US3065916A

US3065916A - Fluid transfer device

Info

Publication number: US3065916A
Application number: US26529A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward F Kurzinski
Original assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
Current assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
Priority date: 1960-05-03
Filing date: 1960-05-03
Publication date: 1962-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-27

Description

E. F. KURZINSKI FLUID TRANSFER DEVICE Nov. 27, 1962 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1960 INVENTOR. EDWARD F. KURZNSK BY A Ma -g W A TTORNE YS Nov. 27, 1962 E. F. KuRzlNsKl 3,065,916

FLUID TRANSFER DEVICE Filed May 5. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD F. KuRzlNsxl .A TTONEY S assists Patented Nov. 27, i962 3,065,916 FLUE) TRANSFER DEVEQE Edward F'. Kurzinsiri, Allentown, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Air Products and Chemicals, fue., Trenlertown, Pa., .a corporation of Delaware Fiied May 3, 1960, Ser. No. 26,529 2 Claims. (Cl. 239-132) This invention relates to improvements in fiuid transfer devices and more particularly to devices for introducing fluid into a high temperature reaction zone.

Fluid transfer devices may be used for introducing a fluid, such as oxygen, into the combustion zone of a metallurgical furnace. For example, in the steel industry, oxygen is introduced into metallurgical furnaces including open hearth furnaces, converters, and electrical furnaces to increase steel output without incurring major capital investment. Efficient performance is obtained by blowing the oxygen directly onto the molten bath and for this purpose a fluid transfer device, sometimes referred to as a lance, is extended within the furnace with its discharge end in close proximity with the surface of the bath. in operation, the transfer device may be subject to temperatures in excess of 4000 F. and adequate cooling of the device is necessary in order to maintain the process and obtain an economical life span of the device. Also, it is advantageous to direct the oxygen onto a large area of the bath while utilizing the smallest possible number of devices.

There are a number of uid transfer devices presently in use for introducing oxygen into metailurgical furnaces. These devices are generally fabricated from three concentrically spaced tubes, the oxygen being passed through the innermost tube and cooling water being directed inwardly through one of the annular spaces about the center tube and outwardly through the remaining annular space. One of the disadvantages of the prior devices is the diiculty of controlling and interrelating water volume `and velocity as a consequence of the difference in crosssectional arcas of the spaces provided for inward and outward ow of cooling water. Furthermore, the problems presented by prior devices become more severe when a plurality of discharge nozzles are used to increase the area of the bath impinged upon by the oxygen.

1t is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid transfer device for operation under `high temperature conditions.

Another object is to provide a iiuid transfer device including a novel cooling arrangement which eliminates coolant velocity control problems.

Still another object is to provide a iiuid transfer device of the foregoing character including a plurality of discharge nozzles.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid transfer device of the multiple nozzle discharge type provided with a novel cooling arrangement for maintaining efcient cooling in regions of the device subject to high temperatures.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the provision of a fluid transfer device including a hollow outer member and a hollovl inner member located within the outer member in overlapping relationship with the outer surface of the inner member spaced from the inner surface of the outer member to define a chamber extending substantially throughout the overlapping region in which a plurality of spaced elongated hollow members are located, the hollow inner members being connected to a plurality of nozzles at the discharge end of the device.

The foregoing will be more fully understood from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which discloses a uid Vtransfer device embodying the principles of the present invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for the latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

ln the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional View of a uid transfer device embodying principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the device shown in FIG URE l illustrating the discharge end of the device with the closure removed;

F GURE 4 is a view in cross section of the discharge end portion of a fluid transfer device constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FGURE 5 is a view in section along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view in cross section of the discharge end portion of a fluid transfer device constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FGURE 7 is an end view of the device shown in FIGURE 6.

