Modular cartridge for oxygen lance

Description

1 / 11 Modularized cartridge for oxygen lance. Field of application (001) The present invention relates to a modularized oxygen lance cartridge

[500] , composed of: nozzle module

[501] , conical tube modules

[502] and / or parallel copper modules

[503] , and afterburner modules

[505] ,

[506] . The nozzle module

[501] may contain oxygen nozzles distributed symmetrically or asymmetrically at angles ranging from 0 to 90° with the vertical and in its most elaborate form be a mobile and rotating device propelled by oxidizing or inert gas at high pressures without face cooling with a cooling liquid, generally water. The oxidizing or inert gas is responsible for cooling the nozzle at the lower end of the lance exposed to the liquid metal and slag mixture and gases at high temperatures for long periods of time, between 10 and 35 minutes.Finally, the post-combustion modules

[505] ,

[506] are nozzles with inert or oxidizing gas blast velocities ranging from sonic to supersonic in varying and random quantities around the diameter of the cartridge

[500] . In a module, the nozzles may have varying dimensions and / or may not have sector-defining nozzles. The present invention can be applied to any vertical lance

[118] of primary

[100] and secondary metal refining reactors. State of the art (002) Currently, 60% of steel production is through the integrated production route, which, in simplified terms, consists of producing steel from iron ore. This route requires a stage called Primary Refining, which basically consists of oxidizing elements in the liquid bath, the main ones being: carbon, silicon, manganese, sulfur, and phosphorus. For these reactions to occur, it is necessary to inject oxygen, the oxidant, into the liquid bath. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 9 / 25 2 / 11 (003) Oxygen injection is traditionally carried out using a cooled lance

[118] with a length compatible with the height of the primary refining reactor and at its end, at the tip, it has a nozzle

[501] for the purpose of distributing the oxidant in the diameter of the primary refining reactor

[100] . (004) The height of the lance

[118] in relation to the liquid bath determines the depth that this injection will reach within the bath. The oxidation reaction forms two products, CO [carbon monoxide] and CO2 [carbon dioxide] with contents varying between 55 to 70% CO and 45 to 30% CO2. The intense generation of CO within the metal-slag emulsion causes the slag to “foam” and the formation of the metal-gas-slag emulsion. (005) These parameters determine the reaction rates over a refining period, a batch in general, called a run. After several runs it is necessary to replace the lance nozzle due to natural wear from use or extreme situations in which it is damaged causing operational process outages, excessive oxidation of the bath, or when a hole occurs with water leaking into the reactor, which can cause serious explosions. (006) Considering the primary refining reactor

[100] over successive runs, it is common for incandescent material composed of metallic bath and slag, a product of refining plus additions of basic materials, to accumulate in the upper parts of the reactor as well as in the body of the lance.These solidified accumulations are called slag

[105] and frequently need to be removed as they impact an important stage of the process which is the charging of liquid metal bath with high levels of the aforementioned elements, called pig iron and solid scrap. (007) Scrap from internal generations and / or purchased on the market has Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 10 / 25 3 / 11 plays an important role, as its lower commercial value compared to pig iron represents a competitive advantage for furnaces, in addition to replacing the metallic charge, which represents an increase in productivity due to the lower use of liquid pig iron per run. Currently, solid scrap metal fed into furnaces has become even more relevant, because in the face of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, replacing the carbon-rich metal bath, pig iron, with scrap metal predominantly composed of iron promotes a significant reduction in carbon emissions. However, this substitution requires an adjustment of energy balances, either by adding energy-rich elements such as silicon- or aluminum-based alloys, or through post-combustion mechanisms. The latter basically consists of a second reaction of oxygen with the gaseous product, carbon monoxide, from the first reaction of oxygen with the carbon in the pig iron. (008) Although secondary steel refining reactors subject their lances and nozzles to less aggressive conditions than primary refining reactors, they require the same frequency of lance component replacement. (009) The cartridge concept

