Process Technology International, Inc.

Other

Valery G Shver

Jaroslav Brhel

Terry E Pulliam

An example embodiment of the present invention provides a system for preheating ferromagnetic scrap. The system can include a preheating unit that is configured to hold ferromagnetic scrap and to receive hot gases. The preheating unit may include a removable cover that can include an electrical magnet system. The electrical magnet system can comprise an electrical magnet, a lifting device configured to lower and raise the electrical magnet, a power system configured to provide electrical power to the electrical magnet, and an electrical control system configured to operate the magnet. A hot gases cleaning system may be fluidly connected to the preheating unit.

Systems and methods to preheat ferromagnetic scrap

A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the melt. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel-making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture burner/lance provides a flame for heating the melt, a lance device for injecting oxygen into the furnace, or both. To access the melt, the furnace aperture burner/lance is disengaged, access is provided to the melt through the furnace aperture, and the furnace aperture burner/lance is reengaged when the access is concluded.

Systems and methods for accessing a furnace melt

A pivoting, liquid cooled slag door for metallurgical furnaces is disclosed. The slag door can pivot from the top using one or more robust mechanisms that enable the door to be moved into and stopped in any position between a closed position and an open position. The slag door can also incorporate wing walls disposed in close proximity to the sides of the slag door. The wing walls can minimize air infiltration into the furnace when the slag door is in an open position. The slag door can be disposed in close proximity to the hearth of the furnace to eliminate problems associate with conventional slag door tunnels. The slag door can be fitted with a furnace apparatus such as a burner or a lance and can be used to provide access to the interior of the furnace and to control the flow of material out of the furnace.

Pivoting slag door

A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the molten metal melt in a furnace. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture plug is reciprocated through a furnace aperture, the furnace aperture plug is retracted from the furnace aperture, access is provided to the molten metal melt in the furnace, and the furnace aperture plug is reinserted into the furnace aperture when the access is concluded.

An enclosure for mounting burners and particle injection equipment in an electric arc furnace (EAF) is described. The enclosures are mounted on the sidewalls of an EAF and include passages in which burners or injectors are mounted so that the discharge ends of the burners and injectors are located closer the melt than sidewall mounted burners and injectors. Burners and injectors mounted in the enclosures heat material in the furnace and deliver particulates to the melt more efficiently than conventionally mounted burners and injectors. The enclosures are liquid-cooled, typically by water, and constructed of high conductivity materials such as copper and/or cast iron and can be constructed in one or more pieces. Therefore, the enclosures protect the burners and injectors from the excessive heat and mechanical impact to which they would normally be subjected when mounted so close to the melt.

Mounting enclosure for burners and particle injectors on an electric arc furnace

A method and apparatus for testing characteristics of a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient testing of metal temperature and composition of molten metal during the melt cycle of the metal. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace probe is reciprocated through a furnace probe plug aperture, the furnace probe is retracted from the furnace probe plug aperture, a furnace probe is inserted through the furnace probe plug aperture, the furnace probe is retracted from the aperture, and the furnace probe aperture plug is inserted into the furnace probe plug aperture.

Method and apparatus for testing characteristics of a furnace melt

An enclosure for mounting burners and particle injection equipment in an EAF is described. The enclosures are mounted on the sidewalls of an EAF and include passages in which burners or injectors are mounted so that the discharge ends of the burners and injectors are located closer the melt than sidewall mounted burners and injectors. Burners and injectors mounted in the enclosures heat material in the furnace and deliver particulates to the melt more efficiently than conventionally mounted burners and injectors. The enclosures are liquid-cooled, typically by water, and constructed of high conductivity materials such as copper and/or cast iron and can be constructed in one or more pieces. Therefore, the enclosures protect the burners and injectors from the excessive heat and mechanical impact to which they would normally be subjected when mounted so close to the melt.

