A cupola furnace includes at least one tuyere opening into an interior of the cupola; and at least one oxygen stream and at least one natural gas (NG) stream in fluid communication with said at least one tuyere for providing oxygen and NG to the cupola furnace interior. A related method is also provided for heating a cupola furnace, and includes introducing at least one oxygen stream and at least one NG stream into the cupola furnace for reaction therein.

A cupola furnace includes at least one tuyere opening into an interior of the cupola; and at least one oxygen stream and at least one natural gas (NG) stream in fluid communication with said at least one tuyere for providing oxygen and NG to the cupola furnace interior. A related method is also provided for heating a cupola furnace, and includes introducing at least one oxygen stream and at least one NG stream into the cupola furnace for reaction therein.

A method for operating a shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, is disclosed wherein at least one gas is introduced into the furnace. To achieve an acceleration of the reaction processes in the furnace, shockwaves are introduced into the furnace.

A method for operating a shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, is disclosed wherein at least one gas is introduced into the furnace. To achieve an acceleration of the reaction processes in the furnace, shockwaves are introduced into the furnace.

Methods and systems for producing direct reduced iron (DRI), comprising: generating a syngas stream in a carbon dioxide (CO2) and steam reformer; and providing the syngas stream to a direct reduction (DR) shaft furnace as a reducing gas stream. The methods and systems also comprise combining the syngas stream with a recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to form the reducing gas stream. The methods and systems further comprise removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace prior to combining it with the syngas stream to form the reducing gas stream. The methods and systems still further comprise feeding CO2 removed from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to the CO2 and steam reformer. The methods and systems still further comprise feeding recycled off-gas from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to the CO2 and steam reformer.

Methods and systems for producing direct reduced iron (DRI), comprising: generating a syngas stream in a carbon dioxide (CO2) and steam reformer; and providing the syngas stream to a direct reduction (DR) shaft furnace as a reducing gas stream. The methods and systems also comprise combining the syngas stream with a recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to form the reducing gas stream. The methods and systems further comprise removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace prior to combining it with the syngas stream to form the reducing gas stream. The methods and systems still further comprise feeding CO2 removed from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to the CO2 and steam reformer. The methods and systems still further comprise feeding recycled off-gas from the recycled off-gas stream from the DR shaft furnace to the CO2 and steam reformer.

An air blast system for melting furnaces includes: a supply unit supplying hot air into a melting furnace; a bustle pipe connected to the supply unit; a tuyere stock connecting the bustle pipe to the melting furnace to supply hot air from the bustle pipe to the melting furnace in a distributed manner; and a temperature management module determining whether the tuyere stock is damaged by comparing a temperature of the tuyere stock with a preset reference temperature.

An air blast system for melting furnaces includes: a supply unit supplying hot air into a melting furnace; a bustle pipe connected to the supply unit; a tuyere stock connecting the bustle pipe to the melting furnace to supply hot air from the bustle pipe to the melting furnace in a distributed manner; and a temperature management module determining whether the tuyere stock is damaged by comparing a temperature of the tuyere stock with a preset reference temperature.

A blast furnace operation method comprising a blast furnace to start up smoothly and perform operation after suspending air blowing by removing as much as possible residual coke that remains inside the furnace during suspension of air blowing and becomes an obstacle to discharging solidified matter. In this blast furnace operation method, air blowing is suspended with the height of a surface of a raw material-filled layer immediately above a blast-furnace tuyere reduced below the height of an upper end of a blast-furnace bosh and then air blowing is resumed. After air blowing into the blast furnace is suspended, oxygen or oxygen and a combustible gas are blown in through a burner inserted into a taphole to combust coke remaining inside the furnace and reduce the volume of residues inside the furnace, and after new coke is charged to a region where the volume decreased, air is blown through a tuyere.

A blast furnace operation method comprising a blast furnace to start up smoothly and perform operation after suspending air blowing by removing as much as possible residual coke that remains inside the furnace during suspension of air blowing and becomes an obstacle to discharging solidified matter. In this blast furnace operation method, air blowing is suspended with the height of a surface of a raw material-filled layer immediately above a blast-furnace tuyere reduced below the height of an upper end of a blast-furnace bosh and then air blowing is resumed. After air blowing into the blast furnace is suspended, oxygen or oxygen and a combustible gas are blown in through a burner inserted into a taphole to combust coke remaining inside the furnace and reduce the volume of residues inside the furnace, and after new coke is charged to a region where the volume decreased, air is blown through a tuyere.