[500] , an extension of the copper nozzle but with a conical shape and an internal geometry specially developed to increase heat extraction, has already been registered through patent letters PI 0601011-3, BR 102012016961-4, CN 104508152 B, DE 11 2013 003 496 B4, US 9,732,393 B2, IPI 408738 commercially known as “SLAGLESS” (trademark registration 909628378). These solutions bring a specific application linked to the cartridge concept, until now, an equipment composed of only one part. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 11 / 25 4 / 11 (010) In the primary refining of steels, the blowing process forms a mixture of metal

[301] , slag

[303] and gases

[305] called an emulsion, which occupies a large volume of the primary refining reactor

[100] . Above the furnace, there is a dust extraction duct

[208] to capture the gases

[305] and fumes generated in the refining process with an opening, or “dome”

[209] for the passage of the lance

[118] into the furnace to start the refining process of the liquid metal. To start the refining, the lance

[118] is positioned at a distance above the molten metal bath called “DBL - bath-lance distance”

[401] in relation to the height of the static bath

[400] . During refining, the scrap

[302] is gradually melted, becoming incorporated into the molten metal bath

[301] . Oxygen

[300] reacts with the metallic bath

[301] initiating the formation of slag

[303] and the generation of gases

[305] , forming an emulsion region

[402] . The lance

[118] becomes immersed in the emulsion

[402] , causing its adhesion or the formation of lance crust

[105] .The same occurs in the furnace cone region

[206] and furnace mouth

[207] with the formation of mouth scale

[105] , caused both by the emulsion

[402] and by the projection of slag

[303] and metal

[301] , in the form of splashes or spreads. In the prior art, successive layers of lance scale

[105] adhere to the lance

[118] which compromise its passage through the lance dome

[209] , making it necessary to interrupt production for cleaning and in many cases replacement with a clean lance

[118] . Also in the prior art, the same phenomenon occurs in the furnace cone

[206] and mouth

[207] region, making it necessary to stop production activities for cleaning the region, allowing for easier loading of scrap

[302] and the metal bath

[301] . (011) Still in the state of the art, it is possible to identify initiatives to rotate the lance during blowing operations as described in patents CN106929629A, JP2015227477A, ​​WO2014149645A1, US20070213637A1, Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 12 / 25 5 / 11 US20040243165A1, US4695042. In some of them, the warping of the lance body is cited as an operational problem. The most modern solution found in the state of the art is presented in document US5227118, which describes a fixed lance, but a nozzle that rotates due to the action of a servo motor. The technical and / or economic advantages of the invention in relation to the state of the art are: ✓ To standardize the decarburization basin; ✓ Prevent wear on the nozzles due to post-combustion at the nozzle center and nozzle outlet diameter; ✓ Increase control over the emulsion during blowing; ✓ Increase the use of scrap metal; ✓ Reduce mixing time by reducing dead zones in the converter; ✓ Increase the protection of the refractory material. Objectives of the invention (012) The main objective of the present invention is to provide a modular cartridge with replaceable parts in place of primary and secondary refining reactors. (013) Secondary objectives follow from this invention. The most obvious is a diversity of configurations of nozzles, tubes and afterburner modules. (014) Nozzles can range from single-nozzle to multi-nozzle, depending on the limitations imposed by face cooling, with angles ranging from 0 to 90° relative to the vertical. Nozzles can have symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution in relation to the dimensional diameters of the throat and outlet. Finally, the nozzle in its most sophisticated form is rotary without face cooling, with protection from the high temperatures of the reactors provided by the rotation itself, the positioning of the jets, and the "jacketing" inside the cartridge body. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 13 / 25 6 / 11 (015) The modules in this invention can be of varying numbers, no longer limited to 01 as in the current state of the art. (016) The small supersonic nozzles may have equal or specific dimensions for each segment along the diameter of the primary or secondary refining reactor and also with angles ranging from 45 to 135° with the vertical; (017) Finally, copper tubes can be conical or parallel, depending mainly on their distance from the bath. Internally, both have a finning system that optimizes heat extraction from the copper walls to the cooling water, the main cooling liquid. Summary of the invention (018) Modularized oxygen lance cartridge

