Klockner-werke Ag

Gunther Geck

Jurgen Langhammer

Hans Jurgen Langhammer

A charge including scrap, sponge iron and ferrous metals is admitted into the top of a vertically arranged melting column and descends through the latter by gravity. The charge is melted by directing a flame against the leading end thereof and the melt flows through an outlet at the bottom of the melting column in to a chamber located beneath and communicating with the melting column. In this chamber, reduction of the slag is effected and the slag is removed from the molten metal. Alloying additions and deoxidizing agents are introduced into the chamber so that the molten metal is deoxidized and becomes alloyed to produce steel having a desired analysis. The thus-produced steel is superheated in the chamber and is then continuously cast.

Process for the production of steel

A charge of ore, pellets, sinter and the like is admitted into the top of a shaft furnace. In the upper region of the furnace, there are provided inlets through which a reducing gas is introduced into the furnace. Direct reduction of the charge takes place in the upper region of the furnace and yields iron sponge. The iron sponge forms a column in the furnace which extends from the upper region of the furnace into the lower region of the latter. A burner extends into the lower region of the furnace and continuously directs a flame against the lower end of the sponge column. As the iron sponge in the lower portion of the column melts, fresh iron sponge descends through the furnace and becomes exposed to the flame so that the iron sponge is continuously melted. The molten material is continuously withdrawn from the furnace. The charge may include alloying elements so as to permit alloying of the molten material to produce a steel having a desired composition.

Process for steel production

A charge consisting of scrap, sponge iron, pellets and the like is admitted into a vertically arranged melting chamber and forms a column therein. The leading end of the column is melted with an annular flame generated by means of an annular burner or a plurality of burners arranged circumferentially of the melting chamber. In this manner, a downwardly extending projection is formed within the confines of the periphery of the leading end of the column and this bears against the bottom of the melting chamber thereby supporting the column. An outlet for the molten material is provided in the bottom of the chamber and this is surrounded by a projection extending upwardly from the bottom of the chamber. The latter projection is effective for permitting the molten material to remain on the bottom of the chamber for a short period prior to its outflow from the chamber so that the molten material is superheated by the flame. It is of advantage when the dimensions of the projection in the leading end of the column are maintained sufficiently small to prevent substantial heat transfer from the molten material to the column.

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Hagen, Germany

Gunther Geck