EP1029089B1 - Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides - Google Patents

Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1029089B1
EP1029089B1 EP98956840A EP98956840A EP1029089B1 EP 1029089 B1 EP1029089 B1 EP 1029089B1 EP 98956840 A EP98956840 A EP 98956840A EP 98956840 A EP98956840 A EP 98956840A EP 1029089 B1 EP1029089 B1 EP 1029089B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
slag
zone
products
metallurgical treatment
melting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98956840A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1029089A1 (fr
Inventor
Wilhelm Burgmann
Jean Monai
Jean-Luc Roth
Henri Radoux
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Paul Wurth SA
Original Assignee
Paul Wurth SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Paul Wurth SA filed Critical Paul Wurth SA
Publication of EP1029089A1 publication Critical patent/EP1029089A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1029089B1 publication Critical patent/EP1029089B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21CPROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C21C5/00Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
    • C21C5/52Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces
    • C21C5/5252Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces in an electrically heated multi-chamber furnace, a combination of electric furnaces or an electric furnace arranged for associated working with a non electric furnace
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21CPROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C21C5/00Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
    • C21C5/56Manufacture of steel by other methods
    • C21C5/567Manufacture of steel by other methods operating in a continuous way

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a continuous product melting process solid metal.
  • the process relates more particularly to the melting of metallic solids, such as than solid iron, solid cast iron, scrap iron or cast iron, pre-reduced, etc., which are used with the possible addition of cast iron liquid, eg for steel production.
  • the process can take place indoors a reactor comprising, for example, an electric furnace, in which the energy necessary for melting is produced by an electric arc and / or a burner furnace gas, oil or coal and / or a plasma torch oven.
  • Continuous melting of solid products is generally done in a reactor which includes two adjacent zones, namely a fusion zone and a zone metallurgical treatment.
  • Solid products are loaded into the fusion of the reactor and then melted under the effect of a considerable energy supply.
  • the molten metal is transferred progressively to the second zone and undergoes metallurgical treatment therein in order to adjust its chemical composition.
  • This metallurgical treatment generally includes a refining of the liquid metal during which refining gases are injected, such as eg oxygen, in the metal bath using blowing lances in order to reduce the carbon and silicon content of the steel produced.
  • refining gases such as eg oxygen
  • the molten metal contains other impurities which have negative effects on the physical and mechanical properties of steel product.
  • impurities mention is made in particular of sulfur, which reduces between others the resilience of steel, its resistance to fatigue, its resistance to corrosion and its weldability.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to propose a process for the fusion continuous solid metal products which also allows a reduction of the carbon content also a lowering of the sulfur content of molten metal.
  • the solid metal is continuously melted in the melting zone.
  • phosphorus which among other things, reduces the ductility and weldability of the steel, is transferred to the oxidizing slag by an exchange reaction with this slag.
  • the liquid metal is transferred to the second zone in which the actual metallurgical treatment takes place.
  • the metallurgical treatment of the molten metal is done in two phases.
  • the first phase we mainly carry out a reduction of carbon and silicon contents of the metal bath in oxidizing conditions. This refining is done by injecting oxygen into the bath metallic and by adding, for example, CaO to form slag.
  • the contents in carbon and silicon of the metal bath can thus be reduced to predetermined values, which are preferably between 0.05% and 0.1% for carbon.
  • the conditions in the treatment zone are modified to pass from an oxidizing medium to a reducing medium.
  • This transformation conditions is achieved by adding aluminum Al or / and silicon Si and / or carbon C in the slag.
  • the slag is thus calmed and passes from a more oxidizing slag to a more reducing slag.
  • silicon and / or carbon are added so as not to increase their contents in the metal bath, which would reduce the effect of the previous refining, but so as only to reduce the FeO in the slag and to lower the content oxygen in the metal.
  • the bath is preferably stirred metallic by bubbling inert gas, eg argon, to facilitate the exchange between the metal bath and the slag.
  • inert gas eg argon
  • the proposed process thus allows the production of low-grade steel carbon and sulfur in a two-zone reactor and therefore avoids pocket furnace treatment in the production of mass steels such as reinforcing bars, for which a content of 0.020 to 0.030% of sulfur is aimed at final product.
  • the two sources are avoided in the metallurgical treatment zone of main nitrogen pollution such as the electric arc and scrap melting late and reducing the residual nitrogen content by bubbling of a neutral gas, in particular argon in the metallurgical treatment zone.