[500] composed of modules for easy replacement in the environment of primary and secondary reactors. The modules consist of a nozzle, cartridge body and post-combustion module. In addition to the ease of replacing parts, they allow a wide combination of parameters involving the dimensions and quantity of nozzles, their distribution and combination of different dimensions, different heights and also the possibility of the nozzle being rotatable and cooled by the exhaust gases. Description of the drawings (019) To better understand the components and technical characteristics of the present invention, the attached figures are presented in which: - Figure 1: Figure 1 shows a lance

[118] , of the state of the art, composed of the copper nozzle

[501] which has at its end the oxygen outlets through a varied number of nozzles and angles with the vertical, main oxygen tube

[112] , intermediate tube

[111] , outer tube

[110] , generally all made of steel; the lance

[118] has a refrigerant fluid inlet; Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 14 / 25 7 / 11 - Figure 2: Figure 2 shows a cartridge

[500] with its exploded side view where we can see the modules that make it up: where we have the position of the tubes: outer

[110] , intermediate

[111] and main

[112] , the horizontal fins

[504] , second post-combustion module

[506] and second conical or parallel tube module

[503] , first post-combustion module

[505] and first conical or parallel tube module

[502] and the nozzle module

[501] ; - Figure 3: Figure 3 shows an image with the second stagnant reservoir

[508] before entering the supersonic nozzle, thus acting as a volume and pressure accumulator to ensure the correct supersonic properties of the gas, this reservoir

[508] is fed through multiple feeders

[507] around the diameter of the module. - Figure 4: Figure 4 shows the secondary nozzles [113, 116], where, inside, there is the possibility of injecting fuel gas, thus this lance, which for years had the objective of being an injector lance, also takes on the function of a burner lance. In this figure, the horizontal fins

[504] , feeders

[507] , thermocouple

[511] , afterburner modules [505, 506] and nozzle module

[501] can be observed. Detailed description of the invention (020) The present invention proposes a new constructive form of the cartridge

[500] which is composed of modules with specific functions within the primary and secondary metal refining process. The technical difference of the present invention lies in the possibility of replacing these modules in the primary and secondary refining plants where they operate, unlike the state of the art, which requires the total replacement of the cartridge. The conditions in the junctions of these modules allow coupling between new and used parts without detriment to Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 15 / 25 8 / 11 operational performance even though the outer sealing layer is made by traditional welding. The modules allow the introduction of new functionalities to the cartridge such as the introduction of a temperature sensor in the copper mass, the introduction of fuel gas and thus the burner function, and asymmetrical and rotating nozzle configurations. These invention aspects will be presented in the constitution of each module. (021) In the state of the art, the lance

[118] is connected to the cartridge

[500] . After use in batches, such as in the primary refining reactor of BOF steels

[100] , called runs, it is necessary to remove the entire cartridge

[500] . (022) The present invention introduced a system of horizontal fins

[504] . These fins have the function of ensuring the connection between the modules that make up the cartridge

[500] . The horizontal fins

[504] will ensure between the modules: a] correct fitting position, b] correct depth of displacement of one module in relation to the other, to allow for proper welding in the external closure for safety, tightness and finishing of the joint between modules. In this way, the nozzle module

[501] can be connected to the first conical module

[502] which already contains the first post-combustion module

[505] as well as the second conical or parallel tube module

[503] which can already be fixed to the second post-combustion module

[506] which will connect to the traditional lance body

[118] . However, the modules: nozzle

[501] , conical tube

[502] and / or parallel

[503] and post-combustion

[505] and

[506] can be mounted individually. (023) Post-combustion modules in the prior art fed directly from the main oxygen inner tube

