PGM converting process and jacketed rotary converter. The process can include low- or no-flux converting; partial pre-oxidation of PGM collector alloy; using a refractory protectant in the converter; magnetic separation of slag; recycling part of the slag to the converter; smelting catalyst material in a primary furnace to produce the collector alloy; and/or smelting the converter slag in a secondary furnace with slag from the primary furnace. The converter can include an inclined converter pot mounted for rotation; a refractory lining; an opening in a top of the pot to introduce converter feed; a lance for injecting oxygen-containing gas into the alloy pool; a heat transfer jacket adjacent the refractory lining; and a coolant system to circulate a heat transfer medium through the jacket to remove heat from the alloy pool in thermal communication with the refractory lining.

A method and system for predicting slopping in a converter occurring during decarburization refining in the converter in which molten steel is produced from a molten pig iron by blowing oxidizing gas to the molten pig iron in the converter from a top blowing lance, or optionally further blowing oxidizing gas or inert gas from a bottom blowing tuyere to perform the decarburization refining of the molten pig iron. The method includes measuring an emission spectrum of a throat combustion flame blowing out from a throat of the converter, calculating emission intensity of the measured emission spectrum at a wavelength in a range of 580 to 620 nm, and predicting the occurrence of the slopping based on a time-series change of the calculated emission intensity.

The present invention concerns a lance composed of a top lance (1t) and of a sublance (2) coupled to the top lance (1t), which forms a shoulder (1s) between the top lance and the sublance. The sublance (2) of the present invention is provided with a protective device (3) comprising a coupling end (2c) opening to the cavity (2v), wherein, when at rest, the protective device (3) is in an initial configuration characterized by an outer maximum diameter (D3o) which is not more than 10% larger than the diameter (D2) of sublance (2) (D3o≤1.1 D2), when the sublance (2) is coupled to the lance the protective device (3) contacts the shoulder (1s) and is deformed into a deformed configuration, forming a surface impervious to molten metal and slag, which spans over a whole area of the shoulder (1s).

A top-blowing lance nozzle is configured to freely switch an adequate expansion condition so as to control an oxygen-blowing amount and a jetting velocity independently of each other without requiring a plurality of lance nozzles or a mechanically movable part. A lance nozzle is configured to blow refining oxygen to molten iron charged in a reaction vessel while a gas is blown from a top-blowing lance to the molten iron. One or more blowing holes for blowing a working gas are on an inner wall side surface of the nozzle, at a site where the lance nozzle has a minimum cross-sectional area in a nozzle axis direction or at a neighboring site of the site.

A converter blowing control method includes: calculating, by heat balance calculation and material balance calculation, an amount of oxygen to be supplied and an amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material to be charged for controlling a temperature and a component concentration of molten steel at end of blowing in a converter to target values; and controlling the blowing in the converter based on the calculated amount of oxygen to be supplied and the calculated amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material to be charged. A temperature of molten iron is used as a raw material for blowing, which is a target of the heat balance calculation, is used as a charged molten iron temperature used in the heat balance calculation, the temperature of molten iron being measured during a period when the molten iron is charged into the converter.

A thermal lance for unplugging a vessel discharge port. The thermal lance including an elongated cylindrical hollow tube made from a combustible material, the tube having an axial length with first and second ends. The tube having a cylindrical sidewall defined by an outer wall having an outer diameter and an inner wall having an inner diameter, with a wall thickness between the outer and inner walls. The tube having a longitudinal axis. At least one projection is formed integrally on the first end and has a length extending away from the first end in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal axis. A telescoping thermal lance assembly is also disclosing that includes a housing and an extension tube within which the lance is located.

The invention relates to the subject area of metallurgical systems, in particular a metallurgical vessel which is fixed on a support ring. The object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical vessel having a support ring and a method for fixing and releasing, which prevents constraint forces. The tiltable metallurgical vessel having a round cross-section is at least partially surrounded by a support ring. The support ring is at a distance from the metallurgical vessel in the radial direction. The metallurgical vessel has at least three brackets, each having a respective pin. The support ring has at least three receiving openings which receive the pins. These receiving openings permit a shifting of the pin in the radial direction. The pins are secured against falling out of the receiving opening and the bracket by at least three locking devices floatingly mounted and arranged inside the support ring.

The present disclosure provides a converter CO.sub.2—O.sub.2 mixed injection smelting method and a fire point area temperature dynamic control method. The method realizes online monitoring through an infrared temperature sensor installed inside an oxygen lance, dynamically adjusts the mixing ratio of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 and the height of the oxygen lance position according to the fire point area temperature changes and process requirements in different smelting stages, so that the secondary smelting system interlockingly and dynamically controls the fire point area temperature and the molten pool heating rate.

A method of removing a blockage in a solids injection lance under normal operating conditions of a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. The direct smelting vessel contains a bath of molten metal and slag and the solids injection lance extends into the direct smelting vessel and has an outlet end that is submerged in the molten slag. The solids injection lance further has a single inlet coupled to a section of supply line that conveys gas and solid feed material to the solids injection lance. The method comprises (a) advancing a blockage-removing tool through the supply line section and through the solids injection lance to an upstream side of the blockage, (b) operating the tool under elevated gas pressure conditions to remove the blockage such that solid feed material and gas are able to flow through the solids injection lance. The method further comprises (c) retracting the tool from the solids injection lance and the supply line section. Also disclosed is an apparatus for removing a blockage in a solids injection lance extending into a direct smelting vessel.

A converter includes a container and a supporting ring. A suspension device for the converter has a central structure fixed to the container. A first lateral structure is arranged at a first side of the central structure and fixed to a surface of the supporting ring. A second lateral structure is oppositely arranged. First and second sliding blocks are respectively connected with the first and second lateral structure. A first contact body is connected with the central structure by a first threaded bolt which engages a threaded hole in the central structure and a threaded hole in the first contact body. A second contact body is connected with the central structure by a second threaded bolt which engages a threaded hole in the central structure and a threaded hole in the second contact body. A distance element is arranged between the central structure and the first and/or second contact body.