  • denitriding is facilitated by the low sulfur content of the bath metallic.
  • the reducing slag is evacuated from the metallurgical treatment zone before, during or after step e), i.e. pouring the liquid metal. It is indeed preferable to eliminate the reducing slag rich in sulfur before refining the new metal charge liquid, this in order to avoid that during the refining the sulfur contained in the slag go back into the liquid metal bath.
  • the reverse i.e. the transfer of oxidizing slag from the metallurgical treatment zone to the melting zone during or after the refining of the melted products in the metallurgical treatment zone can be interesting. Indeed, in the metallurgical treatment zone, the slag is foaming and contains a lot of iron oxides and metallic iron drops. During the transit of the slag to through the melting zone, the slag is deoxidized on contact with the liquid metal to higher carbon content and the metal drops are decanted there. We thus achieves a countercurrent mass exchange, which minimizes loss of iron.
  • the foaming slag formed which is transferred to the melting zone has the effect of stabilizing the electric arc and increasing its performance.
  • the gases released during the refining of the products molten are transferred to the melting zone in order to heat the products solids in this area.
  • the refining of the steel bath is accompanied by the formation of abundant amounts of CO (near the half of the CO released by the process is produced during refining).
  • energy contained in this CO gas can be used to heat the solid products in the melting zone as well as the solid products in a product preheater possible solids either in counter-current or in partial co-current. We can thus recover the energy contained in hot gases to increase efficiency energy of the reactor.
  • the fusion zone is loaded with continuous solid products. Loading the melting zone into products solids being continuous, the melting zone permanently contains solid products and the energy efficiency of the melting zone can be maximized.
  • Solid products are advantageously preheated before loading using hot reactor gases.
  • the gases released during the melting and refining can be recovered to increase the temperature solid products before loading them into the oven. Solid products therefore more quickly reach their melting temperature and the fusion is significantly shortened. This leads to an increase in yield overall thermal performance of the reactor, and possibly its productivity.
  • the preheating is carried out for example in a preheater which can be executed in the form of a vertical or inclined hopper extending the melting zone or in the form of an inclined rotating drum.
  • heating and / or melting of the solid products can (can) be carried out either using an electric arc or using gas burners gas, oil or coal either using a combination of these different means.
  • the method of the present invention has other advantages over conventional fusion processes.
  • the time out of power caused by loading and pouring in conventional ovens are eliminated and the drop in usable power in the final period called refining and overheating is no longer necessary.
  • Fig. 1 shows a section through a continuous product fusion reactor 10 solids, such as solid iron, solid cast iron, scrap iron or cast iron, pre-reduced (DRI), etc. which are used eg for production steel.
  • the reactor 10 is produced as an electric furnace, in which the energy required for fusion is produced by an electric arc and by burners 12 mounted in the lower lateral part of the furnace 10.
  • the electric oven 10 comprises a hearth 14 made of a refractory material, surmounted a tank 16 and a vault 18. At least one electrode 20 mounted on a mast (not shown) via an arm (not shown) is introduced into the oven 10 through an opening 22 made in the vault 18. The arm can slide on the mast so that it can go up and down the electrode 20.
  • the electric oven 10 is subdivided into two separate zones.
  • the first area, called melting zone 24, is charged, preferably continuously, with scrap 25 using a vertical hopper 26 fitted above the area in this melting zone 24, the scrap 25 is melted using electrodes 20 passing through the vault 18 of the oven 10.
  • a vertical hopper 26 fitted above the area in this melting zone 24, the scrap 25 is melted using electrodes 20 passing through the vault 18 of the oven 10.
  • an additional supply of energy is made to using the burners 12 in the side wall of the oven 10.
  • the melting zone even when the source main energy is an electric arc, an additional 10 to 20 kg of carbon per tonne of steel produced.
  • This carbon is provided either in the form of coke or anthracite, either in the form of a carbide metal, eg of cast iron.
  • the about half of this carbon is removed by oxygen injection using nozzles or nozzles immersed so that the molten metal transferred in the metallurgical treatment zone has an intermediate carbon content in the range of 0.5 to 1%. Because of the oxygen injection, we are in the presence an oxidizing slag, which allows the elimination of a large part of the phosphorus in the melting zone.
  • liquid metal accumulates in the sole 14 of the melting zone 24 and when this has reached a certain level, it pours over a weir 27 into the second zone of the furnace called metallurgical treatment zone 28.
  • the liquid metal in the treatment zone is subjected to conventional refining operations by gas injection such as oxygen by means of a lance 32 in order to adjust the chemical composition of the liquid metal.
  • gas injection such as oxygen
  • a lance 32 in order to adjust the chemical composition of the liquid metal.
  • the carbon content of the steel can be reduced from about 1% by weight to about 0.1%.
