In the present pelletizing apparatus, the induration of iron ore concentrate pellets is achieved in a tunnel furnace heated by plasma torches, wherein the generation of CO2 by the conventional iron ore pelletizing processes is reduced by using electricity powered plasma torches instead of burning natural gas, heavy oil or pulverized coal in burners, thereby reducing considerably industrial pollution of the atmosphere.

In the present pelletizing apparatus, the induration of iron ore concentrate pellets is achieved in a tunnel furnace heated by plasma torches, wherein the generation of CO2 by the conventional iron ore pelletizing processes is reduced by using electricity powered plasma torches instead of burning natural gas, heavy oil or pulverized coal in burners, thereby reducing considerably industrial pollution of the atmosphere.

An arrangement for heating a process gas of an iron ore pelletizing plant, including a heating chamber including a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a wall extending from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, and a heating chamber port arranged in the wall at a point intermediate to the process gas inlet and the process gas outlet, a burner assembly connectible to a source of gaseous fuel and a source of oxidant gas, and a precombustion chamber. The precombustion chamber includes a burner port and a wall extending from the burner port to the heating chamber port. The burner assembly is arranged in the burner port of the precombustion chamber and, in operation, the burner assembly introduces the gaseous fuel, the oxidant gas and/or combustion products thereof into the precombustion chamber. The burner assembly includes a fuel lance, wherein a nozzle of the fuel lance includes outlet holes, and wherein at least one of the outlet holes is arranged at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the fuel lance.

The present invention provides a process and system for waste heat grading cyclic utilization and pollutant emission reduction of sintering flue gas, in which the sintering flue gas is divided into low-temperature, high-oxygen, low-humidity section sintering flue gas; middle-temperature, low-oxygen, high-humidity section sintering flue gas; and high-temperature, high-oxygen, low-humidity section sintering flue gas according to the emission characteristics of temperature, oxygen content and humidity of the flue gas. The low-temperature, high-oxygen, low-humidity section sintering flue gas is led into the sintering machine for hot air ignition and hot air sintering; the middle-temperature, low-oxygen, high-humidity section sintering flue gas is subjected to dust removal and desulfurization treatments; the high-temperature, high-oxygen, low-humidity section sintering flue gas is mixed with exhaust gas of a cooler and then is led into the sintering machine for hot air sintering. The present invention can conduct grading utilization to the flue gas and recycle low-temperature sensible heat in flue gas, making the carbon monoxide left in the sintering flue gas burn again and thus saving energy consumption in the sintering process, on the premise that the quality and yield of the sintered ores are ensured. The present invention can also conduct cyclic utilization to the flue gas and thereby reduce pollutant emissions and the total emissions of sintering flue gas per unit of the sintered ores. Thus, the present invention has a very high value on energy saving and emission reduction.

The invention relates to a method and equipment for the continuous sintering of mineral material in a sintering furnace (S). In the method, a material bed (2) is formed on a conveyor base (1), the material bed (2) is conveyed by the conveyor base (1) through the process zones (I-VII) of the sintering furnace that have different temperatures, the zones including at least one drying zone (I), at least one cooling zone (VII), and at least one other process zone (II, III, IV, V, VI) between the said drying zone and cooling zone, and gas is conducted through the conveyor base and the material bed (2), when the material bed travels through the process zones (I-VII), and gas is circulated in a circulation gas duct (3) from the last cooling zone (VII) to the drying zone (I). Part of the gas flow that is conducted to the drying zone (I) in the circulation gas duct (3) is removed as an exhaust gas flow (B) by the exhaust gas blower (5) of an exhaust gas duct (4). The volume flow of the exhaust gas flow (B) is regulated by regulating the blowing power of the blower (5) to control the temperature of the gas flow travelling through the material bed in the drying zone.

The invention relates to a method and equipment for the continuous sintering of mineral material in a sintering furnace (S). In the method, a material bed (2) is formed on a conveyor base (1), the material bed (2) is conveyed by the conveyor base (1) through the process zones (I-VII) of the sintering furnace that have different temperatures, the zones including at least one drying zone (I), at least one cooling zone (VII), and at least one other process zone (II, III, IV, V, VI) between the said drying zone and cooling zone, and gas is conducted through the conveyor base and the material bed (2), when the material bed travels through the process zones (I-VII), and gas is circulated in a circulation gas duct (3) from the last cooling zone (VII) to the drying zone (I). Part of the gas flow that is conducted to the drying zone (I) in the circulation gas duct (3) is removed as an exhaust gas flow (B) by the exhaust gas blower (5) of an exhaust gas duct (4). The volume flow of the exhaust gas flow (B) is regulated by regulating the blowing power of the blower (5) to control the temperature of the gas flow travelling through the material bed in the drying zone.

