Abstract: A top-blowing lance includes a refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle having a plurality of ejection openings through which oxygen gas is blown into an iron bath in a reaction vessel, the ejection openings being disposed along a circular orbit at intervals, and a burner nozzle having an axis coaxial with the central axis of the circular orbit, forming a flame inside the refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle, and having ejection openings for blowing a powder heated by the flame into the iron bath, wherein an indicator A that indicates the positional relationship between the ejection openings of the refining oxygen gas blowing nozzle and the ejection openings of the burner nozzle satisfies the specified conditions.

Abstract: A method for producing spheroidal graphite cast iron having a specific final composition includes: subjecting a molten iron to a spheroidization treatment using a spheroidizing agent of an Fe—Si—Mg—Ca-based alloy containing no rare earth element; conducting an inoculation treatment using a first Fe—Si-based inoculant; and conducting a pouring inoculation treatment with a given amount of a second Fe—Si-based inoculant containing 45-75% of Si, 1-3% of Ca, and 15 ppm or less of Ba.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing molten iron, the method being capable of minimizing the generation of converter dust and increasing the thermal degree of freedom in the converter process. In addition, the present invention provides a method for improving a converter operation method in the production of steels. The present invention relates to a method for producing molten iron including the steps of: 1) supplying carbon-containing molten pig iron to a converter, 2) continuously supplying iron oxide into the converter, and 3) blowing a mixed gas comprising a fuel gas and a combustion-supporting gas at a speed equal to or faster than the speed of sound to the molten pig iron to cause a combustion reaction, thereby heating the molten pig iron by heat of the combustion reaction.

Abstract: In order to carry out foaming of a slag having a high ratio of chromium oxide having values of often above 20% of a non-corrosive melt in an AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization) or MRP (Metallurgical Refining Process) converter or CONARC SSt for stainless steel by adding a foam material, according to the invention a previously defined mixture (5) of a metal oxide, iron carrier, carbon and binding material in the form of pellets or briquettes (4) is introduced into the converter, which reacts in a chemically reducing manner under the slag layer (2) due to the high ambient temperature, wherein gaseous carbon monoxide formed in particular by means of the reduction process of the metal oxide with the carbon within the pellets or briquettes (4) induces the slag foaming with the gas bubbles (7) thereof and wherein the specific density of the pellets or briquettes (4) and the resolve time of the reduction process are selected so that optimal bubble formation in respect of size and duration is achieved.

Abstract: A method to obtain a manganese steel alloy having a percentage weight of carbon varying from about 0.5% to about 2%, a percentage weight of manganese varying from about 10% to about 20%, and a percentage weight of titanium varying from about 0.01% to about 5%. The method comprises at lest a step wherein a determinate quantity of steel scarp with manganese or steel scarp with carbon is melted in order to define a metal bath, a step wherein, in order to deoxidize the metal bath a determinate percentage weight of aluminum is added, a step wherein a determinate percentage weight of nitrogen is added, a step wherein a determinate percentage weight of titanium is added, and a step wherein the metal bath is cast at a determinate temperature.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce stainless steel for all stainless steel products both in the austenitic and the ferritic range, based on liquid pig-iron and FeCr solids, without using a supply of electrical energy. According to the invention, the liquid pig-iron, after being pre-treated in a blast furnace (1), is subjected to a DDD treatment (dephosphorization, desiliconization and desulfuration), is heated, finished or alloyed and deoxidated. The quantity of slag-free liquid pig-iron that has been pre-treated in the blast furnace (1) is separated and introduced into two classic “twin” AOD-L converters (2, 3), where the required chemical process steps (of the DDD treatment and of the heating, decarburization and alloying stages) take place in parallel contrary processes using autogenous chemical energy, the DDD treatment being carried out first in the first twin AOD-L converter (2) and the decarburization being carried out first in the second twin AOD-L converter (3).

Abstract: A steelmaking process is disclosed. The process includes producing molten steel and molten steelmaking slag in a steelmaking process, the steelmaking slag including iron units and flux units, and thereafter producing molten iron in a molten bath based direct smelting process using a substantial portion of the steelmaking slag as part of the feed material requirements for the direct smelting process. A direct smelting process is also disclosed. The process includes pre-treating ferrous material including steelmaking slag and thereafter direct smelting molten iron using the pretreated ferrous material as part of the feed material for the process.

Abstract: A method of producing a fluxing agent that can be used in production of steel, preferably stainless steel, employs as a raw material a hydroxide sludge that results from neutralization of metal-contaminated pickling liquid from a pickling step for a steel and contains at least one fluoride-containing compound. The hydroxide sludge is calcined. Steel, preferably stainless steel, is produced by decarburizing a steel heat, whereby a slag is formed on top of the steel heat, and adding a fluxing agent to the slag.

