Systems and methods for drawing high aspect ratio metallic glass-based materials are provided. Methods of drawing a high aspect ratio metallic glass-based material are premised on stably drawing high aspect ratio metallic glass-based material from a preform metallic glass-based composition, accounting for the relationships between: the desired formation of an amorphous structure that is substantially homogenous along the majority of the length of the drawn high aspect ratio material; the desired final geometry of the drawn high aspect ratio material; the nature of the force that is used to draw the molten metallic glass-based composition; the velocity at which the high aspect ratio material is drawn; the viscosity profile of the material along its length as it is being drawn; and/or the effect of temperature on the metallic glass-based material. A precise thermal treatment is imposed along the forming length of the drawn material so as to enable a steady state drawing process, the precise thermal treatment being based on: the desire to develop a substantially same amorphous structure along the length of the drawn material; the desired final geometry for the drawn material; the nature of the force used to draw the material; the velocity at which the material is being drawn; and/or the thermal treatment's impact on the viscosity profile of the material along its length as it is being drawn.

A sintering furnace can have a housing, one or more heating elements, and a conveying assembly. Each heating element can be disposed within the housing and can subject a heating zone to a thermal shock temperature profile. A substrate with one or more precursors thereon can be moved by the conveying assembly through an inlet of the housing to the heating zone, where it is subjected to a first temperature of at least 500 C. for a first time period. The conveying assembly can then move the substrate with one or more sintered materials thereon from the heating zone and through an outlet of the housing.

A sintering furnace can have a housing, one or more heating elements, and a conveying assembly. Each heating element can be disposed within the housing and can subject a heating zone to a thermal shock temperature profile. A substrate with one or more precursors thereon can be moved by the conveying assembly through an inlet of the housing to the heating zone, where it is subjected to a first temperature of at least 500 C. for a first time period. The conveying assembly can then move the substrate with one or more sintered materials thereon from the heating zone and through an outlet of the housing.

A process for removing carbon dioxide from a material includes introducing the material onto a first segment of a conveyance system comprising the first segment and a second segment that is physically separated from the first segment, heating the material at the first segment for a first time using a first infrared emitter, conveying the material from the first segment to the second segment, and heating the material at the second segment for a second time using a second infrared emitter. The carbon dioxide removed from the material can be captured by a vacuum pump and stored, and the vacuum pump can maintain a partial pressure for the process. The process can be used to create lime and clinker with minimal CO2 emissions and to remove CO2 that is stored in various materials.

A direct reduction shaft furnace having at least one probe disposed vertically within the reduction zone thereof. The probe preferably extends from the top to the bottom of the reduction zone. The probe allows for gas sampling along the length thereof and transmittal of the gas to at least one type of gas analysis device. The probe may also allow for the measurement of the temperature and pressure of the gas sample as it is taken.

In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO.sub.2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO.sub.2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.

In a method and a device for operating a smelting reduction process, at least part of an export gas from a blast furnace or a reduction unit is thermally utilized in a gas turbine and the exhaust gas of this gas turbine is used in a waste heat steam generator to generate steam. The remaining part of the export gas is fed to a CO.sub.2 separation apparatus, the tail gas thereby obtained being fed to a waste heat steam generator and burned for additional steam generation. The combustible components of the tail gas are sent for thermal utilization in a steam generator, so that the overall energy balance of the thermal use of the export gas is improved. In addition, a further part of the export gas is qualitatively improved by the CO.sub.2 separation apparatus, so as to generate a high-quality reduction gas which can be supplied for metallurgical use.

Provided is a method of operating a blast furnace, including generating a regenerative methane gas using a blast furnace by-product gas, and blowing a blast gas and a reducing agent into the blast furnace from a tuyere, in which the blast gas is oxygen gas, the regenerative methane gas is used as at least part of the reducing agent, and the oxygen gas and/or the regenerative methane gas is preheated before being blown into the blast furnace from the tuyere.

A method for supplying electric energy in a steel plant including at least a furnace for melting metal material and one or more user devices that use the metal material obtained from the at least one furnace which are electrically powered by a power supply including at least one transformer connected to an electric network and a power supply system located downstream of the transformer.

A method for supplying electric energy in a steel plant including at least a furnace for melting metal material and one or more user devices that use the metal material obtained from the at least one furnace which are electrically powered by a power supply including at least one transformer connected to an electric network and a power supply system located downstream of the transformer.