Abstract: In producing high-quality steel with use of copper-containing steel scraps as an iron source, the copper-containing steel scraps are melted with addition of carbon to produce hot metal for steelmaking, then, copper contained in the hot metal is removed by sulfur-containing flux, and sulfur contained in the hot metal is removed. With this method, the copper in the steel scraps can be removed efficiently and without the need for large facilities. Preferably, the sulfur-containing flux used is flux having Na2S as the main component. The treatment for removing copper in the hot metal is preferably carried out with use of refining equipment with mechanical stirrer or by the flux injecting method. Besides, it is preferable that a shaft furnace having a coke bed formed inside is used to produce hot metal having a higher concentration of sulfur for the copper removal treatment.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a low-oxygen copper wire is provided, in which a dehydrogenating treatment can be performed without requiring a long moving distance of molten copper, and the generation of holes in solidification is suppressed, whereby high quality low-oxygen copper wire can be obtained having superior surface quality.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting scrap metal, particularly copper scrap, uses one or more burners operated superstoichiometrically in order to provide excess oxygen to react with a waste gas stream passing up through the copper scrap thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and visual contaminants in the waste gas stream.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for melting non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and their alloys, includes metal blocks disposed in an annular wall just beneath the charging section of the furnace. Preheated air is forced into the furnace shaft through openings in the wall of metal blocks to burn or oxidize substantially all the CO gas contained in the combustion gases rising from the melting chamber of the furnace. A pressurized plenum surrounding the shaft adjacent the charge opening is used to preheat ambient air which is then supplied under pressure to another plenum above the melting chamber where the preheated air is introduced into the shaft.

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: A method of melting and refining copper in the combustion chamber of a vertical shaft furnace which includes a step of superheating the melt so that slag formed by oxidized impurities can flow freely from the furnace.