Abstract: A variable valve control apparatus includes an oscillating arm and a pivot lever pivotably mounted to each other via a swivel joint. A first roller, which is rotatably mounted on an arm of the pivot lever engages with the camming surface of a cam, while a second roller which is rotatably mounted on another arm of the pivot lever makes contact with a contact surface of an arcuate sliding block disposed within a housing of the valve control apparatus. The contact surface of the sliding block includes a first region which has an arcuate contour, and a radius that is centered on a pivot axis of the swivel joint when the valve is in the closed position, as well as a second region which adjoins the first region and has a curved spur that extends inwardly toward the swivel joint.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce stainless steel for all stainless steel products both in the austenitic and the ferritic range, based on liquid pig-iron and FeCr solids, without using a supply of electrical energy. According to the invention, the liquid pig-iron, after being pre-treated in a blast furnace (1), is subjected to a DDD treatment (dephosphorization, desiliconization and desulphuration), is heated, finished or alloyed and deoxidated. The quantity of slag-free liquid pig-iron that has been pre-treated in the blast furnace (1) and a DDD device (2) is separated and introduced into two classic “twin” AOD-L converters (3, 4), where the required chemical process steps (of the heating, decarburization and alloying stages) take place in parallel contrary processes using autogenous chemical energy, the heating stage being carried out first in the first twin AOD-L converter (3) and the decarburization being carried out first in the second twin AOD-L converter (4).

Abstract: A process for producing molten iron is a process in which while an inert gas is blown into a molten iron layer in an iron bath type melting furnace through bottom-blown tuyeres provided in a hearth bottom thereof to stir the molten iron layer, a carbon material, an additive flux, and solid reduced iron obtained by heating reduction of carbon composite iron oxide briquettes are charged into the above melting furnace, and top blowing of an oxygen-containing gas is performed through a top-blown lance provided for the melting furnace, so that the solid reduced iron is melted by combustion heat obtained by combusting the carbon material and/or carbon in molten iron to form molten iron.

Abstract: A steelmaking process is disclosed. The process includes producing molten steel and molten steelmaking slag in a steelmaking process, the steelmaking slag including iron units and flux units, and thereafter producing molten iron in a molten bath based direct smelting process using a substantial portion of the steelmaking slag as part of the feed material requirements for the direct smelting process. A direct smelting process is also disclosed. The process includes pre-treating ferrous material including steelmaking slag and thereafter direct smelting molten iron using the pretreated ferrous material as part of the feed material for the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cored wire injection process for introducing fluxes and alloying additives in liquid steel bath. The bath temperature and chemistry of the liquid steel is adjusted according to requirements in a secondary treatment unit. The additives are released from the cored wire, while controlling the zone of release. The yield of the additives can thus be controlled by changing dimension of the cored wire and speed of injection to suit the grade of steel processed and the treatment temperature. The zone of release is preferably close to the bottom of the ladle and the diameter and sheath thickness of the cored wire are preferably more than 13 mm and 0.4 mm respectively.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for advantageously introducing a flame, a high velocity oxidizing gas, and a high velocity particulate flow into a furnace for metal melting, refining and processing, for example, steel making in an electric arc furnace. The steel making process of an electric arc furnace is made more efficient by shortening the time of the scrap melting phase, introducing a more effective high velocity oxidizing gas stream into the process sooner to decarburize the melted metal and introducing a more effective particulate injection to reduce FeO, form or foam slag and/or recarburize. Improved efficiency is obtained by mounting a fixed burner/lance and carbon injector lower and closer to the hot face of the furnace refractory at an effective injection angle.

Abstract: In a method for making molten metal, reduced metal which is produced in a direct reduction furnace is melted in a melting furnace located in the close vicinity of the direct reduction furnace to produce the molten metal. The method includes the steps of putting the reduced metal into a metallic container, and loading the container containing the reduced metal into the melting furnace. The method may further includes, before the step of loading the container containing the reduced metal into the melting furnace, a step of cooling the surface of the container so that the surface temperature of the container is 500° C. or less.

Abstract: A method of processing electric arc furnace (EAF) dust which involves processing the EAF dust through a basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The method encompasses recovery of iron value from the EAF dust and the concentration of zinc into a material that has more flexible opportunities for its use as a feed to zinc manufacturing processes. The iron and zinc values in the EAF dust can be added to existing iron oxide recovery processes. This allows the EAF dust to be used as a substitute iron feed for BOF's. The method of processing EAF dust and the components thereof results in the reduction of the burden for the regulatory tracking of EAF dust. In addition, the method of processing EAF dust provides economic savings which result from the reduction of processing fees and the recovery of the value of iron and zinc materials.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for using electric steel plant slag, ground and/or in particles of less than 6 mm, in self-reducing agglomerates, in the form of pellets or briquettes, as a fluxing material and as a secondary source of iron, in sufficient amounts to adjust the binary basicity of the final slag (ratio of CaO/SiO2) of the reduction/melting process to values equal or greater than 1.1. This application enables a reject that is difficult to discard to be transformed into a secondary source of iron and a final slag having adequate characteristics to be used in the concrete and asphalt paving industries.

Abstract: Molten iron is prepared by (1) providing iron oxide and a carbonaceous reducing agent, (2) preparing a shaped product from the carbonaceous reducing agent and the iron oxide, (3) preparing solid reduced iron from the shaped product, wherein the solid reduced iron has a metallization of at least 60%, a specific gravity of at least 1.7, and a carbon content of at least 50% of the theoretical amount required for reducing the iron oxide remaining in the solid reduced iron, and, (4) before substantial cooling occurs, heating the solid reduced iron in an arc heating-type melting furnace at a high temperature. The molten iron can be prepared efficiently from iron ores of relatively low iron content without causing erosion of refractories, at high energy and high reduction efficiencies, and by a simple operation in a simple facility.

Abstract: A process for recovering iron from iron-bearing materials including steel mill waste and iron-bearing ores. The process includes the steps of providing a mixture of iron-bearing materials having iron oxides therein and carbonaceous material. Blending with the mixture an organic binder. The mixture is then agglomerated to form green compacts. The green compacts are then loaded into a preheated rotary hearth furnace void of compacts to form a layer of compacts no more than about two compacts high. The green compacts are heated for about 5-12 minutes at a temperature of between about 2200-2500° F. to reduce the compacts and evolve undesirable oxides from the compacts. The reduced compacts are then discharged from the rotary hearth furnace whereupon they are soaked to provide additional time for reaction to achieve 99% or more reduction of the iron oxides. The metallized iron compacts may then be cooled or transported hot to a steel making operation.

Abstract: In a method for desiliconizing pig iron prior to subsequent refining to steel molten steel slag after blast furnace tapping is charged onto the tapped pig iron bath, and optionally onto the blast furnace slag bath, in an amount corresponding to the Si content of the pig iron and the Fe and/or Cr oxide contents of the slag. The amount of steel slag is calculated such that the Si content of the pig iron is reduced to below 0.5% by weight at a simultaneous increase in the SiO2 content of the slag while reducing to liquid metals the Fe and/or Cr oxides of the slag. The slag-iron bath temperature is maintained at below 1500° C.

Abstract: Molten iron is prepared by (1) providing iron oxide and a carbonaceous reducing agent, (2) preparing a shaped product from the carbonaceous reducing agent and the iron oxide, (3) preparing solid reduced iron from the shaped product, wherein the solid reduced iron has a metallization of at least 60%, a specific gravity of at least 1.7, and a carbon content of at least 50% of the theoretical amount required for reducing the iron oxide remaining in the solid reduced iron, and, (4) before substantial cooling occurs, heating the solid reduced iron in an arc heating-type melting furnace at a high temperature. The molten iron can be prepared efficiently from iron ores of relatively low iron content without causing erosion of refractories, at high energy and high reduction efficiencies, and by a simple operation in a simple facility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal containing compound reduction and melting process which entails feeding a burden made of a mixture of the metal containing compound and a suitable reductant in particulate form into an electrically heatable vessel which contains a bath of the metal in liquid form so that a reaction zone is formed in the burden in which the metal containing compound is reduced and a melting zone is formed below the reaction zone in which the reduced metal is melted; and controlling the process in such a manner that substantially all of the reduction of the metal containing compound takes place in the solid phase.

Abstract: A process for recovering iron values from waste iron oxide, especially iron oxide dust from steelmaking furnaces, wherein the iron oxide is mixed with a water-insoluble thermoplastic material and heated to melt the plastic to form a binder for the iron oxide particles, and discrete bodies formed of the mixture are returned to a furnace to recover the iron values. The plastic binder is present in an amount sufficient to serve as a reductant to reduce the iron oxide to metallic iron when the plastic is combusted with oxygen in the furnace. The invention also includes the discrete bodies so formed of iron oxide and thermoplastic binder.

Abstract: A process is described for producing amorphous metal alloys wherein impure ferrophosphorus slag, a by-product from a phosphorus-producing electric furnace, is used to supply phosphorus, chromium, vanadium and iron values to such alloys by mixing it with iron and any other desired metalloid and/or elements to form a molten mixture, treating the molten mixture to a separation step to remove insoluble slag formed in said molten mixture, and rapidly cooling the molten mixture to below its vitrification temperature to form a solid amorphous metal alloy.

Abstract: A method of calculating heat input to an alloying furnace which includes heat input means for use in the production of hot galvanized band steel comprising conveying a band steel of a selected steel variety through the alloying furnace and forming a plated deposition on the band steel in the alloying furnace comprising an alloyed layer of iron and zinc, establishing a formula defining a correlation between heat input and at least the steel variety, the plated deposition and the conveying speed of the band steel, inputting information which relates at least to the steel variety, the plated deposition, and the conveying speed, determining the heat input on the basis of the information inputted, and using the determined heat input to control the heat input means of the alloying furnace thereby controlling the formation of the iron and zinc alloyed layer plated deposition.