Hatch Ltd.

Hatch Associates Ltd.

Bert O Wasmund

Nils W Voermann

Maciej Urban Jastrzebski

Afshin Sadri

John Andrew Ferguson Shaw

Robert J Veenstra

Sean Southall

Frank Stober

Michael Parravani

Terry Gerritsen

Kamal Adham

Ehsan Shameli

Matthew H Cramer

Dale Pearen

Pawel Boleslaw Gebski

Michael Trovant

Brett T Emery

Kenneth M Donaldson

Thomas Lai Ma

Ken T Hutchinson

Daniel Richard

David Chataway

Jennifer Erskine

Daniel Richard Kulchyski

Mirza Ridwanul Haque

Pawel B Gebski

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.

Low-profile aluminum cell potshell and method for increasing the production capacity of an aluminum cell potline

A method for determining a length parameter of an electrode during operation of an electric arc furnace. An internal duct extends through the length of the electrode and is open at its lower end. A waveguide having a solid core is received in the internal duct and comprises a material having a low dielectric constant and high temperature resistance. The solid core of the waveguide includes at least one target. An electromagnetic radiation signal is emitted from a source and transmitted through the waveguide and the signal is diffracted and/or reflected from at least one target to produce at least one return signal which is transmitted back through the waveguide. A time or frequency difference between the emitted signal and the return signal is measured and the length parameter is calculated based on this difference.

Method and apparatus for measuring the length of an electrode in an electric arc furnace

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.

Furnace with refractory bricks that define cooling channels for gaseous media

Systems and methods for measuring the level of a plurality of phases of a conductive or semi-conductive mixture in a vessel. The systems and method include a vessel configured to hold the mixture, a plurality of antennas configured to transmit electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals into the mixture to impinge upon the plurality of phases and to receive corresponding signals reflected from the plurality of phases, a transmitter module configured to generate electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a receiver module configured to receive electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a control module in communication with the transmitter module and the receiver module configured to control their operation, and a signal analysis module in communication with the receiver module configured to process the reflected signals to determine the levels of the plurality of phases within the vessel.

Electromagnetic bath level measurement for pyrometallurgical furnaces

Some metallurgical furnaces have a tapblock that is blocked during operation of the furnace. The tapblock may be opened by lancing, drilling, tapping or by other methods to release metal from the furnace. By monitoring acoustic emissions during the opening process, feedback may be provided to improve the opening process and to avoid excessive damage to the tapblock, the cooling elements, a refractory lining of the tapblock or other elements of the metallurgical furnace.

System and method for the acoustic monitoring of tapblocks and similar elements

A system for supporting and cooling a furnace roof comprised of refractory bricks comprises a plurality of roof support members extending across the furnace and being supported from above the furnace roof. The support members are provided with internal channels for circulation of a cooling fluid, and are provided with side surfaces adapted to support rows or refractory bricks between adjacent roof support members. The system eliminates the need to suspend individual bricks from above the roof, and provides simultaneous support and cooling of the roof structure.

Cooling and support systems for furnace roofs

A process is disclosed for regenerating an aqueous acid halide leachant from a spent aqueous metal halide leach liquor. The process comprises introducing into a fluidized bed or spray roaster a hydrocarbon fuel, an oxygen-enriched oxidizing gas and the aqueous metal halide leach liquor; pyrohydrolyzing the aqueous metal halide leach liquor by combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel with the oxygen-enriched oxidizing gas to produce an acid halide-containing gas fraction and a metal oxide-containing solid fraction; separating the gas fraction from the solid fraction, recovering heat energy from the acid halide-containing gas fraction and absorbing the gas fraction in water to produce the aqueous acid halide leachant. The oxygen-enriched oxidizing gas has an oxygen concentration of greater than about 21 percent by volume, preferably greater than about 50 percent by volume, more preferably greater than about 80 percent by volume, and even more preferably greater than about 90 percent by volume. Preferably, the aqueous metal halide is iron (II) chloride or nickel chloride. Despite higher costs associated with the oxygen-enriched oxidizing gas as compared to air, the process is capable of being operated more economically and efficiently than an equivalent air roasting pyrohydrolysis, and produces a higher concentration aqueous halide leach liquor, which is preferred in metallurgical processes such as solvent extraction and solids leaching.

Process for regeneration of acid halide solutions

An improved return path for electric current through a conductive hearth of a direct current arc furnace is provided by pressing a ring of water cooled copper blocks into the periphery of a sidewall of the hearth of the furnace, the hearth having zones of conductive refractory providing an electrical path between the contents of the furnace of the copper blocks. The hearth is compressed by a tensioned peripheral band which may also support the blocks. The peripheral water cooled copper blocks may be divided into multiple groups, each group connected to one pole of a direct current power supply, the opposite pole of which is connected to a suspended electrode, permitting control of arc deflection.

Electric furnace with conductive hearth

Growing community of inventors

Milton, Canada

Bert O Wasmund