With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a fiuid transfer device is shown therein including a hollow inner member itl defining a passageway il located within a hollow outer member l2 in overlapping, spaced relation therewith to provide an intervening chamber t3. 'the members and i2 may be of circular vcross-section and positioned in concentric relation to provide a ci amber f3 of annular cross-section as shown `in the drawings. A piurality of eiongated hollow members iii, t5', lo, i?, iii, and tt, providing passageways E0, Zi, 223, 23, 2li, and 25, respectively, are located in the chamber i3, the eiongated members being spaced from each other and extending longitudinally of the inner and outer members itt and 12. if desired, the hollow elongated members may be of circular crosssection, positioned in equaliy spaced relation in the chamber 13, and in contact with or secured to the outer surface of the inner member l@ as shown in the drawings.

hollow outer member l2 includes an outer end portion 25 and an inner end portion Z7 connected in end-toend relation, the outer end portion Z6 including soaced coolant inlet connection 2S and coolant outlet connection The outer end portion Z6 inwardly of the outlet connection Z9 is adapted to cooperate with structure not shown for supporting the iiuid transfer device in the wall or roof of the furnace with the inner end portion Z7 extending into the furnace. The inner end portion Z7 may have a wall thickness less than the wall thickness of the outer end portion Zo and may be constructed of material different from the material of the outer end portion and may also be made up of `a plurality of sections such as sections 3d and 31. The various sections of the inner end portion may be joined together and the inner end portion may be joined to the outer end portion by any convenient means such as by brazing or welding, for example. The unconnected end of the portion 2'7 which extends furthermost into the furnace terminates in a dome-shaped closure 32 which may be welded or braaed to the section 3f. The inner hol-tow member liti extends throughout the length of the outer hollow member .it with one end 33, its innermost end, tern mated in spaced relation with the dome 32 and closed by member 3d and with its other or outermost end 35 spaced beyond the outer end of the portion 2( and terminated in a fluid inlet connection 36.

The elongated hollow members extend throughout the length of the inner end portion Z7 `and throughout a portion of the outer end portion 26 terminating in ends S7 located beyond the coolant outlet connection 29. 'Sealing means 33 is located adjacent the ends 37 of the elongated hollow members in sealing contact with the elongated hollow members and in sealing contact with the inner surface of the outer end portion 26 and the outer surface of the hollow inner member 1t?, and seal ing means 39 is located between the inner surface of the portion 25 and the outer surface of the member 10 on the other side of the coolant inlet connection 228 to form a chamber it? in communication with the coolant inlet 23 and the ends 37 of the elongated hollow members. The other ends of the elongated hollow members terminate adjacent the closure 32 in fluid communication with the chamber 13 and the latter chamber communi- Cates with the coolant outlet connection 29.

The portions of the elongated hollow member passing through the outer end portion 26 are preferably spaced from the outer surface of the hollow inner member 10 and the inner surface of the overlying portion 26 to facilitate providing the seal 3S between these surfaces adjacent the ends 27 of the elongated hollow members while the portions of the elongated hollow members within the inner end portion 27 are preferably supported on the inner hollow members. This feature not only simpliies construction of the device but also makes it possible to easily effect repairs and replacement of component elements as may be required.

A plurality of

nozzles

45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and t) are located at the discharge end of the device with one end of each nozzle connected to the hollow inner member in communication with the passageway 11 and with the other end of each nozzle extending through a suitable opening in the do-med closure 32 and being joined to the closure in a fluid tight connection such as by welding. The

nozzles

45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 are positioned about the longitudinal axis of the device, preferably in equally spaced relationship, and are inclined at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow inner member 10 diverging away from the longitudinal axis as the nozzles extend from the member 10 to the closure 32.

