GB1599356A - Method of melting non-ferrous metals - Google Patents

Method of melting non-ferrous metals Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1599356A
GB1599356A GB2503078A GB2503078A GB1599356A GB 1599356 A GB1599356 A GB 1599356A GB 2503078 A GB2503078 A GB 2503078A GB 2503078 A GB2503078 A GB 2503078A GB 1599356 A GB1599356 A GB 1599356A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
furnace
tuyeres
oxygen
liquid
fuel
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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
Application number
GB2503078A
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BOC Ltd
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BOC Ltd
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.)
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Publication date
Application filed by BOC Ltd filed Critical BOC Ltd
Priority to GB2503078A priority Critical patent/GB1599356A/en
Publication of GB1599356A publication Critical patent/GB1599356A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B1/00—Shaft or like vertical or substantially vertical furnaces
    • F27B1/08—Shaft or like vertical or substantially vertical furnaces heated otherwise than by solid fuel mixed with charge
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B5/00—Making pig-iron in the blast furnace
    • C21B5/02—Making special pig-iron, e.g. by applying additives, e.g. oxides of other metals
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B1/00—Shaft or like vertical or substantially vertical furnaces
    • F27B1/10—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to furnaces of these types
    • F27B1/16—Arrangements of tuyeres

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Iron (AREA)

