Gas Injection Lance With Internal Water Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas injection lances for high-temperature metallurgical vessels face challenges in withstanding extreme temperatures and efficiently cooling the components, particularly the external walls and delivery end, which can lead to reduced operational efficiency and risk of damage.

Innovation Solution

A gas injection apparatus with an elongate central structure and swirl imparting vanes, featuring internal water cooling passages to cool both the central structure and vanes, ensuring effective heat management and robustness against high temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lance is designed to withstand extremely high temperatures without internal cooling, then the structure can be simpler, but the external walls and delivery end will suffer heat-related damage and reduced operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent integrity in high temperature environmentVSAvoidcooling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Cooling water is introduced as an intermediary substance to transfer heat away from the lance components. The water flows through internal passages in the central structure and vanes, absorbing thermal energy and preventing direct heat accumulation in the metal components, thus maintaining structural integrity without requiring complex active cooling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs hydraulic cooling by circulating water through the lance structure. The cooling water flows through channels in the central structure and vanes, utilizing fluid dynamics to efficiently remove heat from critical components. This hydraulic approach provides reliable cooling with relatively simple system architecture compared to thermal or phase-change cooling methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If the lance delivers hot air blast with swirling motion to promote post combustion, then the combustion efficiency improves, but the vanes and central structure experience increased thermal stress and require sophisticated cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepost combustion efficiencyVSAvoidthermal load on vanes and central structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into separate cooling passages for different components: one set of passages in the central structure and another set in the vanes. This segmentation allows independent cooling of each component, optimizing heat removal from the vanes that experience the highest thermal stress during swirling hot air delivery, while maintaining the necessary thermal energy for effective post combustion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the lance receive different cooling intensities based on their thermal exposure. The vanes, which are most exposed to high-temperature swirling flows, receive targeted cooling through dedicated passages. The central structure receives cooling proportional to its thermal load. This localized cooling approach maintains combustion efficiency while preventing overheating in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus enables reliable operation in extremely high-temperature environments by maintaining component integrity and preventing heat-related damage, ensuring efficient gas injection and thermal energy transfer in metallurgical processes.

Implementation Method 1

first cooling water flow passage means located within the forward end of the central structure for flow of cooling water to internally water cool outer surfaces of the forward end of the central structure; second cooling water flow passage means located within the vanes for flow of cooling water to internally water cool the vanes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInternal water cooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct to impart swirl to a gas flow through the forward end of the duct

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwirling flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

transferring the heat generated by the post-combustion to the bath to contribute to the thermal energy required to smelt the metalliferous feed materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS8936749B2Apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 SHANDONG MOLONG PETROLEUM MACHINERY CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for injecting gas into a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a gas flow duct from which to discharge gas from the duct, an elongate central structure extending within the gas flow duct from its rear end to its forward end, and a plurality of flow directing vanes disposed about the central structure adjacent the forward end of the duct. The forward end of the central structure and the vanes are water cooled by separate supply passages.