As mentioned above, one of the features of the present invention is the provision of a fluid transfer device of the multiple nozzle type including novel means for directing coolant to the discharge end of the device in the region of the nozzles. This means, as shown in FlGURES l and 3 of the drawings, comprises the relationship between the elongated hollow members and the nozzles at the discharge end of the device and the provision of fluid directing means on the discharge ends of the elongated hollow members. In particular, the

nozzles

4S, 46, 47, 48, 49, and Sil are oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device so that each nozzle lies `between an adjacent pair of the elongated

hollow members

14, 15, 16, 17, 13, and 19, and the ends of the elongated hollow members at the discharge end of the device terminate between the ends of the nozzles. In addition, the ends of the elongated hollow members are terminated in a unique manner to insure direction of coolant to all regions of the discharge end of the device. As shown, certain of the elongated hollow members, preferably alternate members such as

members

15, 17, and 19, include terminating ends lying in a plane inclined inwardly and downwardly, as viewed in the drawings, with respect t0 the longigtudinal axis of the device, while certain other elongated hollow members, likewise preferably alternate members such as

members

14, 16, and 18, are provided at their ends with fluid directing means 55, 56, and 57, respectively. The fluid directing means may comprise extensions of the outer wall portions of respective elo-ngated hollow members which project beyond the end of the portion 31 in spaced relation with a portion of the domed closure 32 including areas of the domed closure located within the nozzles 5.15, 46, 47, 4S, 49, and 59. The iuid directing means 55, 56, and S7 function to positively transfer a sufficient portion of coolant to the central region of the domed closure 32 and the provision of troughshaped uid directing means and other hollow elongated members having inclined planar discharge ends insures substantially uniform circulation of coolant throughout the region of the discharge end of the device including the nozzles.

Another form of discharge end structure for a fluid transfer device is shown in FEGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings. In this embodiment, the ends of the inner hollow member 10 and the outer hollow member 12 are joined to a unitary structure 69 which includes thc nozzles and also functions as a closure at the discharge end of the device. The structure 6d includes a centrally positioned domed portion 61 merged into a circular wall portieri 62 terminated in a flanged edge 63 for receiving the end of the hollow outer member 12 which may be welded or otherwise joined thereto. rPhe unitary structure 60, also includes a centrally located circular wall portion 64 having a flanged end 65 adapted to receive the end of the hollow inner member 10. The circular wall portion 64 is joined to the domed portion 61 by a plurality of smaller diameter wall portions 66, which may be of circular cross-section as shown, inclined outwardly and downwardly, as viewed in the drawings, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device. The wall portions 66 are spaced from each other and may be symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device. The passageways 67 provided by the wall portions 66 communicate at the inner ends of the wall portions 66 with the passageway 11 of the hollow inner member 10 through the circular wall portion 64 and extend through the wall of the domed portion 61 presenting nozzle discharge openings 68. The elongated hollow members 69 in the chamber 13 are located between wall portions 66 and alternate members 69 include terminating ends lying in an inclined plane shown at '70 while the remainint7 members are provided with inwardly opening trough extensions 71 projecting downwardly `and inwardly, as Viewed in the drawings, toward the central part of the domed portion 61. The unitary structure 60 may be cast from alloyed materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and may include thick outer walls as shown consistent with the heat transfer requirements.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings also includes the feature of the present invention of a hollow inner member 10 presenting a fluid passageway 11 located in spaced relation within a hollow outer mem-ber 12 to provide a chamber 13 housing coolant inlet members and providing a coolant outlet passageway. In this embodiment of the invention, the discharge end of the device comprises a unitary structure 8i), which may be formed by forging, including a central body portion 31, an outer circular wall portion 72 and an inner circular wall portion 73 extending upwardly, as viewed in the drawings, beyond the terminating edge of the portion 72, the ends of the portions 62 and 73 being joined to the ends of the hollo-w outer member 12 and the hollow inner member 10, respectively. The portions 72 and 73 extend downwardly, as viewed in the drawings, and merge into the body portion 81 at radial regions spaced by a wall presenting a curved internal surface 74 which forms with the adjacent surfaces of the portions 72 and 73 an annular cavity 75 comprising an extension of the chamber 13. A plurality of elongated hollow members 76 forming inlet passageways for the coolant are located in the chamber 13 in spaced relation and in contact with the outer surface of the member 10. The elongated members 76 are provided with discharge nozzles 77 which direct the coolant into the annular chamber 75 at its inner side and the shape of the chamber 75 directs the coolant outwardly thro-ugh `the chamber 13. A plurality of fluid nozzles 77 are formed in the body portion 81, preferably symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the device, the nozzles 77 communicating with the passageway 11 and terminating in discharge openings 78 in the `outer surface of the portion `8,1.