Description

(54) METHOD OF MELTING NON-FERROUS METALS (71) We, BOC LIMITED, an English company, of Hammersmith House, London W6 9DX, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method of melting non-ferrous metal, or smelting the ore of a non-ferrous metal, in a vertical shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace.
It is known to melt metal or smelt an ore in a vertical shaft furnace by supplying to the furnace a charge comprising the metal ore and a solid fuel such as coke. The coke is burnt thereby supplying the necessary heat to perform the melting or smelting as the case may be. In order to support combustion of the coke or other solid fuel, the blast of air is injected into the charge through a number of tuyeres. If desired, the air may be enriched in oxygen, either in the tuyeres or upstream thereof. It is also known to inject a hydrocarbon fuel into the furnace through one or more nozzles separate from the tuyeres.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of melting non-ferrous metal, or smelting rhe ore of a non-ferrous metal, in a vertical shaft furnace, including the steps of supplying to the furnace a charge of solid fuel, fluxing agent(s) and the metal ore or a charge of solid fuel and the metal, initiating combustion of the solid fuel, introducing a blast of air into the furnace through at least four tuyeres so as to support combustion of the fuel, introducing a gaseous or liquid fuel into the furnace through some but not all of the tuyeres, and enriching in oxygen the air supplied through at least some of the tuyeres through which the gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced.
The gaseous or liquid fuel may, for example, comprise coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, hydrogen, natural gas, synthesized fuel gas, methane, propane, or fuel oil gaseous or liquid fuel.
Supplying a fuel such as methane, propane or fuel oil to the interior of the furnace through some of the tuyeres makes it possible to increase the rate of input of thermal energy into the furnace. Alternatively or in addition, by supplying extra heat by burning gaseous or liquid fuel, it is possible to reduce the proportion of solid fuef in the charge. We believe that enriching in oxygen the air supplied to the furnace through at least some of the tuyeres through which the gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced prevents blockage of the tuyeres into which the hydrocarbon is introduced.
Such blockage may arise as a result of the cooling effect that introduction of the gaseous or liquid fuel has. It absorbs energy before releasing heat as a result of its combustion.
Thus, there is a localised reduction in temperature at each region of introduction. of the hydrocarbon. Such localised reduction in temperature can lead to the tuyeres becoming blocked.
Preferably, the air supplied through all those tuyeres which are selected for the introduction of gaseous or liquid fuel is enriched in oxygen. This can be done by introducing oxygen into the respective tuyeres themselves or into pipes connecting the respective tuyeres to a ring-main from which the air is distributed to all the tuyeres. The latter alternative is preferred as in general adpoting it will facilitate mixing of the oxygen with the air.
The gaseous or liquid fuel is preferably introduced at such a rate that the resultant rate of input of heat into the furnace is 60 to 3001 KW.
Typically, the gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced into those tuyeres whose outlers are adjacent to relatively colder regions of the furnace. Typically, the colder regions of the furnace will tend to be at the rear of the furnace with respect to the tapping hole thereof. The hydrocarbon or other fuel is thus preferably injected or introduced into at least some of the rear tuyeres. In one example the furnace may have 40 tuyeres. The gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon is injected or introduced into six tuyeres situated at the rear of the furnace. The air supplied to these tuyeres is also enriched in oxygen.
Preferably, each tuyere selected for enrichment of its air in oxygen has oxygen or oxygen-enriched air supplied thereto at a rate such that the air leaving the tuyere contains from 21 to 40% by volume of oxygen.
More preferably, the oxygen concentration in such air is from 22.9 to 27% by volume.
Lances through which gaseous or liquid fuel is injected are preferably axially located in the respected tuyeres. Preferably the outlet of each lance is situated from one tuyere diameter's length downstream of the outlet of its respective tuyere to three such lengths upstream of the outlet of the tuyere. However, such axial arrangements are not essential. It is possible for the lances to be at a small angle to the axes of their respective tuyeres.
A method according to the invention may be used to melt and non-ferrous metal, for example, lead, antimony and copper. Alternatively, it may be used to smelt ores of such non-ferrous metals.
The method according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing the air supply system to a blast furnace.
Figure 2 is another schematic drawing, partly in section, illustrating one of the tuyeres shown in Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a passage 2 for an air blast (which may be cold air blast or a hot air blast) communicates with a ring-main 4. Extending vertically downwards from the ring-main 4 are a number of connecting pipes 6 which place the ringmain 4 in communication with tuyeres 8, there being one such connecting pipe 6 for each tuyere 8.
The tuyeres 8 each pass through a wall of a blast furnace 10 and communicate with the interior of the furnace 10.
The furnace 10 is charged with a mixture of non-ferrous metal to be melted, fluxing agents such as limestone or scrap iron, and solid fuel such as coke. This charge or burden as it is sometimes referred to is shown by the reference 12 in Figure 2.
The furnace 10 has a door through which the charge may be introduced into the interior of the furnace. This door is not shown but it is at the front of the furnace, that is that wall of the furnace which is immediately adjacent the pipe 2 for the air blast.
As will be seen from Figure 1 in the rear of the furnace there are just two tuyeres.
Lances 18 extend into both these tuyeres, each such lance 18 being co-axial with its respecttive tuyere and terminating therein just upstream of its outlet. The lances 18 are connected to a source of liquid or gaseous fuel, typically methane, propane or fuel oil. The source is not shown. Upstream from these two tuyeres, pipes 20 terminate in connecting pipes 6 which connect both the tuyeres having lances for liquid or gaseous fuel to the ring-main 4.
The pipes 20 have outlets 22 as shown in Figure 2 and are both connected to a source of oxygen which source is not shown.
In operation, a charge of non-ferrous metal to be melted together with coke is fed into the furnace through its door. A blast of air is introduced into the furnace through the tuyeres 8. The charge is ignited by conventional means well known in the art. The air supplied through the tuyeres helps to support combustion of the coke. Liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into the furnace through the lances 14.
The liquid or gaseous fuel leaving the lances 14 burns and within the furnace burden 12 is created a gaseous zone containing the combustion products emanating from the flame that is produced adjacent each lance.
Such a zone is indicated by the reference 24 in Figure 2. At the same time as the supply of the liquid or gaseous fuel to the lances is initiated, the supply of oxygen to the pipes 20 is initiated. The oxygen leaves these pipes through the outlets 22 and mixes with Lhe air blast, thereby enriching in oxygen the air blast supplied to the tuyere containing the lances. The supply of this oxygen helps to increase the temperature within the zone 24 (see Figure 2).
The burning of the solid fuel and the liquid or gaseous fuel supplies the heat necessary to melt the non-ferrous metal. The molten metal falls through the charge and is collected at the bottom of the furnace from where it can be tapped off through a tapping hole (not shown, but opposite the two tuyeres through which the liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into the furnace). The molten metal may be tapped off either intermittently or continuously.
WHAT WB CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of melting non-ferrous metal, or smelting the ore of a non-ferrous metal, in a vertical shaft furnace, including the steps of supplying to the furnace a charge of solid fuel, fluxing agent(s) and the metal ore, or a charge of solid fuel and the metal, initiating combustion of the solid fuel, introducing a blast of air into the furnace through at least four tuyeres so as to support combustion of the fuel, introducing a gaseous or liquid fuel into the furnace through some but not all of the tuyeres, and enriching in oxygen the air supplied through at least some of the tuyeres through which the gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which all the tuyeres through which gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced have the air supplied thereto enriched in oxygen.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (16)