[112] in the present invention have a dedicated stagnant reservoir

[508] . This reservoir is supplied by a series of feeders

[507] . The feeders

[507] are distributed along the Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 16 / 25 9 / 11 afterburner module reservoir

[508] which has the following functions: a] optimize the area under high pressure for supplies to the afterburner nozzles

[509] , b] simultaneously minimize restrictions on the entry and exit of coolant, water, from the entire lance

[118] and cartridge

[500] assembly, c] reduce the dimensions of the afterburner modules

[505] ,

[506] , d] make the intermediate tube segments

[111] with horizontal fins

[504] , inner tube

[112] and outer tube

[110] , feeders

[507] , stagnant reservoir, afterburner nozzles

[508] and afterburner nozzles

[509] an independent module from the others; (024) The small supersonic afterburner nozzles

[509] can be evenly distributed along the diameter of the modules

[505] and

[506] , their critical diameter

[512] and outlet

[513] dimensions can be equal or varied, being specific to each segment along the diameter of the primary or secondary refining reactor

[100] . The afterburner nozzles

[509] can be adjusted with angles ranging from 45 to 135° relative to the vertical. (025) The nozzle module

[501] can be from 01 nozzle to multiple nozzles, the determination of the number of nozzles will depend on the limitations imposed by the cooling of the face, and can be classified as main nozzles

[107] with angles ranging from 7 to 45° in relation to the vertical, central secondary nozzles

[113] with an angle of 0° in relation to the vertical, or lateral secondary nozzles

[116] with angles ranging from 10 to 90° in relation to the vertical. The main nozzles

[107] can have symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution in relation to the dimensional of the critical diameters

[505] and the outlet

[506] . (026) Finally, the nozzle in its most daring form, rotating without cooling on the face, with protection from the high temperatures of the reactors provided by the rotation itself, the positioning of the jets and the “jacket” inside the cartridge body. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 17 / 25 10 / 11 (027) The secondary side nozzles

[116] are converted into burner function by introducing combustible gases. For this function, a fuel gas feeder tube

[507] is introduced along the diameter of the lance body

[118] and cartridge

[500] with the appropriate segments per module. The horizontal fins

[504] assume the function, in this case, of ensuring the alignment and fitting of the segments of the fuel gas feeder tubes

[507] in each specific region of the lance, between the inner tube

[112] and the intermediate tube

[111] . Each fuel gas feeder tube

[507] will fill a fuel gas chamber

[508] , the maximum number being equal to the number of outlets of the secondary side nozzles

[116] .From the fuel gas chamber

[508] , which has the function of accumulating and pressurizing, the fuel gas is discharged through the fuel gas outlet channels

[509] to the fuel gas outlet

[510] , where it will mix with the oxidizing gas jet, oxygen, in ratios calculated to be close to stoichiometric, and upon contact with the high temperature inside the reactor

[100] , ignition and combustion of these gases will occur. The combustion results in an increase in the temperature of the product gases, generally carbon monoxide and dioxide, as well as water vapor. These hot gases will be responsible for transmitting this thermal input via radiant and convective heat to both the solid or liquid metallic charge and the emulsion, a mixture of metallic bath, slag and gases. (028) In order to monitor and thus increase the longevity of the equipment in the face of the aggressive conditions to which the cartridge

[500] is subjected during primary and secondary metal refining operations, a thermocouple

[511] was introduced into the middle of the copper mass of the nozzle module face

[501] at a certain thickness of its outer face. Thus the transfer coefficient of Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 18 / 25 11 / 11 Heat from copper makes it possible to calculate the ambient temperature of the reactor that reaches the outer face, and if it reaches extreme limits, it is possible to determine preventive actions such as: raising the height of the lance in relation to the liquid bath, reducing the flow of oxidizing gases, and even halting the refining process. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 19 / 25

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. MODULARIZED CARTRIDGE FOR OXYGEN LANCE, characterized by being composed of nozzle modules [501], conical tube modules [502] and / or parallel copper modules [503], and afterburner modules [505], [506].

2. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized by having a system of horizontal fins [504], the fins ensuring the connection between the modules that make up the cartridge [500], and these horizontal fins [504] will ensure between the modules: a] correct fitting position, b] correct depth of displacement of one module in relation to the other, to allow for proper welding on the external closure for safety, tightness and finishing of the joint between modules.

3. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle module [501] can be connected to the first conical module [502] which already contains the first afterburner module [505] fixed, as well as the second conical or parallel tube module [503] can already be fixed to the second afterburner module [506] which will connect to the traditional lance body [118], wherein the modules: nozzle [501], conical tube [502] and / or parallel [503] and afterburners [505] and [506] can be mounted individually.

4. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the afterburner modules have a dedicated stagnant reservoir [508], said reservoir being supplied by a series of feeders [507], said feeders [507] being distributed along the reservoir of the afterburner module [508] which has the following functions: a) optimize the area under high pressure for supplies to the afterburner nozzles [509], b) concomitantly minimize restrictions on the entry and exit of coolant, water, of all Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page. 20 / 25 2 / 3 assembly of lance [118] and cartridge [500], c] reduce the dimensions of the post-combustion modules [505], [506] , d] make with intermediate tube segments [111] with horizontal fins [504], inner tube [112] and outer tube [110], feeders [507], stagnant reservoir post-combustion nozzles [508] and post-combustion nozzles [509] a module independent of the others.

5. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the small supersonic post-combustion nozzles [509] can be equally distributed along the diameter of the modules [505] and [506], their critical diameter [512] and outlet [513] dimensions can be equal or varied, being specific to each segment along the diameter of the primary or secondary refining reactor [100], and the post-combustion nozzles [509] can also be adjusted with angles ranging from 45 to 135° relative to the vertical.

6. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle module [501] can be from 01 nozzle to multiple nozzles, the determination of the number of nozzles will depend on the limitations imposed by the cooling of the face, and can be classified as main nozzles [107] with angles ranging from 7 to 45° in relation to the vertical, central secondary nozzles [113] with an angle of 0° in relation to the vertical, or lateral secondary nozzles [116] with angles ranging from 10 to 90° in relation to the vertical, the main nozzles [107] can have a symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution in relation to the dimensional of the critical diameters [505] and the outlet [506].

7. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary side nozzles [116] are converted into burner function by the introduction of combustible gases, wherein a combustible gas feed tube [507] is introduced along the diameter of the lance body [118] and cartridge [500] with the appropriate segmentations by module and in this situation the fins Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, p.21 / 25 3 / 3 horizontal [504] assume the function, in this case, of ensuring the alignment and fitting of the segments of the fuel gas feeder tubes [507] in each specific region of the lance, between the inner tube [112] and the intermediate tube [111], each fuel gas feeder tube [507] will fill a fuel gas chamber [508] the maximum number being equal to the number of lateral secondary nozzle outlets [116] and from the fuel gas chamber [508] which has the function of accumulating and pressurizing, the fuel gas is flowed through the fuel gas outlet channels [509] to the fuel gas outlet [510], where it will mix with the oxidizing gas jet, oxygen, in ratios calculated to be close to stoichiometric and upon contact with the high temperature inside the reactor [100], ignition and combustion of these gases will occur.

8. CARTRIDGE, according to claim 1, characterized by having a thermocouple [511] in the middle of the copper mass of the nozzle module face [501] at a certain thickness of its outer face, thus knowing the heat transfer coefficient of copper it is possible to calculate the ambient temperature of the reactor that reaches the outer face and if it reaches limits considered extreme it is possible to determine preventive actions such as: raising the height of the lance in relation to the liquid bath, reducing the flow of oxidizing gases and even stopping the refining process. Petition 870250017314, dated 05 / 03 / 2025, page 22 / 25

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