In operation of the devices described above, the device is supported in 4a metallurgical furnace such as an open 4hearth furnace for refining Vsteel by suitable supporting structure cooperating with the outer end portion 26 of the -hollow outer member ,12 preferably inwardly of the coolant outlet connection 29 and outwardly of the connection between the portions 26 and Z7. Preferably, `the supporting structure is designed to provide inward and outward movement :of the device as well as universal Imovement about `its longitudinal axis. A source of suitable coolant such as water is connected to the coolant inlet connection 2S and a coolant discharge conduit `is connected tothe coolant outlet connection v2.9). Also, a source of luid such as oxygen is connected to the fluid inlet connection 36. The oxygen flows into the passageway V11 and discharges into the furnace through the nozzles `45, 46, `47, 48, 49, and 50 providing a large area of impingement onto the furnace charge. At the same time, cooling fluid flows into the chamber 40 and then through the passageways of the members Ztl, 21, v2,2, 23, 24, and 25, and discharges therefrom into Vthe region of .the discharge end of the device including the nozzles and the domed closure 32 as described above. .Coolant flows-outwardly from the region .of the domed Aend tothe coolant outlet connection 29 through the chamber 13 in heat exchange relationship with the inner surface of the hollow outer member 12 throughout the length of its inner end portion 27 and also in heat exchange relationship with the elongated hollow members. Coolant in owing from the discharge end of the elongated hollow members into the chamber 13 traverses each of the fluid nozzle structures and is in heat interchange with portions of the domed closure 32 adjacent the discharge openings of the nozzle structures.

The feature of the present invention of providing a plurality of elongated hollow members .14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 for conducting coolant to the discharge end of the device positioned in the chamber comprising the space between the hollow inner member l and the hollow outer member 12 makes it possible to easily provide any desired relationship between the cross-sectional area of the passageways for the incoming coolant and the outgoing coolant without consideration of the total cross-sectional area of the oxygen supplying passageway. It will be appreciated this feature of the invention makes it possible to design the oxygen ow passageway, that is, the passageways 11 of the hollow inner member l0, by only considering oxygen flow requirements, and to design the passageways of the elongated hollow members by considering only coolant inlet flow requirements. The required crosssectional area of the coolant outlet passage is established by selecting the proper internal diameter of the member 12 when considering the area of the inner member 10 and the total area of the elongated hollow members. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, desired relative cross-sectional areas of the coolant inlet passageway, and the coolant outlet passageway, such as equal or proportional relationships, may be readily obtained.

In addition to the feature of establishing inlet coolant r'low and the outlet coolant flow relationships as described above, the means provided by the present invention for terminating the discharge ends of the coolant inlet members 14, 1'5, 16, 17, 18, and i9 of the device shown in FEGURES l through 3 and for terminating the discharge ends of the coolant inlet members 69 of the device shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, that is having a plurality of coolant inlet members extend into the nozzle chamber and discharge centrally and having a plurality of coolant inlet members discharging outwardly, improves the cooling of the device in the region subject to high temperatures and overcomes cooling problems ordinarily present in multinozzle fluid transfer devices.

