An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising: an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner; a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.

An assembly of a liner and a flange for a vertical furnace for processing substrates is provided. The liner being configured to extend in the interior of a process tube of the vertical furnace, and the flange is configured to at least partially close a liner opening. The liner comprising a substantially cylindrical wall delimited by the liner opening at a lower end and closed at a higher end and being substantially closed for gases above the liner opening and defining an inner space. The flange comprising: an inlet opening configured to insert and remove a boat configured to carry substrates in the inner space of the liner; a gas inlet to provide a gas to the inner space. The assembly is constructed and arranged with a gas exhaust opening to remove gas from the inner space and a space between the liner and the low pressure tube.

A method and device for blast furnace state monitoring based on multi-modes fusion. In the process of blast furnace state monitoring, the concept of sub-mode is introduced, and the method for pre-acquisition and multi-modes weighted fusion by sub-mode is proposed to monitor blast furnace state. After preprocessing the main parameter data of the blast furnace, several sub-modes of the blast furnace and their corresponding blast furnace state indication variable data are obtained by means of a mean shift clustering algorithm. Taking the real-time parameter data of the blast furnace as inputs, the Euclidean distance between the real-time parameter data of the blast furnace and each sub-mode is calculated, and the sub-modes are weighted and fused according to the distance, and the fusion result is the real-time blast furnace state, so as to realize the real-time state monitoring of the blast furnace in a smooth operation.

A method and device for blast furnace state monitoring based on multi-modes fusion. In the process of blast furnace state monitoring, the concept of sub-mode is introduced, and the method for pre-acquisition and multi-modes weighted fusion by sub-mode is proposed to monitor blast furnace state. After preprocessing the main parameter data of the blast furnace, several sub-modes of the blast furnace and their corresponding blast furnace state indication variable data are obtained by means of a mean shift clustering algorithm. Taking the real-time parameter data of the blast furnace as inputs, the Euclidean distance between the real-time parameter data of the blast furnace and each sub-mode is calculated, and the sub-modes are weighted and fused according to the distance, and the fusion result is the real-time blast furnace state, so as to realize the real-time state monitoring of the blast furnace in a smooth operation.

A method for producing an expanded granulate made of a sand grain-shaped mineral material uses a propellant. The material is transported along a transport path through multiple heating zones in a furnace shaft, heated to a critical temperature at which the surfaces of the sand grains plasticize, and the sand grains are expanded based on the propellant. The material is fed from the bottom together with an amount of air; the material is transported from the bottom to the top along the transport path by the air quantity which flows from the bottom to the top in the furnace shaft and the sand grains are expanded in the upper half of the transport path. The material is heated such that the material immediately prior to entering into the furnace shaft is at a material entry temperature lower than the critical temperature and higher than the ambient temperature.

A method for producing an expanded granulate made of a sand grain-shaped mineral material uses a propellant. The material is transported along a transport path through multiple heating zones in a furnace shaft, heated to a critical temperature at which the surfaces of the sand grains plasticize, and the sand grains are expanded based on the propellant. The material is fed from the bottom together with an amount of air; the material is transported from the bottom to the top along the transport path by the air quantity which flows from the bottom to the top in the furnace shaft and the sand grains are expanded in the upper half of the transport path. The material is heated such that the material immediately prior to entering into the furnace shaft is at a material entry temperature lower than the critical temperature and higher than the ambient temperature.

The present invention relates to damage detection systems for refractory linings for molten metal vessels, comprising an electrically conductive grid disposed underneath the surface of the refractory lining closest to a molten metal when in use, one or more electrically conductive electrodes disposed in contact with the molten metal when in use and an electrical power source, wherein the electrically conductive metallic grid and the one or more electrically conductive electrodes are electrically connected to each other, such as to form an open electrical circuit powered by the said electrical power source, and a detected closure of the said electrical circuit during normal use of the molten metal vessel indicates that the said refractory lining is damaged, or the presence of a molten metal during normal operation of the vessel closes the said electrical circuit in case the refractory lining is damaged. The present invention relates to a method for detecting damage in a refractory lining during use, and the use of a damage detection system according to the invention.

The present invention relates to damage detection systems for refractory linings for molten metal vessels, comprising an electrically conductive grid disposed underneath the surface of the refractory lining closest to a molten metal when in use, one or more electrically conductive electrodes disposed in contact with the molten metal when in use and an electrical power source, wherein the electrically conductive metallic grid and the one or more electrically conductive electrodes are electrically connected to each other, such as to form an open electrical circuit powered by the said electrical power source, and a detected closure of the said electrical circuit during normal use of the molten metal vessel indicates that the said refractory lining is damaged, or the presence of a molten metal during normal operation of the vessel closes the said electrical circuit in case the refractory lining is damaged. The present invention relates to a method for detecting damage in a refractory lining during use, and the use of a damage detection system according to the invention.

A converter blowing control method includes: calculating, by heat balance calculation and material balance calculation, an amount of oxygen supplied and an amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material charged to control a temperature and a component concentration of molten steel at end of blowing in a converter to target values; controlling the blowing in the converter based on the calculated amount of oxygen supplied and the calculated amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material charged; estimating a pre-blowing molten iron temperature that is a temperature of molten iron used as a raw material for blowing to be a target of the heat balance calculation, charged into the converter, and is in a state immediately before start of the blowing; and using the estimated pre-blowing molten iron temperature as a charged molten iron temperature in the heat balance calculation.

A converter blowing control method includes: calculating, by heat balance calculation and material balance calculation, an amount of oxygen supplied and an amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material charged to control a temperature and a component concentration of molten steel at end of blowing in a converter to target values; controlling the blowing in the converter based on the calculated amount of oxygen supplied and the calculated amount of a cooling material or a rising heat material charged; estimating a pre-blowing molten iron temperature that is a temperature of molten iron used as a raw material for blowing to be a target of the heat balance calculation, charged into the converter, and is in a state immediately before start of the blowing; and using the estimated pre-blowing molten iron temperature as a charged molten iron temperature in the heat balance calculation.