Multi-purpose, multi-oxy-fuel, power burner/injector/oxygen lance device

Abstract

A multi-purpose, multi-oxy-fuel High Temperature Power Burner/Injector/Oxygen Lance, Mechanical System Apparatus Device, for steelmaking from recycled scrap and/or virgin ferrous charge, which can be employed in multi-oxy-fuel (natural gas; pulverized carbonaceous matter; heavy oil), especially by Oxygen Combusted mixture of Natural Gas/Pulverized Carbonaceous Matter in High Temperature Power Burner Mode, for efficient and rapid melting of solid ferrous charge (cold or preheated) in a special steelmaking Metallurgical Furnace or Open Hearth Furnace, Tandem Furnace, BOF, EAF, as its augmenting or only source of thermal energy; more than one Device in Oxygen-Natural Gas/Pulverized Carbonaceous Matter Power Burner Mode, can be employed as the only source of thermal energy in a modified, originally Electric Arc Furnace, as total replacement of Graphite Electrodes and Electric Arc System, the replacement being noticeably more primary energy efficient than the thermal energy provided by Graphite Electrode/Arc System; it also can be employed in an Solid Particles Injector Mode, for injecting of adequately granulated carbonaceous materials or lime into the molten steel for its carburizing or for foamy slag control; further it can be employed in a natural gas shrouded, pulsating oxygen stream, for vertically to the charge oriented soft blow supersonic Oxygen Injection Lance Mode, for decarburization of the molten metal contained in the hearth of the metallurgical furnace and foamy slag control; in one of the embodiments-generally arcuate-pivotally mounted, liquid media cooled composite body, is pivoted into and out of a furnace vessel through a small opening in the shell wall for auto-regulated constant optimal positioning of the Composite Body Tip against solid or molten charge, in each and all multi-purpose modes; furthermore, when inserted into the furnace vessel, the arcuate composite body can be rotated about its longitudinal axis for directing the oxy-fuel high temperature flame towards unmolten charge in the furnace; in an other-generally linear-embodiment, the liquid cooled composite body is attached to the mast type carrier allowing vertical movement of the composite body which enters the furnace vessel through a small opening in the furnace roof; the bimetallic, liquid cooled special tip assembly of both-arcuate and linear embodiments-of the composite body includes easy replaceable, independent, multi-opening nozzles, mounted in a protective, retracted position inside of the liquid cooled special tip assembly.

Description

[0001] I. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention relates to a multi-purpose, multi-oxy-fuel (natural gas; pulverized carbonaceous matter--hereinafter "coal"; heavy oil) High Temperature Power Burner / solid materials (coal; lime) Injector / supersonic Oxygen Lance shrouded with combustible gas umbrella, with versatile positioning ability Device, for metallurgical furnaces making steel from solid recycled and / or virgin ferrous charge, for delivering into the interior of a metallurgical furnace high temperature thermal energy for efficient and rapid melting of solid recycled or virgin ferrous charge, when in oxy-fuel burner mode and when burning mixture of natural gas / pulverized coal with gaseous oxygen; furthermore, and in particular more than one Device, in multi-oxy-fuel, when burning mixture Natural Gas / Pulverized Coal in High Temperature Burner mode, can be employed for providing modified Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) with thermal energy as its singular and only source and acting a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0087] Capability to eliminate need for stationary auxiliary ox-fuel burners, which have become a standardized addition to Electric Arc Furnaces, in some cases reaching equal power input as from electric arcs, because although less in numbers and smaller in size, the multi-ox-fuel High Temperature Power Burners of the Device provide all necessary power input;

0088] Capability to eliminate complicated manipulators for all non-cooled and water cooled pipes and lances required by the former Electric Arc Furnace and replace them with simple, rugged and reliable repositioning mechanism of linear and arcuate bodies of the Devices;

0089] Capability to i...

Problems solved by technology

Be that as it may, Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking process is an pyrometallurgical process, which with sizeable air infiltration generates complex and harmful emissions through its inherited operating combustion characteristics.

Furthermore, Electric Arc Furnaces using only electric arc as the only source of thermal energy, are with respect to the utilization of the primary energy, very inefficient.

Current state of the art of the convential Electric Arc Furnace apparatus and operating practices generate substantial emissions in the form of dust and hot fumes.

Carbon monoxide CO, resulting from incomplete oxidation of carbon is a poisonous gas.

It is also believed, it supports depletion of ozone layer around our planet, causing increased occurrence of skin carcinoma.

However, compliance with such demands would result in large investment costs with consequent increase of the cost of produced steel.

Currently, the conflict between ideals of environmentalists and industry in developed countries is growing rapidly.

Furthermore, air pollution originating by the virtue from metallurgical processes of iron and steelmaking, and increased by energy inefficient processes may have very grave consequences which at present are even hard to foretell.

Distress signals have already appeared of dangers that await mankind if urgent measures are not taken to protect the environment against pollution and energy inefficient processes.

Waste smokes and gases formed by industrial processes have become a problem of vital importance;

overall prime energy inefficiency of currently operated processes and systems.

Energy cost crisis which began not so long ago in North America is making existing situation even worse, threatening to spread world wide.

When considering energy utilization efficiency, noticeably aggravating is the fact, that more than 50% of the currently operating ferro-metallurgical industrial processes, consuming massive quantities of electric energy--of which at least a half is generated by burning large quantities of fossil fuel--are extremely inefficient in relation to the primary energy.

In that respect, conventional Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking from cold scrap is exceptionally inefficient: Cumulative thermal efficiency of the thermal energy produced in an Electric Arc Furnace represents only 16-18% of the 100% of primary energy contained in the fossil fuel, burned in the steam producing boiler to propel the turbine and electricity generating electric alternator.

This is already done, regretfully it is not yet exploited to its full potential.

Electric energy used for creating high heat source of thermal energy via electric arc is not the best or only form or type of energy to be used for melting recycled steel scrap and producing new steel.

Electric energy used via electric arc for creating high temperature heat source for melting in Electric Arc Furnace is extremely inefficient with respect to the primary energy; this is valid especially when electricity is generated via burning of the coal in the boiler...

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