Fluid transfer devices used in high temperature reaction zones are subject to damage due to the high temperatures involved, the temperature of the available coolant, the quantity of coolant available, or for other reasons. It therefore becomes necessary to repair or replace components of the device particularly components subjected to high temperatures. The fluid transfer device provided by the present invention is adapted for disassembly and replacement of component parts. In particular, should any portion of the discharge end of the device become damaged due to excessive temperatures, the inner end portion 27 of the hollow outer member 12, the hollow inner member i0 and the elongated hollow members 14, l5, i6, 17, l and 1% may be removed as a unitary structure by breaking the seal between the inner and outer end portions of the hollow outer member, the seal 39 between the hollow inner member l0 and the end portion 26, and the seal 38 in the region of the ends 27 of the elongated hollow members. These components of the device may be easilyreplaced and the damaged components may be repaired for future use.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel fluid transfer device adapted for introducing a fluid into a `high temperature reaction zone such as a metallurgical furnace. Highly efficient cooling of the device is obtained by providing optimum relationship between the inward and outward flow of cooling fluid and by directing the incoming cooling fluid onto portions of the device which are subject tothe highest temperatures, including the discharge nozzles, while at the same time providing a device which is of small cross-sectional area as compared to the devices provided by the prior art and which results in a substantial reduction of coolant demands. For example, fluid transfer devices have been constructed and successfully operated in accordance with the present invention in which the outside diameter of the device has been substantially reduced and in which the coolant requirements have been reduced from 6000 gallons per hour required by the prior art to 400G-2500 gallons per hour. The latter feature also results in a material reduction in heat los;es from the furnace which may be of the order of 'about 1,500,000 Btu. for each fluid transfer device.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as well understood by those skilled in the art. Reference therefore will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Device for introducing fluid into a combustion zone of a metallurgical furnace comprising an elongated hollow outer member and an elongated hollow inner member located within the hollow outer member,

the ho'low outer member and the hollow inner member being in overlapping relationship and the outer surface of the inner member being spaced from the inner surface of the hollow outer member to define a first zone extending throughout the portions of the members in overlapping relationship,

the hollow outer member and the hollow inner member having terminating ends adjacent one end of the first zone,

a plurality of spaced elongated hollow members located within the first zone and extending longitudinally of the device substantially throughout the portions of the hollow inner member and the hollow outer member in overlapping relationship,

a closure joined to the hollow outer member and extending outwardly a substantial distance from the terminating end of the hollow outer member forming a second zone in communication with the elongated hollow members and the first zone,

sealing means joined to the terminating end of the hollow inner member to Seal the hollow inner member from the second zone and the elongated hollow members, and

a plurality of nozzle members joined to the terminating end of the hollow inner member and extending outwardly from the hollow inner member through the second zone and the closure and being joined to the closure,

the nozzle members diverging from the longitdinal axis of the hollow inner member and terminating in openings in the closure spaced from the longitudinal axis and located about a central portion of the closure,

each of the pluralities of spaced elongated hollow members including an extension projecting into the second zone between nozzle members and terminating adjacent the central portion of the closure.

2. Device for introducing iiuid into a combustion zone of a metallurgical furnace comprising a hollow outer member and a hollow inner member, the hollow outer member and the hollow inner member being in overlapping relationship with the outer surface of the hollow inner member being spaced from the inner surface of the hollow outer member to define a first zone extending throughout the overlapping region of the hollow inner member and the hollow outer member,

the hollow outer member and the hollow inner member having terminating ends adjacent one end of the irst zone,

a plurality of spaced elongated hollow members located within the first zone and extending longitudinally of the device substantially throughout the overlapping region of the hollow inner member and the hollow outer member,

a closure joined to the terminating end of the hollow outer member at one end of the device and extending outwardly a substantial distance from the terminating end of the hollow outer member forming a second zone in communication with the elongated hollow members in the first zone,

a plurality of nozzle members joined to the terminating end of the hollow inner member and extending outwardly from the hollow inner member through the second zone and the closure and being joined to the closure, and

extensions on alternate elongated members projecting into the second zone between the nozzle members to define openings facing inwardly within the second zone and the remaining elongated hollow members including ends terminating in a plane to define openings facing outwardly toward a junction between the hollow outer member and the closure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS