Abstract: A method of decarburizing molten metal in the refining of steel using neural networks with a first neural network trained to analyze data representative of many process periods of one or more decarburization operations for providing an oxygen count for a preselected gas ratio of oxygen to diluent gas to cause the temperature of the molten metal bath to be decarburized to rise to a specified aim temperature and with a second neural network trained to analyze data representative of many process periods of one or more decarburization operations for providing an output schedule of oxygen counts to be injected into the bath to reduce the carbon level to a predetermined aim level in one or more successive stages corresponding to a preselected schedule of ratios of oxygen to diluent gas.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a molten metal producing and refining method which does not damage the apparatus, realizes a stable and high second combustion rate, and is capable of effectively recovering heat generated by the second combustion. The method comprises introducing a metal-containing material, a carbonaceous material, a flux and O.sub.2 gas into a furnace. The carbon which dissolves into the metal bath in the furnace from the carbonaceous material is combusted with the O.sub.2 gas to generate heat and CO gas. The CO gas is subjected to the second combustion with the O.sub.2 gas to additionally generate heat, and the metal-containing material is melted and refined by both the generated heat and carbon. The method is characterized in that O.sub.2 gas or O.sub.2 -containing gas is blown into the furnace through large-diameter tuyeres installed near the bottom of the furnace and a part of the O.sub.

Abstract: In a control method of material dumping at top of a blast furnace, in which material stored in a furnace top bunker is dumped through a flow rate control gate into a blast furnace in a specified time, value of initial material weight before the transfer start, divided by the specified time is set to first target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the actual dumping speed after the dumping start is coincident with the first target dumping speed, and further, if necessary, remaining material weight in the furnace top bunker on the way of dumping is actually measured and value of the remaining material weight divided by the remaining time is set to second target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled, based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the second dumping speed after the measurement of the remaining material weight is coincident with the sec

Abstract: A sublimer-reactor system for reducing Group IVB metals with magnesium has a sublimer spaced from a reactor with a gas flow control valve in piping interconnecting them. A load cell weighs the feed in the sublimer and outputs a signal to the control valve to control the vapor flow of feed vapors to the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a process operating by means of the electrochemical potential, in which process complex ores and/or concentrates are treated in order to arrange the valuable components in the materials in a form appropriate for further processing and in which method electrodes made of material essentially similar to the materials to be treated in the process. According to the invention an impedance analysis in connection with the measurement of the electrochemical potential is carried out for the material to be treated in process in order to analyze the state of the solid surface and/or the state between the solid material and the intermediary material. The measured values are utilized in the adjustment of the process parameters. In order to carry out the impedance analysis voltage pulses are conducted into the material in at least one frequency and in at least one value of the electrochemical potential of the material.

Abstract: A method of operating an in-bath smelting reduction furnace comprises the step of forming a slag zone in an in-bath smelting reduction furnace supplied with oxygen through a top lance and with agitation gas by bottom bubbling through tuyeres below the metal bath surface, and the step of controlling the carbon material supply rate, the oxygen supply rate and the ore supply rate so as to maintain the apparent density of the slag within a prescribed range.

Abstract: In the operation of a top-blowing steelmaking converter having at least one blowing lance, the distance of said lance from the surface of the molten metal bath is controlled in dependence on the sound levels of the blowing noise measured through the slag at selected frequencies. In order to minimize the risk of slopping, the actual values of the sound levels measured at predetermined frequencies are combined to form a resultant value, the difference between said resultant value and a predetermined reference value, which is associated with a sound level and indicates that slopping is likely to occur, is determined, and said difference is used as an indication of the probability of an occurrence of slopping and is compared with at least one predetermined probability limit, the distance of the blowing lance and optionally also the oxygen supply rate is corrected when said difference exceeds said probability limit.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding a sintering raw mix, a plurality of bars downwardly sloped in a falling direction of the sintering raw mix onto a pallet of a sintering apparatus is provided so that the falling direction of the raw mix is opposite to the advancing direction of the pallet, a screen is formed by rotatably supporting the bars, and the upper ends of the bars are connected to a rotating drive(s).