  • the hot gases released during the refining of the molten products are transferred in the melting zone 24 and are then sucked by the hopper 26 supplying the scrap 10 furnace 25.
  • a large part of the energy contained in these gases can be used to heat the scrap 25 in the melting zone 24 as well as the solid products contained in the preheater hopper 26.
  • Lime (CaO) is added in the melting zone and in the treatment zone metallurgical to form a slag.
  • Different additives like e.g. fondants can also be added.
  • the slag is foaming 34 and contains a lot of iron oxides and metallic iron drops during the refining phase.
  • the slag contained in the two zones is separated by a slag dam 36, possibly removable, installed between the two zones at the weir 27. This barrier prevents the passage of slag from the melting zone 24 into the metallurgical treatment zone 28.
  • the desulfurization phase Separating the slag from the two zones is especially important in the second phase of the process, the desulfurization phase.
  • the slag contained in the melting zone 24 and that contained in the metallurgical treatment zone 28 have properties neighboring chemicals, namely that the slags of the two zones are slags oxidants. For this reason, it is not necessary to separate them during this first phase.
  • the barrier 36 can therefore be removed entirely or partially to allow a slag exchange of these two zones.
  • the chemical properties of slag contained in the melting and metallurgical processing zones are different and incompatible.
  • Fig. 3 shows the last phase of the process, the pouring of the liquid metal.
  • the sulfur-rich reducing slag is discharged through the scouring door 40 and the molten metal is poured from the metallurgical treatment zone 28 by a taphole 30 while retaining a background of liquid metal in this area.
  • This bath foot is used to reduce wear of the refractory lining.
  • the tap hole 30 can as well be fitted in the side wall of the treatment area metallurgical 28 than in the bottom of this area.
  • the metallurgical treatment zone 28 operates in discontinuous mode, it should be noted that the fusion zone 24 operates continuously. Downtime caused by loading and pouring procedures in conventional ovens are therefore removed and the drop in usable power in the so-called final period refining and overheating is no longer necessary.
  • Material flows and energy flows from the furnace can be summed up by the as follows: scrap 25 is introduced into the oven through the hopper 26, it crosses the fusion zone 24 and is then drawn off by the metallurgical treatment 28.
  • the gas flow passes through the furnace in the opposite direction. Indeed, the gases are injected or formed in the metallurgical treatment zone 28 and the melting zone 24 to be aspirated by the hopper 26.
  • the slag contained or formed in the metallurgical treatment zone 28 is evacuated by the scouring door 40 located in this area while the slag contained in the melting zone 24 can be evacuated by a scouring 42 located in the melting zone 24.
  • the slag is very oxidizing and contains ⁇ 0.1% by weight of carbon and about 25% by weight of FeO.
  • the partition coefficient for the sulfur i.e. the ratio of sulfur content in the slag / sulfur content of the metal is less than 5 and that for phosphorus is about 50.
  • the conventional oven therefore makes it possible to obtain from of steel scrap with a very reduced phosphorus concentration but with a non-negligible sulfur concentration.
  • a medium oxidizing slag which contains less than 10% by weight of FeO and which has a basicity of about 2.5.
  • the partition coefficient in such conditions is 5 to 10 for sulfur and about 25 for phosphorus.
  • the metal with these reduced sulfur and phosphorus contents is then transferred in the metallurgical treatment area.
  • the slag is made reducing by adding either the aluminum is silicon and / or carbon.
  • the FeO content of the slag is reduced to 0 and the basicity of the resulting slag is approximately 3.
  • the treatment area metallurgy is subjected to strong mixing with argon.
  • the partition coefficient for sulfur is around 500 while it is only around 100 when the slag is deoxidized by silicon.
  • the silicon to deoxidize the slag eliminates between 60% and 70% of the sulfur contained in the steel supplying the metallurgical treatment zone.
  • the overall reduction in sulfur content per 100 kg of slag / t of steel is therefore 86% by weight when using aluminum and 72% in the case of silicon.
  • the overall reduction in phosphorus content is 60% in weight.
  • the present process therefore makes it possible to obtain much sulfur contents. lower than in conventional processes while having performance comparable for phosphorus.
  • the present process makes it possible to use cheaper raw materials or else when the same raw materials are used, it makes it possible to dispense with a second desulfurization step.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Refinement Of Pig-Iron, Manufacture Of Cast Iron, And Steel Manufacture Other Than In Revolving Furnaces (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Steel In Its Molten State (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
EP98956840A 1997-10-17 1998-09-24 Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides Expired - Lifetime EP1029089B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU90154 1997-10-17
LU90154A LU90154B1 (fr) 1997-10-17 1997-10-17 Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides
PCT/EP1998/006091 WO1999020802A1 (fr) 1997-10-17 1998-09-24 Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1029089A1 EP1029089A1 (fr) 2000-08-23
EP1029089B1 true EP1029089B1 (fr) 2002-07-24