  1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
    Preferably, each tuyere selected for enrichment of its air in oxygen has oxygen or oxygen-enriched air supplied thereto at a rate such that the air leaving the tuyere contains from 21 to 40% by volume of oxygen.
    More preferably, the oxygen concentration in such air is from 22.9 to 27% by volume.
    Lances through which gaseous or liquid fuel is injected are preferably axially located in the respected tuyeres. Preferably the outlet of each lance is situated from one tuyere diameter's length downstream of the outlet of its respective tuyere to three such lengths upstream of the outlet of the tuyere. However, such axial arrangements are not essential. It is possible for the lances to be at a small angle to the axes of their respective tuyeres.
    A method according to the invention may be used to melt and non-ferrous metal, for example, lead, antimony and copper. Alternatively, it may be used to smelt ores of such non-ferrous metals.
    The method according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing the air supply system to a blast furnace.
    Figure 2 is another schematic drawing, partly in section, illustrating one of the tuyeres shown in Figure 1.
    Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a passage 2 for an air blast (which may be cold air blast or a hot air blast) communicates with a ring-main 4. Extending vertically downwards from the ring-main 4 are a number of connecting pipes 6 which place the ringmain 4 in communication with tuyeres 8, there being one such connecting pipe 6 for each tuyere 8.
    The tuyeres 8 each pass through a wall of a blast furnace 10 and communicate with the interior of the furnace 10.
    The furnace 10 is charged with a mixture of non-ferrous metal to be melted, fluxing agents such as limestone or scrap iron, and solid fuel such as coke. This charge or burden as it is sometimes referred to is shown by the reference 12 in Figure 2.
    The furnace 10 has a door through which the charge may be introduced into the interior of the furnace. This door is not shown but it is at the front of the furnace, that is that wall of the furnace which is immediately adjacent the pipe 2 for the air blast.
    As will be seen from Figure 1 in the rear of the furnace there are just two tuyeres.
    Lances 18 extend into both these tuyeres, each such lance 18 being co-axial with its respecttive tuyere and terminating therein just upstream of its outlet. The lances 18 are connected to a source of liquid or gaseous fuel, typically methane, propane or fuel oil. The source is not shown. Upstream from these two tuyeres, pipes 20 terminate in connecting pipes 6 which connect both the tuyeres having lances for liquid or gaseous fuel to the ring-main 4.
    The pipes 20 have outlets 22 as shown in Figure 2 and are both connected to a source of oxygen which source is not shown.
    In operation, a charge of non-ferrous metal to be melted together with coke is fed into the furnace through its door. A blast of air is introduced into the furnace through the tuyeres 8. The charge is ignited by conventional means well known in the art. The air supplied through the tuyeres helps to support combustion of the coke. Liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into the furnace through the lances 14.
    The liquid or gaseous fuel leaving the lances 14 burns and within the furnace burden
    12 is created a gaseous zone containing the combustion products emanating from the flame that is produced adjacent each lance.
    Such a zone is indicated by the reference 24 in Figure 2. At the same time as the supply of the liquid or gaseous fuel to the lances is initiated, the supply of oxygen to the pipes 20 is initiated. The oxygen leaves these pipes through the outlets 22 and mixes with Lhe air blast, thereby enriching in oxygen the air blast supplied to the tuyere containing the lances. The supply of this oxygen helps to increase the temperature within the zone 24 (see Figure 2).
    The burning of the solid fuel and the liquid or gaseous fuel supplies the heat necessary to melt the non-ferrous metal. The molten metal falls through the charge and is collected at the bottom of the furnace from where it can be tapped off through a tapping hole (not shown, but opposite the two tuyeres through which the liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into the furnace). The molten metal may be tapped off either intermittently or continuously.
    WHAT WB CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of melting non-ferrous metal, or smelting the ore of a non-ferrous metal, in a vertical shaft furnace, including the steps of supplying to the furnace a charge of solid fuel, fluxing agent(s) and the metal ore, or a charge of solid fuel and the metal, initiating combustion of the solid fuel, introducing a blast of air into the furnace through at least four tuyeres so as to support combustion of the fuel, introducing a gaseous or liquid fuel into the furnace through some but not all of the tuyeres, and enriching in oxygen the air supplied through at least some of the tuyeres through which the gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which all the tuyeres through which gaseous or liquid fuel is introduced have the air supplied thereto enriched in oxygen.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or
    Claim 2, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel is methane, propane or natural gas.
  4. 4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel comprises coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, hydrogen or synthesised fuel gas.
  5. 5. A method as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel is fuel oil.
  6. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into the tuyeres adjacent relatively colder regions of the interior of the furnace.
  7. 7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into tuyeres at the rear of the furnace with respect to the tapping hole of the furnace.
  8. 8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid or gaseous fuel is introduced into each selected tuyere through a lance which is axial therewith.
  9. 9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the outler of each lance is situated from one tuyere - diameter's length downstream of the outlet of its respective tuyere to three such lengths upstream of the outlet of the tuyere.
  10. 10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the furnace is a blast furnace.
  11. 11. A method as claimed in any one of the precedings claims, in which the air is introduced into a ring-main which is connected to the tuyeres by vertical pipes.
  12. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is introduced into those vertical connecting pipes which connect to the ring-main those tuyeres through which hydrocarbon is introduced into the furnace.
  13. 13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the air leaving each tuyere through which liquid or gaseous fuel is supplied to the furnace is enriched in oxygen and contains from 21 to 40 /" by volume of oxygen.
  14. 14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, in which the aforesaid air contains from 22.9 to 27 by volume of oxygen.
  15. 15. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the rate of hydrocarbon addition is such that the resultant rate of input of heat into the furnace is in the range 60 to 300 KW.
  16. 16. A method of melting non-ferrous metal, or smelting the ore of a non-ferrous metal, in a vertical shaft furnace, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB2503078A 1978-05-31 1978-05-31 Method of melting non-ferrous metals Expired GB1599356A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2501718A1 (en) * 1981-03-11 1982-09-17 Centre Rech Metallurgique PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING THE HIGH STOVE WITH INJECTION OF GAS REDUCERS OVERHEATING
EP0554022A3 (en) * 1992-01-31 1994-03-02 Boc Group Plc
US7837928B2 (en) 2007-01-16 2010-11-23 U.S. Steel Canada Inc. Apparatus and method for injection of fluid hydrocarbons into a blast furnace
EP3789355A1 (en) * 2019-09-04 2021-03-10 Linde GmbH A method of operating a shaft furnace

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2501718A1 (en) * 1981-03-11 1982-09-17 Centre Rech Metallurgique PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING THE HIGH STOVE WITH INJECTION OF GAS REDUCERS OVERHEATING
EP0554022A3 (en) * 1992-01-31 1994-03-02 Boc Group Plc
TR26856A (en) * 1992-01-31 1994-08-19 Boc Group Inc Operation of vertical shaft furnaces.
US5346183A (en) * 1992-01-31 1994-09-13 The Boc Group Plc Fumeless cupolas
US7837928B2 (en) 2007-01-16 2010-11-23 U.S. Steel Canada Inc. Apparatus and method for injection of fluid hydrocarbons into a blast furnace
EP3789355A1 (en) * 2019-09-04 2021-03-10 Linde GmbH A method of operating a shaft furnace

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