cold crucible method is combined with a mathematical model, and the quality of cast steel is predicted online by simulating the behavior. of the nonmetallic inclusions by calculation. Further, continuous casting process variables are controlled to minimize the amount of nonmetallic inclusions in the cast steel.

Abstract: A method of controlling slag coating in a steel converter in which slag is left in the converter after tapping, and a slag solidifying agent is added to the slag to form a coated slag which is used to coat the bottom and/or side wall surface of the converter. The method is performed bya) examining the composition of the slag at the tapping time;b) determining, based on the examined slag and through an equilibrium calculation using thermodynamic data, the amount of solidifying agent per unit weight of the slag necessary for maintaining the liquid volume fraction of the coated slag to a value not greater than about 40% at the planned tapping temperature of the next charge of steel;c) determining the amount of charge of the solidifying agent based on the calculated required amount of the solidifying agent and the amount of the slag remaining in the converter; andd) adding the calculated charge of the solidifying agent to the slag after tapping, to form a coated slag.

Abstract: A method for recovering zinc from zinc comprising the steps of:producing agglomerates containing carbon from dust which contains zinc in a form of zinc oxides;charging the agglomerates into molten metal, the zinc oxides in the agglomerates being reduced and vaporized into a vaporized zinc; andcollecting the vaporized zinc as zinc oxide with a generated dust.

Abstract: Conductivity distribution on the cross section of metal or alloy is measured by an eddy current type conductivity meter and conductivity distribution contour map is prepared. Based on the pattern of this conductivity distribution contour map, heat history of an ingot and segregation of added element are analyzed and melting and/or casting conditions of metal or alloy are re-established. This method allows to carry out the testing and analysis within short time and quickly provides assessment results for re-establishment of melting and/or casting conditions. Thereby, metal or alloy ingots which may create poor quality products during the following steps can be eliminated; in particular, applying this method to a manufacturing of copper precipitation hardening alloy and the like, more sound ingots can be obtained and suitability of ingots for the material which should be worked in the following step can be assessed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for cooling and purifying hot, dust-laden flue gases enriched with dioxins and other toxic components from a melting vessel, e.g., an arc furnace.Both the flue gases A, B generated during charging and those generated during the melting operation are collected, and the toxic components are removed in two ways.The flue gases A collected in the exhaust hoods 2 are fed into the filter 6, while previously blowing an additive 12, on which the toxic components settle before reaching the filter bags, into the flue gas stream A.The hot flue gases B drawn off directly from the arc furnace 1 are introduced into a combustion chamber 3 after passing through a water-cooled section 4, and are subjected to afterburning in the combustion chamber 3 to remove the toxic pollutants. These gases are then intermediately cooled in a second, water-cooled section 5, further cooled by adding more additional cold air A, and fed into the filter 7.

Abstract: A process for controlling the conversion of reactor feed to iron carbide is disclosed. The reactor feed is subjected to a process gas in a fluidized bed reactor (10), and the off-gas from this reaction is analyzed (56) to determine its composition and the temperature (64) and pressure (66). A stability phase diagram is generated based on the temperature. Different regions of the stability phase diagram are representative of different products being formed by the conversion of the reactor feed. Based on relative concentrations of the individual gases in the off-gas and the total pressure, a point is plotted on the stability phase diagram indicative of the favored reaction product. The process parameters can then be adjusted to insure that iron carbide can be produced from the reactor feed based on the stability phase diagram. In one embodiment, the rate of conversion of the reactor feed into iron carbide is controlled.

Abstract: The conventional operation of a cokeless cupola furnace has a requirement for a low volume of slag to be produced, because of the fact that there is no ash from coke to remove from the charge, and the fact that flux added to the charge to form slag eats away at the furnace lining, and at the bed of refractory spheres. Running the furnace at low slag volumes makes the slag thick and can cause blockage of the slagging and tapping box. The invention adds more flux materials than is conventional, preferably including silica in the form of broken bottles, so as to deliberately increase the volume of slag, improving the flow. Care must be taken not to add too much slag-forming materials.

Abstract: An arrangement for introducing and removing a lance into and out of a tiltable metallurgical vessel has drive means stationarily arranged in the direction of the lance axis and means for pivotal mounting of the drive means. The lance is designed as a guide and is guided by the drive means and is movable in the direction of its axis. In a method using the above arrangement for positioning the lance relative to the metallurgical vessel, the actual position of the vessel is taken up by a position transmitter on said vessel, and the drive means is actuated to position the lance in dependence on that actual position.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for melting copper without incorporating unwanted oxygen and/or hydrogen into the copper by effectively controlling the burners used to melt the copper within desired fuel/air ratio operating limits by employing a special fuel/air mixture sampling and control system.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method and an arrangement for preventing the agglomeration of crusts in a lance opening passing a wall of a metallurgical vessel and provided for a lance carrying a measuring and/or sampling probe. During the metallurgical process proceeding within the metallurgical vessel and during the taking of a measurement and/or sample by means of a lance introduced into the metallurgical vessel through the lance opening, a gas that is inert relative to a melt bath contained in the metallurgical vessel, or air, is injected into the lance opening from outside, which gas produces a gas veil at the mouth of the lance opening facing the melt bath.

Abstract: Process control method for regulating the percentage reduction of sponge metal produced in a moving bed vertical reduction reactor by means of sampling at a single level in the reactor (preferably centrally located) for determining the concentration ratio of a reducing gas species and its oxidized product (such as the CO/CO.sub.

Abstract: A method of controlling product quality in a conversion of reactor feed to an iron carbide-containing product in a fluidized bed reactor. A Mossbauer analysis is performed on product samples leaving the fluidized bed reactor, and a regression analysis is performed on the Mossbauer data. Depending upon the results of the regression analysis, process parameters are adjusted in order to obtain a product having a desired composition. Adjustments are made to the temperature and pressure in the fluidized bed reactor, rate of feed to the fluidized bed reactor, and the composition of the process gas which reacts with the reactor feed in the fluidized bed reactor, dependent upon the analysis results.