Abrégé

A slag notch (21) for a metallurgical vessel (11) includes a steel member (35) that defines a passageway (37) for molten slag and a system for cooling the steel member.

Classes IPC  ?

• F27D 3/15 - Équipement de piquéeÉquipement pour l'élimination du laitier

Abrégé

A method of removing a blockage in a solids injection lance under normal operating conditions of a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. The direct smelting vessel contains a bath of molten metal and slag and the solids injection lance extends into the direct smelting vessel and has an outlet end that is submerged in the molten slag. The solids injection lance further has a single inlet coupled to a section of supply line that conveys gas and solid feed material to the solids injection lance. The method comprises (a) advancing a blockage-removing tool through the supply line section and through the solids injection lance to an upstream side of the blockage, (b) operating the tool under elevated gas pressure conditions to remove the blockage such that solid feed material and gas are able to flow through the solids injection lance. The method further comprises (c) retracting the tool from the solids injection lance and the supply line section. Also disclosed is an apparatus for removing a blockage in a solids injection lance extending into a direct smelting vessel.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs
• C21C 5/46 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires
• F27B 3/18 - Aménagement des dispositifs de chargement
• F27D 25/00 - Dispositifs pour enlever les incrustations

Abrégé

A method of sealing a slag drain in a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of maintaining a slag drain channel and a direct smelting vessel with a slag drain channel that extends through a sleeve of refractory material installed in the direct smelting vessel. The method for sealing the slag drain includes locating a pre-formed refractory material at an inlet end of the slag drain channel so that it is exposed to a molten bath contained within the direct smelting vessel and sealing the slag drain channel with sealing material downstream of the pre-formed refractory material.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 3/04 - Récupération des sous-produits, p. ex. des scories
• C21B 7/12 - Ouvertures ou étanchéités des trous de coulée
• F27B 1/10 - Parties constitutives, accessoires ou équipements spécialement adaptés à ces types de fours
• F27D 1/16 - Confection ou réparation des garnissages
• F27D 3/15 - Équipement de piquéeÉquipement pour l'élimination du laitier

Abrégé

A smelting vessel (4) for producing molten metal includes a.refractory lined hearth that in use is in contact with molten slag or molten metal in the smelting vessel, and the hearth includes a plurality of heat pipes (2.1) positioned in a refractory lining of at least a part of the hearth for cooling the refractory lining.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 7/10 - RefroidissementDispositifs à cet effet
• F27B 3/24 - Refroidissement
• F27D 1/12 - CarcassesGarnissagesParoisVoûtes comportant des dispositions de refroidissement
• F27D 9/00 - Refroidissement des fours ou des charges s'y trouvant

Abrégé

A method for injecting a solid feed material through a solids injection lance includes creating flow conditions in an injection passageway of the lance so that at least a part of the feed material flowing along the passageway forms a buffer zone between a wall of a tube that defines the passageway and feed material flowing along a central section of the passageway.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21C 5/42 - Caractéristiques de construction des convertisseurs
• C21C 5/46 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires
• F27B 3/18 - Aménagement des dispositifs de chargement

Abrégé

A solids injection lance includes (a) a tube that defines a passageway for solid feed material to be injected through the tube and has an inlet for solid material at a rear end and an outlet for discharging solid material at a forward end of the tube and (b) a puncture detection system for detecting a puncture in the solids injection tube.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 7/24 - Barres d'essai ou autres dispositifs de contrôle
• C21C 5/42 - Caractéristiques de construction des convertisseurs
• F27B 3/18 - Aménagement des dispositifs de chargement

Abrégé

A method of starting a molten bath-based process for smelting a metalliferous material is disclosed. The method includes using the heat flux of water-cooled elements in lower parts of a smelting vessel to provide an indication of molten bath temperature during at least an early part of the start-up method and adjusting injection rates of oxygen containing gas and/or carbonaceous material into the smelting vessel to control the molten bath temperature during start-up without exceeding critical heat flux levels and tripping the start-up method.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 11/08 - Fabrication de la fonte brute autrement que dans les hauts fourneaux dans des fours à réverbère
• C21B 13/10 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs dans des fours à réverbère
• C21B 13/14 - Procédés à plusieurs phases
• C21C 5/04 - Fabrication d'acier dans des fours à sole, p. ex. acier Siemens Martin
• C21C 5/28 - Fabrication d'acier dans des convertisseurs
• C22B 5/10 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux par voie sèche par des agents réducteurs carbonés solides
• F27B 3/24 - Refroidissement
• F27B 3/28 - Aménagement des dispositifs de commande, de surveillance, d'alarme ou des dispositifs similaires