A cooling device for use in an electric arc furnace is provided. The cooling device provides a novel and effective method for cooling burners, lances, enclosures, and other devices used in high heat environments, such as in Electric Arc Furnaces. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a cooling tube is inserted into a cooling cavity in a burner. Cooling fluid is injected through the cooling tube into the cavity to cool the portions of the burner adjacent the cooling cavity. The cooling fluid is then extracted from the cavity through a concentric space between the cooling tube and the cooling cavity. According to another aspect of the present invention, a cooling fluid distribution flange is provided to distribute cooling fluid to a plurality of cooling tubes to inject cooling fluid into a plurality of associated cooling cavities.

Cooling device for use in an electric arc furnace

A method and an apparatus for advantageously introducing a flame, a high velocity oxidizing gas, and a high velocity particulate flow into a furnace for metal melting, refining and processing, for example, steel making in an electric arc furnace. The steel making process of an electric arc furnace is made more efficient by shortening the time of the scrap melting phase, introducing a more effective high velocity oxidizing gas stream into the process sooner to decarburize the melted metal and introducing a more effective particulate injection to reduce FeO, form or foam slag and/or recarburize. Improved efficiency is obtained by mounting a fixed burner/lance and carbon injector lower and closer to the hot face of the furnace refractory at an effective injection angle. This mounting technique shortens the distance that the flame of the burner has to melt through scrap to clear a path to the molten metal, and shortens the distance the high velocity oxygen and high velocity particulates travel to the slag-metal interface. One method includes supplying a plurality of oxidizing reaction zones with the high velocity oxidizing gas to decarburize the melted metal and a plurality of particulate reaction zones with high velocity flows of particulate carbon for reducing FeO and/or forming foamy slag. The particulate reaction zones are located on the downstream side of the oxidizing gas reaction zones so as to minimize any effect of the reduction reaction on the decarburization reaction and to recover a part of the hot FeO produced in the oxidizing gas reaction zones.

Method for particulate introduction for metal furnaces

A method and an apparatus for advantageously introducing a flame and a high velocity oxidizing gas into a furnace for metal melting, refining and processing, particularly steel making in an electric arc furnace. The steel making process of an electric arc furnace is made more efficient by shortening the time of the scrap melting phase and introducing an effective high velocity oxidizing gas stream into the process sooner to decarburize the melted metal. In one implementation of an apparatus, improved efficiency is obtained by mounting a fixed burner/lance closer to the hot face of the furnace refractory at an effective injection angle. This mounting technique shortens the distance that the flame of the burner has to melt through the scrap to clear a path to the molten metal and shortens the distance the high velocity oxygen from the lance travels to the slag-metal interface thereby increasing its penetrating power. The method additionally includes supplying a plurality of reaction zones with the high velocity oxidizing gas to decarburize the melted metal. The plurality of reaction zones increases the surface area available for the reaction thereby allowing a more rapid rate of decarburization and a more homogenous metal bath. The reaction zones are supplied with the high velocity oxidizing gas according to an oxygen supply profile which is related to the carbon content of the metal bath. In this manner an optimal amount of oxygen can be introduced into the metal bath to shorten the decarburization process without producing excessive oxidation of the metal bath and excessive free oxygen in the furnace.

Method for melting and decarburization of iron carbon melts

A mounting enclosure and an improved mounting arrangement for apparatus used in metal melting, refining and processing, particularly those apparatus adapted for steel making in an electric arc furnace, such as burners, lances and the like with supersonic oxygen lancing capability and injectors or the like for the introduction of particulate matter. The mounting enclosure is fluid cooled to survive the hostile environment of the electric arc furnace and is designed to occupy the step between the side wall and hearth of the furnace without any substantial change to the structure of the furnace. The mounting enclosure comprises a plurality of fluid cooling conduits surrounding an apparatus aperture and an injector aperture which are formed through the enclosure and adapted to mount an apparatus and an injector. The mounting arrangement includes utilizing the mounting enclosure to mount an apparatus with supersonic oxidizing gas lancing capability and an injector for particulate carbon in an electric arc furnace. Because the mounting enclosure is approximately the width of the step, the discharge openings of the apparatus and the injector are moved closer to the surface of the melt and toward the center of the furnace thereby providing increased efficiency. The discharge openings will now be extended to near the edge of the step so that the oxidizing gas flow pattern of the apparatus does not degrade the hearth material or other furnace equipment mounted nearby and the carbon flow pattern of the injector sufficiently agitates the slag to produce foaming.

