Rotatable Burner Panel with Helical Cooling for Furnace Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sump burner and injector panel apparatuses in electric arc furnaces suffer from reduced jet coherence due to their fixed position and design, leading to ineffective targeting and increased furnace downtime for adjustments, and they are often bulky and heavy due to cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable burner and injector panel apparatus with a horizontally extending flange and a main body that projects downwardly through a cylindrical aperture, allowing for adjustable orientation and improved cooling with a helically shaped cooling circuit, enabling better targeting and coherence of the flame or injection stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed position burner and injector panel apparatus is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the jet coherence is reduced and targeting effectiveness is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the burner and injector panel apparatus rotatable about a vertical axis through a cylindrical aperture in the panel. This rotational capability allows the apparatus to dynamically adjust its orientation to target different areas of the furnace, improving jet coherence and effectiveness while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The rotatable design enables the system to adapt to varying operational requirements without complex reconfiguration.
2Temperature
If a bulky cooling mechanism is added to the burner and injector panel apparatus, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the apparatus becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the spheroidality principle by incorporating a helically shaped cooling circuit within the burner and injector panel apparatus. The helical configuration maximizes the cooling surface area and improves heat dissipation efficiency within a compact volume. This curved, space-efficient design provides effective cooling while minimizing the apparatus's overall size and weight, avoiding the bulkiness associated with traditional linear cooling systems.
3Productivity
If the burner and injector panel apparatus is made adjustable for better targeting, then furnace productivity is improved, but the apparatus requires more complex mechanisms and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotatable burner and injector panel apparatus that can be adjusted to different angular positions about a vertical axis. This single rotational degree of freedom provides the necessary adjustability for targeting different furnace areas, improving productivity without requiring complex multi-axis adjustment mechanisms. The simplicity of the rotational mechanism minimizes maintenance requirements while enabling effective operational flexibility.
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 achieves more coherent and effective targeting of molten metal, reduces furnace downtime for adjustments, and provides improved cooling efficiency, enhancing the overall performance and longevity of the burner and injector systems.
Implementation Method 1
improved cooling with a helically shaped cooling circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A burner and/or injector panel apparatus includes a flange rotatable within a cylindrical aperture in a horizontal plate and securely retainable between one or more retaining clips and the plate. Extending downward from the flange is a main body with a cylindrical chamber. A burner, burner/injector, or injector is contained within the cylindrical chamber. The main body has a helical cooling circuit extending around the cylindrical chamber and burner and/or injector. The burner and/or injector panel apparatus may be installed through a furnace wall, especially an electric arc furnace, more particularly, a balcony panel of a sump area of an electric arc furnace. The burner and/or injector panel apparatus may be tilted from horizontal or rotated around its vertical axis in order to better target a target area of a molten bath of metal with a flame, jet of oxygen, or stream of carbon particles.