Abrégé

A method of starting a molten-bath based melting process includes commencing supplying cold oxygen-containing gas and cold carbonaceous material into a main chamber of a smelting vessel within at most 3 hours after completing a hot metal before an insulating layer of crusty slag forms on metal charge to an extent that it prevents the molten metal igniting carbonaceous material charge into the vessel and igniting the carbonaceous material and heating the main chamber and molten metal in the main chamber.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 5/00 - Fabrication de la fonte brute dans les hauts fourneaux
• C21B 7/00 - Hauts fourneaux
• C21B 11/00 - Fabrication de la fonte brute autrement que dans les hauts fourneaux
• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs
• C21C 5/00 - Fabrication d'acier au carbone, p. ex. acier doux, acier à teneur moyenne en carbone ou acier pour moulage
• C22B 5/00 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux
• F27B 1/00 - Fours à cuve ou fours verticaux similaires ou à prédominance verticale
• F27B 3/18 - Aménagement des dispositifs de chargement
• F27B 3/22 - Aménagement des dispositifs d'alimentation en air ou gaz
• F27B 5/00 - Fours à mouflesFours à cornuesAutres fours où la charge est complètement isolée
• F27B 7/20 - Parties constitutives, accessoires ou équipement spécialement adaptés aux fours à tambours rotatifs
• F27B 9/30 - Parties constitutives, accessoires ou équipement spécialement adaptés à ces types de fours
• F27B 14/08 - Parties constitutives spécialement adaptées aux fours à creusets ou à bassin
• F27D 3/00 - ChargementDéchargementManutention des charges
• F27D 9/00 - Refroidissement des fours ou des charges s'y trouvant
• F27D 13/00 - Appareils pour le préchauffage des chargesDispositions pour le préchauffage des charges

Abrégé

A method of starting a smelting process in a smelting vessel includes heating frozen slag and forming molten slag and draining molten slag from a forehearth connection via a forehearth and establishing a clear flow path through the forehearth connection and thereafter hot starting the smelting process.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 5/00 - Fabrication de la fonte brute dans les hauts fourneaux
• C21B 7/00 - Hauts fourneaux
• C21B 11/00 - Fabrication de la fonte brute autrement que dans les hauts fourneaux
• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs
• C21C 5/00 - Fabrication d'acier au carbone, p. ex. acier doux, acier à teneur moyenne en carbone ou acier pour moulage
• C22B 5/00 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux
• F27B 1/00 - Fours à cuve ou fours verticaux similaires ou à prédominance verticale
• F27B 5/00 - Fours à mouflesFours à cornuesAutres fours où la charge est complètement isolée
• F27B 7/20 - Parties constitutives, accessoires ou équipement spécialement adaptés aux fours à tambours rotatifs
• F27B 9/30 - Parties constitutives, accessoires ou équipement spécialement adaptés à ces types de fours
• F27B 14/08 - Parties constitutives spécialement adaptées aux fours à creusets ou à bassin
• F27D 3/00 - ChargementDéchargementManutention des charges
• F27D 13/00 - Appareils pour le préchauffage des chargesDispositions pour le préchauffage des charges

Abrégé

A method of starting a molten-bath based melting process includes establishing a sufficiently large and stable "hot zone" by inserting an external ignition source for ignition of oxygen and coal in a main chamber of a smelting vessel by independent means, i.e. independently of and before supplying cold oxygen and coal into the main chamber.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 5/00 - Fabrication de la fonte brute dans les hauts fourneaux
• C21C 5/00 - Fabrication d'acier au carbone, p. ex. acier doux, acier à teneur moyenne en carbone ou acier pour moulage
• C21C 5/04 - Fabrication d'acier dans des fours à sole, p. ex. acier Siemens Martin
• C21C 5/28 - Fabrication d'acier dans des convertisseurs
• C22B 5/10 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux par voie sèche par des agents réducteurs carbonés solides
• C22B 5/12 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux par voie sèche par des gaz

Abrégé

A molten bath-based process for direct smelting metalliferous material and producing molten metal in a direct smelting vessel that contains a molten bath that has a metal layer that is at least 900 mm deep. The process includes selecting operating parameters of the process so that feed material (solid material and carrier gas) is injected from above the metal layer into the metal layer via at least one solids injection lance with sufficient momentum to penetrate to a depth of at least 100 mm below a nominal quiescent surface of the metal layer to cause upward movement of molten material and gas from the metal layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs

Abrégé

A molten bath-based direct smelting process includes controlling the process conditions in a direct smelting vessel so that molten slag in a molten bath of metal and slag in the vessel has a viscosity in a range of 0.5-5 poise in an operating temperature range for the process.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 11/02 - Fabrication de la fonte brute autrement que dans les hauts fourneaux dans des fours à cubilots
• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs
• C22B 5/10 - Procédés généraux de réduction appliqués aux métaux par voie sèche par des agents réducteurs carbonés solides

