Abstract:
A method of managing a liquid solvent inventory in a condensing solvent gravity drainage extraction chamber includes growing the extraction chamber by injecting a solvent vapour under conditions which cause at least a portion of the solvent vapour to condense on a hydrocarbon extraction interface at a condensation temperature, then accumulating within the extraction chamber condensed liquid solvent which is draining through the chamber under the influence of gravity, which liquid solvent includes a hydrocarbon rich fluid production layer which is proximal to said extraction interface, and then heating a portion of the extraction chamber from a location near, in and/or above the injector to create a heated zone having a temperature above the condensation temperature without heating the hydrocarbon rich production layer to permit the hydrocarbon rich production layer to continue to drain to a production well.
Abstract:
An aluminum reduction cell having a shell structure with a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls, a pair of transversely extending endwalls, a bottom wall, and an open top having an upper edge. The aluminum reduction cell also has a transverse support structure with transverse bottom beams located under the shell structure and extending transversely between the sidewalls, each of the transverse bottom beams having a pair of opposed ends. The aluminium reduction cell also has compliant binding elements fixed to the transverse support structure, each extending vertically along an outer surface of one of the sidewalls for applying an inwardly directed force said sidewall. The compliant binding elements are in the form of cantilever springs. Each spring has a metal member with a lower end which is secured to the transverse support structure, and a compliant, upper free end which is movable inwardly and outwardly in response to expansion and contraction of the shell structure.
Abstract:
A method of managing a liquid solvent inventory in a condensing solvent gravity drainage extraction chamber includes growing the extraction chamber by injecting a solvent vapour under conditions which cause at least a portion of the solvent vapour to condense on a hydrocarbon extraction interface at a condensation temperature, then accumulating within the extraction chamber condensed liquid solvent which is draining through the chamber under the influence of gravity, which liquid solvent includes a hydrocarbon rich fluid production layer which is proximal to said extraction interface, and then heating a portion of the extraction chamber from a location near, in and/or above the injector to create a heated zone having a temperature above the condensation temperature without heating the hydrocarbon rich production layer to permit the hydrocarbon rich production layer to continue to drain to a production well.
Abstract:
Supplementary cooling elements in addition to a primary cooling element of a furnace. The supplementary cooling elements, with two or more components, may be inserted from the outside of the furnace into holes that pass through and the primary cooling element such that the cooling elements protrude beyond the inner surface of the primary cooling element. An inner one of the components of the supplementary cooling element may be received by an outer one of the components in a manner that forces the outer component into a thermally conductive pressure connection with the primary cooling element.
Abstract:
A process and reactor for arsenic fixation in which a first gas stream comprises oxygen and an iron-containing particulate material. The oxygen and particulate material may be fed to reactor through respective first and second inlets. A second gas stream containing one or more volatile arsenic compounds is fed through a third inlet and mixed with the first gas stream and the particulate material to produce a combined gas stream containing the volatile arsenic compounds and the particulate material. The arsenic compounds are reacted with iron in the particulate material as the combined gas stream flows through the reactor to produce solid iron arsenates which are then recovered. The portion of the reactor including the first, second and third inlets is vertically oriented, and the reactor may include a venturi arrangement having a throat at which the second inlet is located.
Abstract:
A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.
Abstract:
A furnace is provided suitable for metallurgical processes, comprising at least one section comprised of refractory bricks with an outer shell plate adjacent to the refractory bricks, including exterior bricks whose external faces adjacent the shell plate define gaseous media cooling channels extending along the exterior of the refractory bricks between them and the shell plate. The furnace further comprises cooling plates within the cooling channels and joints between the successive courses of bricks. Advantageously, the conductivity of the cooling plates is at least 5 times the conductivity of the refractory lining into which it is inserted. Suitable materials include copper and copper-based alloys, brasses, bronzes, cast irons, aluminum alloys, silver, high-temperature steels, refractory metals and their alloys, graphite, silicon carbide, and aluminum nitride.
Abstract:
A chill mold is used to cool molten material to form a casting. A support holds the chill mold so that a bottom of the chill mold is elevated. A baffle is arranged to divert a generally horizontal flow of cooling air upwardly to impinge the bottom of the chill mold. A plurality of chill molds may be aligned generally in a row, and at least one fan may be arranged at an end of the row to direct the flow of cooling air underneath the chill molds. The size and the vertical position of the baffles may be varied along the row, so as to generally equalize convective cooling rates among the chill molds in the row.
Abstract:
An uptake apparatus is arranged to extract a stream of off-gas containing carbon monoxide from a process vessel. At least one gas conditioning train receives and conditions the stream. An outlet expels at least a portion of the stream. A portion of the stream is separated to form a recycle stream. An eductor apparatus combines the stream with the recycle stream, to decrease the temperature and increase the static pressure of the stream. The stream is maintained at a positive gauge pressure.
Abstract:
A burner for a flash smelting furnace. The burner has an adjustable nozzle to control the velocity of the combustion gas supply to the reaction shaft. The nozzle is defined by the burner injector and a surrounding structure that extends from the burner wind box through an opening in the burner block that integrates the burner with the furnace. The nozzle is adjusted by control means that is exterior of the wind box.