Continuous Refining Of Molten Iron(fe) Patents (Class 75/957)
  • Patent number: 7691178
    Abstract: A process for producing desulphurised iron in a solid form. The process includes (a) direct smelting an iron-containing metalliferous feed material and producing molten iron; (b) desulphurising molten iron produced in the direct smelting (a); and (c) casting desulphurised molten iron from the desulphurisation (b) into a solid form, such as pigs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Philip James Ions
  • Patent number: 7618582
    Abstract: A process for continuous refining of steel via multiple distinct reaction vessels for melting, oxidation, reduction, and refining for delivery of steel continuously to, for example, a tundish of a continuous caster system, and associated apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Kent D. Peaslee, Jörg J. Peter, David G. C. Robertson, Brian G. Thomas, Lifeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 5885325
    Abstract: A two stage reaction for the production of steel from iron carbide is carried out in two separate but interrelated reactors. In the first reactor, iron, carbide, with slag formers, is fed into a feed end and the reaction is well-mixed by the vessel geometry, the stirring action below-surface injection of oxygen and iron carbide feed, and the evolution of gases from the liquid metal bath. The product, containing about 0.5-2% carbon, is fed into the second reactor where it is refined with subsurface-injected oxygen. The second reaction is autogenous, and the evolved carbon monoxide is fed to the first reactor where it is burned with oxygen in a foamy slag, which, with post-combustion burning in the slag of CO evolved in the first reactor, and with iron carbide preheating with the sensible heat of the off-gas from the first reaction, makes that reaction also essentially autogenous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: USX Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon H. Geiger, Asish K. Sinha, Achilles Vassilicos, Zhiyou Du
  • Patent number: 5868816
    Abstract: A process for adjusting the composition of a liquid metal, such as steel, is provided wherein liquid metal is sucked up from a start receptacle into a reactor which is at a reduced pressure with respect to the start receptacle. First, the liquid metal is made to flow inside the reactor under conditions close to plug flow where it undergoes a metallurgical treatment. Next, after the liquid metal has been conveyed through the reactor it is completely discharged into a finish receptacle which is also at a reduced pressure with respect to the reactor. To insure thorough mixing, the reactor is divided into a plurality of cells, each of which has its own independent gas injector for agitating the liquid metal therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sollac (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Jean Alex Michard, Henri Gaye, Jean-Luc Roth
  • Patent number: 5853452
    Abstract: Hot metal is circulated by an R-H unit in a closed loop path through first and second hearths and chambers. Titaniferous material containing iron oxide is introduced into the first hearth and the iron oxide therein is reduced in a heating zone in the first hearth to iron to produce titania slag having a reduced iron content which is removed in chamber before the hot metal passes via an underflow weir into chamber at which coal is added and a proportion of hot metal is removed. The addition of coal is such that more than 2% by weight of carbon dissolves in the hot metal in the second hearth. Coal ash slag is removed at chamber, while the hot metal containing the dissolved carbon is recirculated to the first hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventor: Noel A. Warner
  • Patent number: 5733358
    Abstract: A two stage reaction for the production of steel from iron carbide is carried out in two separate but interrelated reactors. In the first reactor, iron carbide, with slag formers, is fed into a feed end and the reaction is well-mixed by the vessel geometry, the stirring action below-surface injection of oxygen and iron carbide feed, and the evolution of gases from the liquid metal bath. The product, containing about 0.5-2% carbon, is fed into the second reactor where it is refined with subsurface-injected oxygen. The second reaction is autogenous, and the evolved carbon monoxide is fed to the first reactor where it is burned with oxygen in a foamy slag, which, with post-combustion burning in the slag of CO evolved in the first reactor, and with iron carbide preheating with the sensible heat of the off-gas from the first reaction, makes that reaction also essentially autogenous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: USX Corporation and Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon H. Geiger, Asish K. Sinha, Achilles Vassilicos, Zhiyou Du
  • Patent number: 5498277
    Abstract: A process for smelting iron-containing source material in a reactor containing a slag bath, includes generating heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region of the bath by injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas by at least one top submerged lance. The source material is fed to the reactor together with additional reductant and with flux at or adjacent the at least one reducing region so as to be subjected to smelting reduction, using coal as the additional reductant. The rates of injection of oxygen and fuel/reductant are controlled to achieve required and sufficient reducing conditions by providing the injected gas with an oxygen content from about 40% to about 100% sufficient for a degree of combustion of the fuel/reductant of from about 40% to about 50%. The CO and H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Ausmelt Limited
    Inventors: John M. Floyd, Ian L. Chard, Brian R. Baldock
  • Patent number: 5466278
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for the manufacture of steel with a carbon content of <0.8 wt.-% by reducing iron ore and refining the hot metal. Iron ore and fuel are introduced into the reduction zone of a reactor that contains an iron melt in the reduction zone. This melt is covered by a liquid slag layer from which liquid slag is withdrawn. Further, oxygen-containing gas together with fuel is blown into the iron melt contained in the reduction zone. The iron melt extends into the refining zone of the reactor, the slag layer flows from the refining zone into the reduction zone and in the refining zone liquid steel is withdrawn. Oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the iron melt contained in the refining zone and liquid iron is withdrawn therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul E. Queneau, Martin Hirsch
  • Patent number: 5336296
    Abstract: The proposed method is characterized in that the liquid bath is constituted by the melt of low carbon steel and molten slag. Oxidation and reducing zones are created through which, along a closed path on the surface of the molten low-carbon steel, is circulated the molten slag, into which are blown powder slag materials which are melted with the heat of a fuel oxygen torch immersed into the melt. The melting is carried out in a melting reservoir shaped as a closed annular chamber (1) provided with partitions (11) hermetically dividing the gas space above the molten slag into oxidation (6) and reducing (7) zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Scientific Dimensions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Vitold M. Lupeiko