Family

ID=19731716

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98956840A Expired - Lifetime EP1029089B1 (fr) 1997-10-17 1998-09-24 Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US6314123B1 (es)
EP (1) EP1029089B1 (es)
AR (1) AR013667A1 (es)
AT (1) ATE221134T1 (es)
AU (1) AU1334599A (es)
BR (1) BR9812926A (es)
DE (1) DE69806796T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2178285T3 (es)
LU (1) LU90154B1 (es)
MA (1) MA24658A1 (es)
TW (1) TW400389B (es)
WO (1) WO1999020802A1 (es)
ZA (1) ZA988966B (es)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011087065A1 (de) 2011-11-24 2013-05-29 Sms Siemag Ag Elektrolichtbogenofen und Verfahren zu seinem Betrieb

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2787468B1 (fr) * 1998-12-18 2001-12-07 Lorraine Laminage Procede de denitruration de l'acier en fusion en cours d'elaboration
US8057570B2 (en) * 2004-10-11 2011-11-15 Technological Resources Pty. Limited Electric arc furnace steelmaking
IN2014DN07279A (es) * 2012-06-27 2015-04-24 Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp
AT513281B1 (de) * 2013-02-19 2014-03-15 Seirlehner Leopold Dipl Ing Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zur kontinuierlichen Erzeugung einer flüssigen Stahlschmelze aus Schrott
EP3954786A1 (de) * 2020-08-12 2022-02-16 ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG Verfahren zur herstellung von rohstahl und aggregat zu dessen herstellung

