Abstract:
A process and apparatus for direct smelting metalliferous material is disclosed. The invention concentrates injection of solid feed materials comprising metalliferous material and carbonaceous material into a direct smelting vessel during the course of the process into a relatively small region within a metal layer in a molten bath in the vessel in order to generate a substantial upward movement of molten material and gas from the metal layer into a region in the vessel that is above the molten bath. In particular, the invention injects the solid feed materials with sufficient momentum and/or velocity via an opposed pair of lances that are oriented within the vessel and arranged to form overlapping plumes of injected material in the molten bath.
Abstract:
Apparatus for pre-heating and conveying a metal charge (13) to a container (12) of a melting plant (11), comprising at least a conveyor channel (21) along which said metal charge (13) is able to advance so as to be delivered to the container (12), and in which above said conveyor channel (21) at least a hood (17) is disposed which defines a tunnel (17a) inside which at least part of the fumes exiting from said container (12) are able to advance. At least a zone of the hood (17) comprises an expansion chamber (18) located above at least a portion of said metal charge (13), and able to expand and keep said fumes inside it for a minimum desired time of at least 1.5 seconds before they go into contact with the metal charge (13).
Abstract:
The present invention refers to a method and an equipment for curing and drying self-reducing agglomerates containing cement as a binder in the presence of saturated vapor at a temperature from about 70 to about 110°C and under atmospheric pressure. The treatment is performed in one single equipment. The self-reducing agglomerates are comprised of mixtures of fines of iron ore and/or industrial residue containing iron oxides and/or metallic iron, fines of carbonaceous materials such as mineral coal, charcoal, green petroleum coke and similar fines fluxing material such as steel plant slag and blast furnace slag, limestone, lime and similar materials, cement as a binder and fluxing agent, and humidity between 7 and 12%, produced in pellet-making units and/or briquette-making units and thereafter treated using one single piece of equipment, involving the steps of predrying with heated gasses (2), curing with saturated vapor (3) and drying with heated gasses (4) performed continuously and sequentially, controlling the discharge velocity (5) in order to allow the time of permanence of the agglomerate within the equipment to be from about 4 to about 12 hours. The cured and dried agglomerate may be processed in an adequate reducing/melting equipment to provide metals and metallic alloys.
Abstract:
A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and from a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill (6). The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace (4) receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device (3) to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace (4) to a heating furnace (5) wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of the hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill (6).