A system and method for monitoring the condition of a travelling grate machine including univocally identifying each pallet car; collecting a plurality of condition indicating parameters for the wheels, the grate bars, the car body and/or the side walls of the pellet car; attributing the collected condition indicating parameters to an individual pallet car; storing the collected condition indicating parameters for each pallet car in a database; evaluating the condition of the travelling grate machine; comparing the different condition indicating parameters collected by the different sensor means of each pallet car to reference parameters and/or to previously collected condition indicating parameters of that same pallet car; identifying the faults in each pallet car based on this comparison; classifying each pallet car according to its need of maintenance based on the severity of different identified faults; and determining the pallet car in most need of maintenance based on this classification.

A system and method for monitoring the condition of a travelling grate machine including univocally identifying each pallet car; collecting a plurality of condition indicating parameters for the wheels, the grate bars, the car body and/or the side walls of the pellet car; attributing the collected condition indicating parameters to an individual pallet car; storing the collected condition indicating parameters for each pallet car in a database; evaluating the condition of the travelling grate machine; comparing the different condition indicating parameters collected by the different sensor means of each pallet car to reference parameters and/or to previously collected condition indicating parameters of that same pallet car; identifying the faults in each pallet car based on this comparison; classifying each pallet car according to its need of maintenance based on the severity of different identified faults; and determining the pallet car in most need of maintenance based on this classification.

A sintering belt (10) comprising a chain of grate cars (12); a supporting structure configured to support and allow movement of the chain of grate cars (12); at least two longitudinal sealing elements, parallel to a direction of motion (D) of the chain of grate cars (12) along the sintering or induration belt (10); at least two transversal sealing elements (14), intersecting with the direction of motion (D) of the chain of grate cars (12) along the sintering or induration belt (10), and partially obstructing its motion; and at least one suction duct (16). The suction duct (16), the at least two longitudinal sealing elements, the at least two transversal sealing elements (14) and a bottom surface of grate cars (12) are configured to define at least one plenum chamber (PC). The suction duct (16) is further configured to generate an under or over pressure in said plenum chamber (PC). A transversal sealing element (14) comprises at least one sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15), the sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15) configured to partially obstruct the motion of the chain of grate cars (12), and the sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15) comprising an inner roll (18a) defining an inner radius and an elastically deformable outer sleeve (18b) defining an outer radius, and a transversal sealing element (14) comprises a plurality of parallel sealing rolls (18, 18.1-18.15) defining at least one roller table (20). A roller table (20) comprises at least two engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5), such that the distance between two adjacent engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5) is strictly comprised between the sum of their inner radii and the sum of their outer radii, consecutive engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5) defining a continuous surface (20) of the roller table (20).

A sintering belt (10) comprising a chain of grate cars (12); a supporting structure configured to support and allow movement of the chain of grate cars (12); at least two longitudinal sealing elements, parallel to a direction of motion (D) of the chain of grate cars (12) along the sintering or induration belt (10); at least two transversal sealing elements (14), intersecting with the direction of motion (D) of the chain of grate cars (12) along the sintering or induration belt (10), and partially obstructing its motion; and at least one suction duct (16). The suction duct (16), the at least two longitudinal sealing elements, the at least two transversal sealing elements (14) and a bottom surface of grate cars (12) are configured to define at least one plenum chamber (PC). The suction duct (16) is further configured to generate an under or over pressure in said plenum chamber (PC). A transversal sealing element (14) comprises at least one sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15), the sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15) configured to partially obstruct the motion of the chain of grate cars (12), and the sealing roll (18, 18.1-18.15) comprising an inner roll (18a) defining an inner radius and an elastically deformable outer sleeve (18b) defining an outer radius, and a transversal sealing element (14) comprises a plurality of parallel sealing rolls (18, 18.1-18.15) defining at least one roller table (20). A roller table (20) comprises at least two engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5), such that the distance between two adjacent engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5) is strictly comprised between the sum of their inner radii and the sum of their outer radii, consecutive engaging sealing rolls (18.1-18.5) defining a continuous surface (20) of the roller table (20).