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1224340B (de) 1962-09-04 1966-09-08 Boehler & Co Ag Geb Verfahren zur Herstellung praktisch schlackenfreier Staehle im basischen Lichtbogenofen oder im basischen Induktionsofen
FR1482929A (fr) 1966-04-01 1967-06-02 Siderurgie Fse Inst Rech Procédé d'élaboration d'un métal au four électrique
CA893624A (en) * 1969-10-27 1972-02-22 J. Themelis Nickolas Direct process for smelting of lead sulphide concentrates to lead
US3912501A (en) * 1971-05-11 1975-10-14 Castejon Javier Gonzalez De Method for the production of iron and steel
DE2418109B1 (de) 1974-04-13 1975-07-24 Fried. Krupp Huettenwerke Ag, 4630 Bochum Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur kontinuierlchen Stahlerzeugung
DE2507961C3 (de) * 1975-02-25 1978-07-20 Eisenwerk-Gesellschaft Maximilianshuette Mbh, 8458 Sulzbach-Rosenberg Verfahren zum Herstellen von Stahl aus Roheisen
JPS54125115A (en) * 1978-03-24 1979-09-28 Japan Steel Works Ltd Rephosphorization preventing method of electric furnace steel
JPS5589395A (en) * 1978-12-26 1980-07-05 Sumitomo Metal Ind Ltd Gasification of solid carbonaceous material and its device
IT1200082B (it) * 1985-06-21 1989-01-05 Centro Speriment Metallurg Procedimento per la desolforazione e la deforsforazione della ghisa
DE3601337A1 (de) * 1986-01-16 1987-07-23 Mannesmann Ag Verfahren zur herstellung hochlegierter staehle im sauerstoffblaskonverter
DE3732939A1 (de) 1987-09-30 1989-04-13 Kloeckner Stahl Gmbh Stahlerzeugungsverfahren und vorrichtung zu dessen durchfuehrung
DE4339226A1 (de) 1993-11-15 1995-05-18 Mannesmann Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wertstoffgewinnung

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011087065A1 (de) 2011-11-24 2013-05-29 Sms Siemag Ag Elektrolichtbogenofen und Verfahren zu seinem Betrieb
WO2013075999A1 (de) 2011-11-24 2013-05-30 Sms Siemag Ag Elektrolichtbogenofen und verfahren zu seinem betrieb

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2178285T3 (es) 2002-12-16
AU1334599A (en) 1999-05-10
WO1999020802A1 (fr) 1999-04-29
DE69806796D1 (de) 2002-08-29
DE69806796T2 (de) 2003-02-20
BR9812926A (pt) 2000-08-08
TW400389B (en) 2000-08-01
ZA988966B (en) 1999-04-12
LU90154B1 (fr) 1999-04-19
US6314123B1 (en) 2001-11-06
ATE221134T1 (de) 2002-08-15
EP1029089A1 (fr) 2000-08-23
AR013667A1 (es) 2001-01-10
MA24658A1 (fr) 1999-04-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2009110627A1 (ja) 鋼屑中の銅の除去方法
EP1029089B1 (fr) Procede pour la fusion en continu de produits metalliques solides
RU97118334A (ru) Установка и способ для получения расплавов железа
BE1006838A3 (fr) Convertisseur et procede pour la purification de matieres non ferreuses.
EP1983066A1 (fr) Procédé de récupération du molybdène, du nickel, du cobalt ou de leurs mélanges à partir de catalyseurs usés ou régénérés
FR2476140A1 (fr) Procede pour la production d'acier a haute teneur en chrome
JP5589688B2 (ja) 溶銑の製造方法
FR2466509A1 (fr) Procede de fabrication d'acier a partir de matieres metalliques solides contenant du fer
JP5625654B2 (ja) 溶銑の製造方法
EP1187942B1 (fr) Procede de production de fonte liquide
RU2146650C1 (ru) Способ рафинирования кремния и его сплавов
EP0626547B1 (fr) Procédé de production d'acier liquide à partir de matières ferreuses riches en matières carbonnées
EP1248861B1 (fr) Procede de traitement de laitiers d'acieries electriques
RU2266965C1 (ru) Способ выплавки стали в мартеновской печи
BE341896A (es)
RU2260625C1 (ru) Способ выплавки стали в мартеновской печи
SU1242530A1 (ru) Способ производства стали
LU87759A1 (fr) Procede pour la fabrication directe d'acier et d'autres produits de fonderie
BE468197A (es)
BE1003182A4 (fr) Procede de fabrication de l'acier d'usage courant.
SU221723A1 (ru) Способ получения рафинированного ферромолибдена
WO1999053105A1 (fr) Fabrication d'aciers inoxydables et d'aciers a fortes teneurs en elements d'alliage dans un four electrique comprenant deux zones distinctes
BE497417A (es)
BE483792A (es)
BE415049A (es)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000407

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20001127

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 221134

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20020815

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69806796

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20020829

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 20020830

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2178285

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20030425

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20050810

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20050816

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20050817

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20050927

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060924

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070403

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060924

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060924

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20060925

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060925