Mounting arrangement for auxiliary burner or lance

An improved method and apparatus for metal melting, refining and processing, particularly adapted to steel making in an electric arc furnace. The method provides auxiliary thermal energy to the steel making process, particulate injection for the formation of slag and foamy slag, and oxygen injection for the decarburization of the melt, for the formation of foamy slag and for post combustion burning of carbon monoxide. The burner includes two injection barrels for providing finely pulverized particles and for providing either a supersonic or a subsonic primary flow of an oxidizing gas. The barrels are positioned side by side in a nozzle at the entrance of a flame shaping chamber of a fluid cooled combustion chamber. The nozzle also contains a plurality of fuel orifices for the providing pressurized fuel to the combustion chamber and a plurality of oxidizing gas orifices for providing a secondary flow of an oxidizing gas around the periphery of the nozzle. Because all of the flows of fuel, oxidizing gas and particulates pass through the flame shaping chamber, they are all substantially directed to the same location in the electric arc furnace. The directionality of the flows allows the burner to heat a localized spot of the slag with thermal energy from the oxidation of the fuel, from the oxidation of oxidizable components in the slag or the melt by the lancing of supersonic oxidizing gas, or from any combination of these. Once a spot in the slag is sufficiently heated, a flow of carbon is directed to the localized hot spot in the slag to reduce the FeO, and other oxides, in the slag to carbon monoxide and produce foamy slag. The particulate carbon introduction can be accompanied by further oxidizing gas injection before, during or after the carbon injection.

Method for metal melting, refining and processing

An improved method and apparatus for EAF steelmaking wherein the method provides additional thermal energy to the steel making process, carbon injection for the formation of foamy slag, and oxygen injection for the decarburization of the melt, the formation of foamy slag and post combustion burning of carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a unique burner configuration which has a central conduit for alternatively supplying fluid hydrocarbon fuel or particulate carbon with a carrier gas which are discharged through a exit opening. The fuel or carbon is mixed with a high speed, preferably supersonic, stream of oxidizing gas. The high speed stream of oxidizing gas is provided by an annular supersonic nozzle which causes the oxidizing gas to surround the fuel or the particulates with an annular flow. The annular nozzle design can be adjusted to direct the flows of particulates and oxidizing gases in the areas and shapes desired for efficient management of the steelmaking process. Optionally, the burner can have another conduit for the secondary supply of a pressurized flow of hydrocarbon fluid fuel to a series of apertures which surround the annular flow. Further, optionally, the burner can have another conduit for the supply of a pressurized flow of a secondary oxidizing gas to a series of apertures which surround the annular flow.

Method and apparatus for improved EAF steelmaking

A mounting block and an improved mounting arrangement for apparatus used in metal melting, refining and processing, particularly those apparatus adapted to steel making in an electric arc furnace, such as burners, lances and the like with supersonic oxygen lancing capability. The mounting block is fluid cooled to survive the hostile environment of the electric arc furnace and is designed to rest on the step between the side wall and hearth of the furnace without any substantial change to the structure of the furnace. The mounting block comprises a plurality of fluid cooling conduits surrounding an aperture which is formed through the block and adapted to mount the apparatus. The mounting arrangement includes utilizing the mounting block to mount an apparatus with supersonic oxidizing gas or lancing capability in an electric arc furnace. The apparatus is mounted by passing it through an aperture in a water cooled side panel aligned with the mounting aperture in the mounting block. Because the mounting block is approximately the width of the step, the discharge opening of the apparatus is moved closer to the surface of the melt and toward the center of the furnace thereby providing increased efficiency. The discharge opening will now also extend past the inner edge of the step so that the oxidizing gas flow pattern does not degrade the hearth material and other furnace equipment mounted nearby.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Valery G Shver