Abrégé

A molten bath-based direct smelting process comprises controlling the process conditions in a direct smelting vessel so that molten slag in a molten bath of metal and slag in the vessel has a viscosity in a range of 0.5-5 poise when the slag temperature is in a range of 1400-1550°C in the molten bath in the vessel.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 11/08 - Fabrication de la fonte brute autrement que dans les hauts fourneaux dans des fours à réverbère
• C21B 13/00 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs

Abrégé

A direct smelting vessel and a hearth cooler element are disclosed. The vessel includes a refractory lined hearth. An inner surface of an upper part of the hearth extends upwardly and outwardly to side walls of the vessel. The upper part of the hearth incorporates a hearth cooler disposed outwardly behind the refractory lining of that part of the hearth and below the cooling panels on the side walls of the vessel. The hearth cooler comprises a plurality of cooler elements. Each cooler element has a hollow open-backed shell structure having base, top and side walls formed integrally in a cast structure and incorporating coolant flow passages.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 7/10 - RefroidissementDispositifs à cet effet
• C21B 13/10 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs dans des fours à réverbère
• C21C 5/42 - Caractéristiques de construction des convertisseurs
• C21C 5/46 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires

Abrégé

Smelting apparatus comprises a vessel (11) and a solids injection lance (27a) extending through an opening in the wall of vessel barrel (16) into the interior space of the vessel. Lance (27a) includes a central core tube (31) through which to pass solid particulate material into the vessel and an annular cooling jacket (32) surrounding the central core tube (31) throughout a substantial part of its length. Lance (27a) has a mounting structure (61) comprising a tubular part (60) extended about cooling jacket (32) and about twice the diameter of the cooling jacket. Tubular part (60) fits within a tubular lance mounting bracket (62) welded to the shell (16a) of vessel barrel (16) to extend outwardly from the vessel. The lance is held within mounting bracket (62) by clamping bolts (66) acting between flanges (63,65) on tubular part (60)and tubular bracket (62), such that the forward end of part (60) is flush with the inner surface of the refractory lining (16b) of vessel barrel (16). On release of the clamping bolts and removal of a spacer ring (67) between flanges (63,65), lance (27a) can be driven inwardly for some distance by sliding within tubular bracket (62) to break slag accretions to permit withdrawal of the lance.

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 13/10 - Fabrication de fer spongieux ou d'acier liquide par des procédés directs dans des fours à réverbère
• C21C 5/46 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires

Abrégé

Smelting apparatus comprises a vessel (11) and a solids injection lance (27a) extending through an opening in the wall of vessel barrel (16) into the interior space of the vessel. Lance (27a) includes a central core tube (31) through which to pass solid particulate material into the vessel and an annular cooling jacket (32) surrounding the central core tube (31) throughout a substantial part of its length. Lance (27a) has a mounting structure (61) comprising a tubular part (60) extended about cooling jacket (32) and about twice the diameter of the cooling jacket. Tubular part (60) fits within a tubular lance mounting bracket (62) welded to the shell (16a) of vessel barrel (16) to extend outwardly from the vessel. The lance is held within mounting bracket (62) by clamping bolts acting between flanges (63,65) on tubular part (60) and tubular bracket (62). Tubular part (60) is double walled and the interior space between its walls is divided into water flow passages through which cooling water flows from a water inlet (68) to an outlet (69).

Classes IPC  ?

• C21C 7/00 - Traitement à l'état liquide des alliages ferreux, p. ex. des aciers, non couverts par les groupes

Abrégé

Cooling panels (31) are attached to the shell (11) of a metallurgical vessel to form an internal lining of the shell.Each panel (31) comprises a coolant flow tube (36) bent to form inner and outer panel sections (37, 38) of zig-zag formation. Panelmounting pins (43) connected to the outer panel section (38) by connector straps project laterally outwardly from the panel throughopenings (45) in the shell and tubular shell protrusions (46) surrounding the openings (45). The ends of pins (43) are connected tothe outer ends of protrusions (46) by welding metal discs (47) thus forming connections exteriorly of the shell in a way which sealsthe openings (45). Coolant inlet and outlet connectors (42) for the panel project outwardly through openings (48) in the shell andsurrounding tubular protrusions (49) and connections are made by welding discs (51) between the connectors (42) and protrusions(49).

Classes IPC  ?

• C21B 7/10 - RefroidissementDispositifs à cet effet
• F27B 1/24 - Refroidissement
• F27B 3/24 - Refroidissement
• F27D 1/12 - CarcassesGarnissagesParoisVoûtes comportant des dispositions de refroidissement